midday
He was sure that the stranger was in no shape to race after him , and he would lay a muddled trail before he returned to the cave valley . If this man was a Red plant , he would have to reckon with one who had already met Kurt Vogel . The laying of that muddled trail took time . It was past midday when Ross came back to Ashe , who was sitting up by the mouth of the cave at the fire , using his dagger to fashion a crutch out of a length of sapling . He surveyed Ross 's burden with approval , but lost interest in the promise of food as soon as the other reported his meeting in the marsh . `` McNeil -- chap with brown hair , brown eyes , a right eyebrow which quirks up toward his hairline when he smiles ? '' `` Brown hair and eyes , okay -- and he did n't smile any . ''