about noon
`` Most of their warriors are elsewhere , Mynheer Henry , '' said Heemskerk , `` or they would certainly give us a big battle . We 've been lucky in the time of our advance . As it is , I think we 'll have something to do . '' It was now about noon , the noon of a beautiful October day of the North , the air like life itself , the foliage burning red on the hills , the leaves falling softly from the trees as the wind blew , but bringing with them no hint of decay . None of the vanguard felt fatigue , but when they crossed a low range of hills and saw before them a creek flowing down to the Susquehanna , Henry , who was in the lead , stopped suddenly and dropped down in the grass . The others , knowing without question the significance of the action , also sank down . `` What is it , Henry ? ''