noon
If a horse neighs at night , know why ; if one 's missing in the morning , name him like you would an absent boy at school . '' The trip down to the railroad was largely a matter of patience . The beeves were given every advantage , and except the loss of sleep in night-herding , the work approached loafing against time . Three guards stood watch during the short summer nights , pushing the herd off its bed at dawn , grazing early and late , and resting through the noon hours . An agreeable surprise awaited the original trio . The evening before loading out , the beeves must be penned , and Joel rode into the station in advance , to see that cars were in waiting and get the shipping details . As if sent on the same errand , Manly met him , having been ordered on from Trail City .