two in the afternoon
It was his best ally in what he had set out to do . Within forty-eight hours the stream they followed merged itself in another , both wide and deep , which flowed west through a level-bottomed valley three miles or more in width . Westward the land spread out in a continuous roll , marked here and there with jutting ridges and isolated peaks ; but on the east a chain of rugged mountains marked the horizon as far as she could see . Roaring Bill halted on the river brink and stripped his horses clean , though it was but two in the afternoon and their midday fire less than an hour extinguished . She watched him curiously . When his packs were off he beckoned her . `` Hold them a minute , '' he said , and put the lead ropes in her hand .