noon
He had noticed it as one of the landmarks on the road to Mesa Blanca , and on its face were a few curious scratchings or peckings , one a rude sun symbol , and others of stars and waves of water . He recalled remarking to Pike that it must have been a prayer place for some of the old tribes . `` Yes , I know the place , when we reach this big rock it means that we are nearing the border of the ranch , this rock wall tells me that . We can be at Palomitas before noon . '' `` No , '' she said , and got down from the mule , `` not to Palomitas now . Here we carry the food , and here we hide the saddles , and the mule go free . The burro we take , nothing else . ''