noon
In his private mind he judged Urquhart of trying to intimidate him . The vice of the expert ! But he noticed that the guide had a coil of rope , and that Urquhart carried a shovel . It was easy going until near noon , with no snow to speak about . They climbed a series of ridges , like frozen waves ; but each was higher than the last , and took them closer to the clouds . When they lunched under the shelter of some tumbled rocks a drifting rain blew across the desolation . `` Jolly ! ''