noon
Once , indeed , he saw the figures of the hunters , painted dark against the sky , rise over a distant swell and disappear just as one of them turned and waved a signal in dumb show to the solitary watcher on the hill . `` If those buffalo should get stampeded , '' mused Sandy , `` and make a break in this way , it would be ` all day ' with those horses and the camp stuff . I guess I had better make all fast , for there may be a gale of wind , or a gale of buffalo , which is the same thing . '' So saying , the thoughtful lad led the animals down into the gully where the noon luncheon had been taken , removed their packs , tethered them to the tree , and then ran back to the hill-top and resumed his watch . There was no change in the situation except that there were , if possible , more buffalo moving over the distant slopes of the rolling prairie . The boy stood entranced at the sight . More , more , and yet more of the herds were slowly moving into sight and then disappearing in the gullies below .