noon
The chief concern of the brothers was to open more grazing ground , and to that end every energy was bent . The range already opened lay to the north of the Beaver , and although double the distance , an effort was made to break out a trail to the divide on the south . The herd was turned up the lane for the day , and taking their flails , the boys began an attack on the sleet . It was no easy task , as it was fully two miles to the divide , a northern slope , and not affected by the sun before high noon . The flails rang out merrily . From time to time the horses were brought forward , their weight shattering the broken sleet and assisting in breaking out a pathway . The trail was beaten ten feet in width on an average , and by early noon the divide was reached .