noon
Without it they would probably relapse . He could think of nothing but to go back again to the valley where he got the chickens , and this seemed a most desperate chance , for the moment that either of the old couple set eyes on him he or she would give the alarm . He went to sleep thinking about the matter , and when he rose up in the morning , and had nothing to offer his boys but the coarse and uninviting hardtack , pork and coffee , he made up his mind to take the chances , whatever they might be . He set out again immediately after breakfast , and by cutting across the mountain came to the entrance to the valley a little after noon . Keeping close under cover of the woods , he approached within sight of the house , and carefully scanned it . What to do he had scarcely planned . He was only determined to have some fresh meat to take back to camp .