noon
For Comanche , taking Pete 's guffaw for a command , leaped forward like a cat , and a moment later the whole crowd was galloping madly across the level meadow . It is probable that if Sarah 's hair had not already been as light as hair can well be , that wild ride would have turned it several shades lighter . The terrors that were compressed into those two hours are beyond description , while the bobbing , bumping and shaking of her poor plump body left reminders that only time and witch hazel were able to eradicate . When they returned at noon Gertrudis had a wonderful dinner awaiting them , and the riders , with their appetites freshened by the air and exercise , fell upon it like a pack of famished wolves . All except Sarah . Protesting that she was not in the least hungry , she went at once to her room . On the little stand by her bed lay the Spanish grammar and dictionary , mute evidences of the way she had intended to spend the siesta hour .