midday
Save for the freshness of early summer , with its background of green and the rarified atmosphere of the elevated plain , the scene before us might be compared to a winter drift of buffalo , ten years previous . Riding down the farther slope , we reached our camp in time for a late breakfast , the fifteen-mile ride having whetted our appetites . Three men were on herd , and sending two more with instructions to water the cattle an hour before noon , Tussler and I sought the shade of the wagon and fell asleep . It was some time after midday when , on sighting the expected conveyance approaching our camp , the cook aroused us . Performing a rather hasty ablution , I met the vehicle , freshened , and with my wits on tap . I nearly dragged the detective from the livery rig , addressing him as `` Charley , '' and we made a rough ado over each other . Several of the other boys came forward and , shaking hands , greeted him with equal familiarity .