noon
She looked at him searchingly , her eyes glowing , her cheeks flushed . `` Yes , '' she said slowly , convincingly . `` I know I did ; I -- I was so anxious to be helped , but -- but this is different . '' It was noon , the sun pitiless and hot above them , before they straggled within the partial shelter of the sand dunes , and sank wearily down to their meagre lunch . Their supply of water was limited , and the exhausted ponies must wait until they reached the river to quench their thirst . Yet this was not very far off now , and Keith had seen enough of their surroundings to locate the position of the ford . Slow as they must proceed , three hours more would surely bring them to the bank of the stream .