noon
`` She was fine like him , ready to break her heart for those she cared for . My , if she had seen him first instead of -- '' She stopped short , for the ice gave way to her foot , and she only sprang back in time to save herself . But she trotted on , mile after mile , the dog-trot of the Indian , head bent forward , toeing in , breathing steadily but sharply . The morning came , noon , then a fall of snow and a keen wind , and despair in her heart ; but she had passed the danger-spots , and now , if the storm did not overwhelm her , she might get to Askatoon in time . In the midst of the storm she came to one of the caves of which she had known . Here was wood for a fire , and here she ate , and in weariness unspeakable fell asleep . When she waked it was near sundown , the storm had ceased , and , as on the night before , the sky was stained with color and drowned in splendor .