nearly noon
`` Now they increase their speed . The stride of St. Luc lengthens and as it lengthens so must those of all the rest . We are not now in any danger of running into them , but we may incur it before night . '' They did not abate their own speed , but continued in the path without pause , until nearly noon . The broad trail led straight on , over hills , across valleys and always through deep forest , cut here and there by clear streams . The sun came out , and it was warm under the trees . Grosvenor , unused to such severe exertion of this kind , began to breathe with difficulty .