noon
Often , when the shade was not so dense they ran over smooth , springy turf , and they were even deliberate enough , as the hours passed , to eat a little food from their packs . Twice they knelt and drank at the brooks . They made no attempt to conceal their trail , knowing that it was useless , but Henry and Shif ` less Sol , their rifles always lying in the hollows of their arms , never failed to seek a glimpse of the relentless hound . It was fully noon when the character of the country began to change slightly . The hills were a little higher and there was more underbrush . Just as they reached a crest Henry looked back . In the far bushes , he saw a long dark form and a pointed gray head with glittering eyes .