noon
What would he find ? He went to sleep late and awoke with the summer dawn . The stream grew narrower and the country wilder as he progressed . It was noon when Baree stopped dead in his tracks , stiff-legged , the bristles of his spine erect , a low and ominous growl in his throat . He was standing over a patch of white sand no larger than a blanket . `` What is it , boy ? '' asked David .