noon
A scant three feet of earth could not hide its secret from him . There was death -- definite and unequivocal . But for Nepeese he was still hoping and seeking . Until noon he did not go far from the site of the cabin , but only once did he actually approach and sniff about the black pile of steaming timbers . Again and again he circled the edge of the clearing , keeping just within the bush and timber , sniffing the air and listening . Twice he went hack to the chasm . Late in the afternoon there came to him a sudden impulse that carried him swiftly through the forest .