noon
All were dressed as they had been when they left New York ; one even wore a derby hat and pointed patent-leather shoes . Nevertheless , Norine Evans thought the little cavalcade presented quite a martial appearance as it filed away into the jungle . The first few miles were trying , for the coast was swampy and thickly grown up to underbrush ; but in time the jungle gave place to higher timber and to open savannas deep in guinea-grass . Soon after noon the travelers came to a farm , the owner of which was known to one of the guides , and here a stop was made in order to secure horses and food . It was a charming little rancho . The palm-thatched house was set in a grove of mamey and mango trees , all heavily burdened with fruit ; there was a vianda-patch , and , wonder of wonders , there were a half-dozen cows dozing in the shade . Spying these animals , Norine promptly demanded a glass of milk , and O'Reilly translated her request to the farmer .