noon
If there were fear then he failed to detect it . She was gazing back down the colored slope , and something about her , perhaps the steady , falcon gaze of her magnificent eyes , reminded him of Yaqui . Many times during the ensuing hour the Indian faced about , and always his followers did likewise . It was high noon , with the sun beating hot and the lava radiating heat , when Yaqui halted for a rest . The place selected was a ridge of lava , almost a promontory , considering its outlook . The horses bunched here and drooped their heads . The rangers were about to slip the packs and remove saddles when Yaqui restrained them .