noon
* * * * * A Prairie Episode . The fierce rays of the sun , which had turned the prairie grass into a lifeless-looking dusty brown , continued to pour pitilessly down on the horde of perspiring workmen , exhausted Indian ponies , and long-eared morose mules . At intervals , gusts of hot parching winds bent the rank grass , which gave forth a dry , almost rasping sound , very different from its usual musical rustle . `` In ten minutes more it will be noon , and we can get out of this into the shade for an hour , '' said Joe Swan , a huge muscular laborer , as he pushed the nose of the steel scraper into the earth . The words were addressed to a pale-faced young man who was driving the pair of mules hitched to the scraper . The only reply was a tired tug on the reins , and the next moment the scraper had torn up half a yard of the tenacious prairie sod and cast it to one side . As he turned the mules around to get them into position again , Joe glanced covertly at the weary face , shook his head in a troubled manner , and muttered , `` It ai n't the work that 's breaking him up like this ; it 's her , and it 's going to end in trouble long before we reach the Rockies . ''