noon
He did not know that Long-Hair and his band were fast on his track ; but the knowledge could not have urged him to greater haste . He strained every muscle to its utmost , kept every nerve to the highest tension . Yonder towards the west was help for Alice ; that was all he cared for . But if Long-Hair was pursuing him with relentless greed for the reward offered by Hamilton , there were friendly footsteps still nearer behind him ; and one day at high noon , while he was bending over a little fire , broiling some liberal cuts of venison , a finger tapped him on the shoulder . He sprang up and grappled Oncle Jazon ; at the same time , standing near by , he saw Simon Kenton , his old-time Kentucky friend . The pungled features of one and the fine , rugged face of the other swam as in a mist before Beverley 's eyes . Kenton was laughing quietly , his strong , upright form shaking to the force of his pleasure .