midday
Soon they calmed down , and by midnight all was as quiet as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred . But Captain Moore and old Benson carried the marks of the adventure for many days after . On the following morning no one felt much in the humor for hunting , and half a day was lost in `` bumming around , '' as Joe expressed it . This gave all a good rest and put the horses in fine fettle , and when they started out after the midday meal all were once again in high spirits . That night found them on the edge of what old Benson called the buffalo ground , a broad valley where the grass was thick and of a peculiar richness . On the way they had shot a number of birds and also a few small animals , but nothing of importance . Once some deer had been sighted , but the game was too far off to be pursued .