about noon
I found that the Indians were growing anxious at not by this time meeting with the rest of their party , and they were about , while resting , to hold a consultation as to what course to pursue . We were soon again in motion ; night or day made no difference to us . On we pushed . It was about noon when , on reaching a height , we saw a thin light smoke curling up into the pure , intense blue sky , from the bottom of a pine-clad ravine below us . All appeared to rest in perfect peace and quietness , and I began to be ashamed of my nervous anxieties . I was greatly afraid that I should lose my influence with my friends , and as my predictions , or rather warnings , had not been verified , I should in future be looked on as a false prophet . `` There are our friends , most probably , '' said John Pipestick ; `` but we do n't proceed as carelessly as you people from the East are apt to do .