noon
At times they were perpendicular , and then again sloped at such a moderate angle that a horse could have galloped up them without difficulty . The mountainous nature of the country rather increased than diminished , and , looking right and left , in front and rear , the jagged peaks were forever visible , the distances varying , but the number greater and greater . At times it seemed as if the ravine were about to terminate suddenly against the solid wall of the mountain , but , as they rode forward , the open way was there , albeit the angle was sharp , and the little party suffered no interruption of progress until near the close of the day . The noon halt which Fred expected was not made . He was hungry and supposed that the Apaches were ; but , if so , they manifestly considered it of more importance to get forward than to satisfy that hunger . Once or twice they permitted their horses to drink from the water when it was reached , but these momentary halts were all that were made . It was near the middle of the afternoon , when Waukko , who was the leader of the little group , suddenly showed great excitement , which speedily communicated itself to his companions .