noon
The latter were unmistakable at many places , and both announced that the savages had been there , beyond question . This meant the appointment of a scouting party for the advance of the team , and John took this duty on himself , stipulating that the different boys should alternately accompany him , and thus adapt themselves to the serious work that scouting meant . Harry was the first detailed to go with him , and at intervals he would go back and signal the team to follow , so that they made fair time along the immediate vicinity of the stream , and thus progressed with some speed , in what now appeared to be the country where the savages lurked . In the march John found numerous marks of the savages , and before noon was halted at the remains of a fire still glowing , that the savages had quitted not an hour before . `` How many do you think are in the party ? '' `` Not more than a half dozen . '' `` It seems to me we ought to stop a day , so they could get ahead of us , or we might run into them . ''