noon
He was now hungry , but nothing was at hand to satisfy the cravings of the inner man . His gun had been left behind , but in his belt still rested his hunting-knife , -- something he had taken to carrying constantly since the brush with the Comanches . Dan could not help but wonder what had become of Ralph , and wished that he had some firearm by which he might discharge a shot as a signal . Slowly the morning wore away , and by noon the lad felt that he must make a move . `` I 'll get out of the ravine first , '' he thought , but this was no easy matter , for the sides were steep and he was still too weak to exert himself in climbing . Presently he imagined that he heard , at a great distance , the firing of a volley of shots . To make sure he was right , he laid on the ground and listened .