noon
The boys were perspiring and red of face , but happy . They thoroughly enjoyed this wild traveling . It went beyond anything they had ever experienced . `` I hope you are satisfied , '' panted the Professor when at noon they stopped on a little plateau from which gulches fell away on all sides , leaving them , as it were , on a magic island high in the air . `` I sincerely hope it is wild enough for you young gentlemen . '' `` Not any too much so , Professor , '' answered Tad . `` I could stand it a lot wilder . ''