noon
Instantly they divided forces to search for her . Gorges and cañons innumerable seamed the westward face of this wild spur of the Sierras , and , by the merest luck in the world , one of Arnold 's men , spurring along a stony ridge , caught sight of a girlish form far across a deep ravine , and quickly fired two shots in signal that he had `` sighted '' the chase . It brought Arnold and two of his men to the spot and , threading their way , sometimes afoot and leading their steeds , sometimes in saddle and urging them through the labyrinth of bowlders , they followed on . At noon they had lost not only all sight of her , but of their comrades , nor had they seen the latter since . Byrne and his orderlies , with three of the party that `` pulled out '' from Sandy with Arnold in the morning , had disappeared . Again and again they fired their Henrys , hoping for answering signal , or perhaps to attract Angela 's attention . All doubt as to her purpose was now ended .