noon
It was about eight o'clock when the column started once more . They meant to leave the main road they had been following up to this time , for it did not run in the direction they wanted to go . There was another smaller one which they expected to follow , for that day at least , and which skirted the base of the mountain , even ascending it in several places , as their map showed . `` It will be our last day on any sort of road , if we follow out the programme as arranged , '' Tom Chesney explained , as they sat around at noon munching the `` snack '' each scout had been commissioned to prepare at breakfast time against his being hungry in the middle of the day , when they would not care to start a fire in order to do any cooking . `` You mean we expect to push right up the mountain and begin exploring the country , do n't you , Tom ? '' asked Josh between bites . `` Yes , and three of the fellows intend to make maps as we go , for practice , '' the leader of the Black Bear Patrol explained .