noon
This , however , thinned out the nearer one came to the summit , which in turn was composed of bald rocks , grim and silent , save when some eagle gave its shrill scream from a projecting crag . They took their last look at the little road , and then Tom led the way into the heart of the wild growth . Just as they had anticipated it was a great deal more difficult going now , for there was no trail save an occasional cowpath which might lead down to the creek , or anywhere else ; and to which , for this reason , they could not pay any attention . When noon came there was a loud call for a halt . While every boy was too proud to confess that his muscles were beginning to feel sore from the continual strain , he tried pretty hard to find some plausible excuse for wanting to make a good long halt . While they were eating and fanning themselves , for it was very warm , Walter Douglass noticed Tom glancing off toward the southwest . Upon looking in that direction himself he burst out with an exclamation : `` It 's going to strike us this time , boys , as sure as anything ! ''