noon
The public jumped at the chance of realizing , and so relieving themselves of the cloud of trouble threatening them . James could come along with a whole army of desperadoes , once they had rid themselves of their `` dust . '' They then would no longer have anything to lose except their lives , and those they were always prepared to risk in anything so enterprising as a little honest gun-play . It was noon when Wild Bill was stirring . And he listened to the news which greeted him on every hand with a calmly non-committal air . Nor , when he found it necessary to comment , did he hesitate to do so in his usual sharp , decided fashion . `` Minky 's good grit , '' he declared on one occasion to a puzzled miner .