midday
It may be remarked that Mr. Bickford availed himself of our young hero 's invitation , and during the next twenty-four hours stowed away enough provisions to last an ordinary man for half a week . Four days later Joe and his Yankee friend , mounted on mustangs , were riding through a canon a hundred miles from San Francisco . It was late in the afternoon , and the tall trees shaded the path on which they were traveling . The air was unusually chilly and after the heat of midday they felt it . `` I do n't feel like campin ' out to-night , '' said Bickford . `` It 's too cool . '' `` I do n't think we shall find any hotels about here , '' said Joe .