noon
`` How was it that Hoe met his death ? '' asked the parson . `` It was on the third night . We had n't seen a thing of the Indians since the noon halt and were hopeful they had given up the hunt for us . We had n't eaten a mouthful for twenty-four hours and were hungry enough to chew our boots . Ike found a place among the rocks , where a camp fire could n't be seen for more than a few rods and started a blaze . The lieutenant had brought down an antelope , and if we could get a chance to cook the steak , we were sure of the right kind of a meal .