noon
After some difficulty he lighted a fire with the flint and steel , which the Mexicans fortunately had not taken from him , toasted great strips over the coals , and ate hungrily of juicy and tender wild turkey . He was all the time aware that his fire might bring danger down upon him , but he was willing to chance it . After he had eaten enough he took the remainder of his turkey and rode on . It was a clear , starry night and , as he had been awake only since noon , he continued until about ten o'clock , when he again took the turf under a tree for a couch . He slipped the rude halter from Old Jack , patted him on the head and said : `` Old Jack , after the lofty way in which you have behaved I would n't disgrace you by tying you up for the night . Moreover , I know that you 're the best guard I could possibly have , and so , trusting you implicitly , I shall go to sleep . '' His confidence was justified , and the next morning they were away again over the prairie .