noon
Dave looked at Louise and blushed furiously . `` I guess you 've made your mind up , '' he said , to Bryant . `` I guess I have , '' Lee admitted . Toward noon Mr. Graham joined them and laughingly stated that he was glad to make the acquaintance of the man who was causing such a furor among the Mexicans along the Pinas . He asked a number of questions and listened with interest to the engineer 's brief exposition of the plan to unite the water rights of the Pinas River and of Perro Creek in a common system , though Bryant disclosed nothing of his survey on the mesa . Of the opposition Lee had met or might yet encounter the rancher was aware , for he remarked , `` You have a fight on your hands . '' But that was his only comment .