noon
Harden never even saw the cavern but had spent the night crawling steadily toward the rim . At dawn , Forrester had made his way to the top of the butte by the same route Enoch had followed , and had seen Harden , a black speck moving laboriously on the southern horizon . He had not recognized him , and set out to overtake him . It was not until noon that he had done so . Even after he realized whom he was pursuing , he had not given up , for by that time he was rueing bitterly his hasty and ill-equipped departure . None of the auditors of the two men needed detailed description either of the ardors of that trip nor of the embarrassment of the meeting . Nor did Forrester or Harden attempt any .