noon
After meeting , the two parties had evidently joined forces and had departed over the trail made by those who had appeared from the direction of the Post . `` Friends from Kenogami House came down to meet them , '' mused Rod , and as he turned back in the direction of the camp he formed a picture of that meeting in the heart of the wilderness , of the glad embraces of husband and wife , and the joy of the pretty girl with the tiny feet as she kissed her father , and perhaps her big brother ; for no girl could possess feet just like Minnetaki 's and not be pretty ! He found that Wabi had preceded him when he returned . The young Indian had shot a small doe , and that noon witnessed a feast in camp . For his lack of luck Rod had his story to tell of the people on the trail . The passing of this party formed the chief topic of conversation during the rest of the day , for after weeks of isolation in the wilderness even this momentary nearness of living civilized men and women was a great event to them . But there was one fact which Rod dwelt but slightly upon .