midday
Leith did not allow me to remain long in the rear . He called me up to the front , and very politely asked me to help in hustling along the carriers who were inclined to dawdle as the way grew rougher , and , although I would much rather have had the task of helping the two girls , I had to accept the position without demur . Leith was in charge , and Holman and I were only intruders who had on standing , and whose food was paid for by the Professor . We halted at midday in an ugly-looking spot far up the shoulder of the mountain that we were climbing , and through a break in the trees we caught a glimpse of the Pacific . The ocean seemed directly beneath us , and yet , as Edith Herndon expressed it , we seemed to be a thousand leagues away from it . -LSB- Illustration : `` We halted at midday in an ugly-looking spot far up the shoulder of the mountain . '' -RSB- `` This horrible silence makes me long for the clean sound of the waves , '' she whispered , as I rolled a stone over to make her a seat .