an hour before noon
The sides of the hills were in some places thickly clothed with trees , in others they were destitute not only of vegetation but of earth , the rock on the steeper declivities of the hills having been washed bare by the periodical heavy rains peculiar to those regions . Although wild and somewhat narrow , this little valley was , nevertheless , a cheerful spot , in consequence of its facing almost in a southerly direction : while , towards the east , there were several wide and picturesque gaps in the hills which seemed to have been made for the express purpose of letting the sun shine the greater part of the day upon the diggers while they were at work -- an advantage , no doubt , when the weather was cool , but rather the reverse when it was hot . The entrance to Little Creek was about two miles wide , undulating , and beautifully diversified , resembling pleasure grounds rather than a portion of the great wilderness of the far west ; but the vale narrowed abruptly , and , about three miles further into the mountains , became a mere gap or ravine through which the streamlet leaped and boiled furiously . It was an hour before noon when our travellers came suddenly upon the wide entrance to the valley . `` How beautiful ! '' exclaimed Ned , as he reined up to gaze in admiration over the flowering plain , with its groups of noble trees . `` Ay , '' said Maxton , enthusiastically , `` you may well say that .