noon
Two days before they came I 'd somehow felt as though we were having too smooth sailing for pioneers . One morning four of our men took horses and rode out searching for water . We never saw three of them again . At noon the only one left came riding up , half-dead from exhaustion and from wounds which the Indians had given him . He gave the alarm and soon we were ready for them , our wagons in a circle , and every man armed . Some women , too . '' Aunt Deborah 's head rose proudly .