Noon
The marks he chose and passed seemed innumerable , but the wilderness still ran on , pitilessly empty , in front of him . His leg was horribly painful , he knew he must break down soon , and they had seen nothing of a stony rise they were looking for . To find it would simplify matters , because the Indian had made them understand that the bluffs about the post lay nearly east of it . Noon passed and they still pressed forward without a halt , for there was little more than three hours ' daylight left , and it was unthinkable that they should spend the night without food or shelter . The horizon steadily narrowed as the snow thickened ; there was a risk of their passing the guiding-marks or even the factory . It was nearly three o'clock when Harding stumbled and falling into the snow found himself unable to get up until Benson helped him . In his attempt to rise he further strained his weakened leg and for a moment or two he leaned on his companion , his face contorted with pain .