noon
`` Perhaps it was Sol Blugg himself . '' Slowly the morning wore away . When the sun came up it was very hot and the youths were glad enough to draw into the shade of the rocks . Just before noon all three climbed the tall rock again , to look not only for Tom Dillon and the horses , but also for Abe Blower and those with him . But not a soul was in sight , nor did any horses show themselves . At a distance they made out some mule deer and several goats , but that was all . `` Do you think we ought to walk along the back trail ? ''