noon
There was a blacksmith and a wheelwright shop in the town , but the prospect of an exchange was discouraging , as the wagons there were of the heavy freighting type , while ours was a wide tread -- a serious objection , as wagons manufactured for southern trade were eight inches wider than those in use in the north , and therefore would not track on the same road . The wheelwright had assured Flood that the wheel could be filled in a day , with the exception of painting , and as paint was not important , he had decided to move up within three or four miles of the Ford and lie over a day for repairing the wagon , and at the same time have our mules reshod . Accordingly we moved up the next morning , and after unloading the wagon , both box and contents , over half the outfit -- the first and second guards -- accompanied the wagon into the Ford . They were to return by noon , when the remainder of us were to have our turn in seeing the sights of Frenchman 's Ford . The horse wrangler remained behind with us , to accompany the other half of the outfit in the afternoon . The herd was no trouble to hold , and after watering about the middle of the forenoon , three of us went into camp and got dinner . As this was the first time since starting that our cook was absent , we rather enjoyed the opportunity to practice our culinary skill .