nearly two o'clock
The youth would have lingered in spite of the cold ; but the girl kept steadily on , knowing well that the hardest part of their journey was still before them , and he , though longing to ride by her side , and to enjoy the views with her , was forced to remain in the rear in order to hurry the reluctant pack-animals forward . They had now reached a point twelve thousand feet above the sea , and range beyond range , to the west and south , rose into sight like stupendous waves of a purple-green sea . To the east the park lay level as a floor and carpeted in tawny velvet . It was nearly two o'clock when they began to drop down behind the rocky ridges of the eastern slope , and soon , in the bottom of a warm and sheltered hollow just at timber-line , Berrie drew her horse to a stand and slipped from the saddle . `` We 'll rest here an hour , '' she said , `` and cook our grouse ; or are you too hungry to wait ? '' `` I can wait , '' he answered , dramatically . `` But it seems as if I had never eaten . ''