noon
It was ten o'clock before she ate her breakfast . She had come to the so-called river , the only one in perhaps a hundred miles . It was quite a respectable stream at this particular season , but spread very thinly and widely at the ford . By noon she was half way of her distance . The sun was hot ; summer baking of the desert had begun . Her mare was sweating profusely . She had urged her to the top of her strength .