noon
It was with a pang that they bade their host farewell , and followed the half-breed , who ran down the slope from the door after his team . Robertson was going back to sit , warm and well-fed , by his stove , but they could not tell what hardships awaited them . Their depression , however , vanished after a while . The snow was good for traveling , the dogs trotted fast , and the half-breed grunted approval of their speed as he pointed to landmarks that proved it when they stopped at noon . After that they held on until dark , and made camp among a few junipers in the shelter of a rock . All had gone well the first day ; Harding 's leg no longer troubled him ; and there was comfort in traveling light with their packs on the sled . The journey began to look less formidable .