noon
CHAPTER XX . A Problem Solved Hopalong worried his way out of the desert on a straight line , thus cutting in half the distance he had traveled when going into it . He camped that night on the sand and early the next morning took up his journey . It was noon when he began to notice familiar sights , and an hour later he passed within a mile of line-house No. 3 , Double Arrow . Half an hour later he espied a cow-puncher riding like mad . Thinking that an investigation would not be out of place , he rode after the rider and overtook him , when that person paused and retraced his course . `` Hullo , Hopalong ! ''