noon
`` There 's no use sitting up at night to figure it out . Rouse out the cattle , and I 'll point them up the divide . '' The sunshine had crept into the bend , arousing the herd , but the cattle preferred its warmth to a frosty breakfast , and stood around in bunches until their joints limbered and urgent appetites sent them forth . In spite of the cold , the sun lent its aid , baring the divides and wind-swept places of snow ; and before noon , the cattle fell to feeding so ravenously that the herdsmen relayed each other , and a dinner for boy and horse was enjoyed at headquarters . In the valley the snow lay in drifts , but by holding the cattle on divides and southern slopes , they were grazed to contentment and entered their own corral at the customary hour for penning . Old axes had been left at hand , and the first cutting of ice , to open the water for cattle , occupied the boys for fully an hour , after which they rode home to a well-earned rest . Three days of zero weather followed .