noon
It was the only thing that could tempt Emmy out of her sedate pace . On a fair piece of road the two of them would race at top speed for half a mile ; and the colt was continually making sly detours into the bush to get around his mother . But she kept him in his place behind . The riders finding they could safely leave the packhorses to follow , had ridden ahead to spy out grass and water for the noon spell . They were walking their horses over the turf bordering the trail , when suddenly from among the trees came with startling distinctness the sound of a voice . They reined up , astonished . It was the gentle , ambling voice of a loquacious old man ; and his conversation there in the wilderness was as quiet and intimate as chimney-corner talk .