noon
There were numerous holes , where the stones had sunk or been displaced ; and picking their way the tough little horses and the panting bullocks floundered to their knees . The trail seemed to be climbing ; it also was growing rougher . It crossed dank , dark ravines ; skirted their sides ; and wound along the rim of precipices so deep that the sight made Charley dizzy . Toward noon the customary daily thunderstorm descended . So they halted under a spreading plantain tree , whose leaves , broader even than banana leaves , really were very good umbrellas . Here they ate their lunch , too . The rain made traveling worse , and worse waxed the old road .