noon
He missed that lofty white signal in the sky , feeling as if a good omen had gone , and that the signs would not now be so favorable . But the depression was only momentary . He had cultivated too strong and courageous a will ever to allow himself to be depressed long . At noon they were far from the hills and out on the open plains , which spread swell on swell before them , seemingly to infinity , with only a lone tree here and there , and at rare intervals a sluggish stream an inch or two deep and dangerous with quicksands . The water of these little creeks was not good , touched at times with alkali , but they made the horses and mules drink it , saving the pure supply they carried for a period of greater need . Will used his glasses almost continually , watching for a possible enemy or anything else that might appear upon the plain , and he saw occasional groups of the buffalo , a dozen or so , at which he expressed surprise . `` And why are you surprised , young William ? ''