About noon
Where there was one farmer or stock-raiser who would give a squad like Bob 's any information that could be relied on , there were a dozen who would conceal the deserter in their houses and send his pursuers off on the wrong trail . After Bob and his troopers had ridden about fifteen miles , and had shouted and sung off a little of their surplus enthusiasm , they relapsed into silence and settled down to business . They halted on the top of every ridge to survey the country before them , and called at every ranche that lay along their route ; but nothing was to be seen or heard of Bristow and his party . About noon they came within sight of a squatter 's cabin , and Bob decided to stop there and eat dinner . The owner of the cabin was at home , and he welcomed the horsemen with every appearance of cordiality . `` Alight an ' hitch , strangers , '' said he , when he had succeeded in quieting the small army of dogs which came out from under the cabin to dispute the further advance of the troopers . `` You 're as welcome as the flowers in May . ''