noon
The nearest divide lay fully a mile to the north . To reach it with the cattle , a trail , a rod or more in width , would have to be broken out . Leaving their horses at the corral , the brothers fell at the task as if it had been a threshing floor , and their flails rang out from contact with the icy sleet . By the time they had reached the divide it was high noon , and the boys were wearied by the morning task . The crusted snow lay fully six inches deep on an average , and if sustenance was rendered the cattle , whose hungry lowing reached equally hungry boys , the icy crust must be broken over the feeding grounds . It looked like an impossible task . `` Help me break out a few acres , '' said Joel , `` and then you can go back and turn out the cattle .