noon
Then we had shelter and a home when the great storm came . '' `` A good cove , truly , '' said Pennington , `` and we sha 'n' t forget it . '' When they reached the main pass they found it also deep in mud and melting snow , and their progress was slow and painful . But before noon they met Shepard and the sergeant returning with news that they had carried an account of the victory to General Sheridan , but that nothing had happened in the main valley save a few raids by Mosby . Shepard , who acted as spokesman , was too tactful to say much , but he indicated very clearly that the commander-in-chief was highly pleased with the destruction of the Slade and Skelly band , the maraudings of which had become a great annoyance and danger . Dick was eager to hear more , and , when the opportunity presented itself , he questioned the sergeant privately . `` What do we hear from Petersburg ? ''