noon
They were impatient to know the distance to the Rio Platte , and G -- G assured them that within a week they would see its muddy waters and be relieved . Thus encouraged they held the lead , but several times vaqueros dropped back to make inquiries of drives and the water . The route was passable , with a short dry drive from the head of Stinking Water across to the Platte River , of which they were fully advised . Keeping them in sight , we trailed along leisurely , and as we went down the northern slope of the divide approaching the Republican River , we were overtaken at noon by Don Lovell and Dave Sponsilier . `` Quirk , '' said the old man , as the two dismounted , `` I was just telling Dave that twenty years ago this summer I carried a musket with Sherman in his march to the sea . And here we are to-day , driving beef to feed the army in the West . But that 's neither here nor there under the present programme .