noon
He noted the gray paling round the grave . Indians ? He would catch up with the Mexicans , and travel in their company to Grant . Freighters made but fifteen miles in the day , and he could start after breakfast and be with them before they stopped to noon . Six men need not worry about Apaches , Cumnor thought . The voice of Specimen Jones came from the cabin , and sounds of lighting the stove , and the growling conversation of men getting up . Cumnor , lying in his blankets , tried to overhear what Jones was saying , for no better reason than that this was the only man he had met lately who had seemed to care whether he were alive or dead .