noon
It was in October , the last of the month . The brakes in the woods were dead , but still standing . These had been pressed to the ground , and made a broad trail . `` By noon we gained the crest of a high ridge , or mountain , five or six miles to the westward . The farther side fell off abruptly to the bank of a small river . This side , too , was covered with thick hemlock and spruce . We hesitated about going further .