three o'clock in the afternoon
But the host made no movement to show the stock until patience ceased to be a virtue , when Captain Stone moved an adjournment of the social session and politely asked to be shown a sample of the country 's cattle . The two cowmen were fast friends , and no offense was intended or taken ; but the host assured his guest there was no hurry , offering to get up horses and show the stock the following day . Captain Stone yielded , and the next morning they started , but within a few miles met a neighbor , when all three dismounted in the shade of a tree . Commonplace chat of the country occupied the attention of the two Texans until hunger or some other warning caused one of them to look at his watch , when it was discovered to be three o'clock in the afternoon . It was then too late in the day to make an extensive ride , and the ranchman invited his neighbor and guest to return to the ranch for the night . Another day was wasted in entertaining the neighbor , the northern cowman , in the meantime , impatient and walking on nettles until a second start was made to see the cattle . It was a foggy morning , and they started on a different route from that previously taken , the visiting ranchman going along .