noon
`` Nor I , either , '' said I. `` Big Reuben may have his mountain all to himself as far as I 'm concerned . So , come on ; let 's get back . What time is it ? '' `` After noon , '' replied Joe , looking up at the sun . `` We 've been a long time coming , but it wo n't take us more than half the time going back . Let 's dig out at once . '' Turning our ponies , we set off at an easy lope , and had ridden about two miles on the back track when , skirting along the edge of one of the little cañons I have mentioned , we noticed a tiny spring of water , which , issuing from the face of the cliff close to the top , fell in a thin thread into the chasm .