noon
This was the heart of Back There , -- a virgin and primeval forest unchanged since the piling-up of the untrodden ranges . The wild pace of the craft was checked , and they kept watch for a suitable place to land . There was no need to push on through the seething cataracts that lay still farther below . Shortly before the noon hour Ben 's quick eye saw a break in the heavy brushwood that lined the bank and quickly paddled toward it . In a moment it was revealed as the mouth , of a small , clear stream , flowing out of a beaver meadow where the grass was rank and high . In a moment more he pushed the canoe into the mud of the creek bank . They both got out , rather sober of mien , and she helped him haul the canoe out upon the bank .