about
noon
`` Jim , I do n't know when the captain will get back or how far he 's gone , but I have n't a dread or fear of any kind now . Up there where you see that big gray rock I 've found a cave that is the most perfect defensive position I ever saw . No bullet can reach it from any point , and on the contrary , from the mouth of the cave , we command the whole hillside . Now if those Apaches are bound to follow , they ought to be along here about noon . If the captain gets here in plenty of time we 'll pull out for the Chiquito . If he does n't I mean to move the whole outfit up to the cave . I want you now to roll and strap all the blankets ; to get the provisions and everything of that kind in shape so that we can easily ` pack ' them , then I 'm going back to the top of the rock to keep a look out .