noon
`` I rode putty hard all night ; and , just after daylight , saw some deer on the prairie , and shot one , never thinkin ' that I had n't another charge for my rifle , and no way of buildin ' a fire ter cook with . `` Yer see the Injuns always start a fire by rubbin ' two dry sticks together , but I had n't no time for that , 'cause I wanted to put as many miles as I could between me and ther village . While I was a-wonderin ' what ter do , I happened to think about puttin ' it under the saddle ; so I hunted round and found a sharp stone , and managed to cut some putty fair slices out ev the leg , and clapped 'em under the saddle and rode on . `` I got pretty hungry by noon , so I stopped to let my horse eat a little , and looked at my steaks , and they was cooked just as nice as I ever see steaks cooked in my life ; and they was good , too , you bet . `` I made a tip-top meal , and then thought I 'd lay down and take a little nap . I slept for an hour or two , and then saddled up , and rode along . Putty soon I happened ter look round , and , blast my picter , ef there war n't eight Comanches a-comin ' after me like the very devil .