noon
It was noticed that Dave Darrin walked with clenched-fists . Tom took long strides that carried him in advance of the others . Dick Prescott was mostly silent , yet in his eyes there was a steady light , and a grim look about his mouth , that bespoke the possibility of some inconvenience to Bert Dodge and his friend , should that pair fall into the hands of Dick & Co. within the next hour . At noon Dick & Co. halted . Under the shade of a group of trees , close to a roadside spring , they built two small fires . Over one they made coffee ; over the other , they fried bacon and eggs . This , with bread , constituted the meal .