about noon
Bear one thing in mind , now , and that is , you are playing a dangerous game , and if you are found out , the country around here will be too hot to hold you . Remember that I am your only friend in this matter , and say nothing to nobody except me . '' With this piece of advice , the Ranchero galloped off , and Arthur , after placing the knife in his belt , and putting the paper carefully away in his pocket , rode toward the mountains . During the next few hours , Arthur consulted his paper frequently , and , about noon , he was standing at the base of a precipitous cliff , twenty miles from home , examining the natural features of the place , and comparing them with his diagram . He saw no one ; but half way up the cliff was a huge bowlder , over which peered a pair of eyes that were closely watching every move he made ; and , when Arthur whistled twice , the eyes disappeared , and a man stepped from behind the rock , and said , in a gruff voice : `` Who are you , and what do you want here ? '' `` Are you Pierre Costello ? '' asked Arthur .