Noon
`` This is insufferable , '' said Pidcock . `` I shall put her off at Cedar Springs . '' I suppose the drive was long to him , but to me it was not . Noon and Cedar Springs prematurely ended the first half of this day most memorable in the whole medley of my excursion , and we got down to dine . Two travellers bound for Thomas by our same road were just setting out , but they firmly declined to transport our cook , and Pidcock moodily saw them depart in their wagon , leaving him burdened still ; for this was the day the stage made its down trip from Thomas . Never before had I seen water paid for . When the Major , with windy importance , came to settle his bill , our dozen or fourteen escort horses and mules made an item , the price of watering two head being two bits , quite separate from the feed ; and I learned that water was thus precious over most of the Territory .