midday
Several of the foremen , among them myself , were anxious to start at once , but Lovell urged that we kill a beef before starting and divide it up among the six outfits . He also proposed to Flood that they go into town during the afternoon and freely announce our departure in the morning , hoping to force any issue that might be smouldering in the enemy 's camp . The outlook for an early departure was hailed with delight by the older foremen , and we younger and more impulsive ones yielded . The cook had orders to get up something extra for dinner , and we played cards and otherwise lounged around until the midday meal was announced as ready . A horse had been gotten up for Lovell to ride and was on picket , all the relieved men from the attached herd were at Bob 's wagon for dinner , and jokes and jollity graced the occasion . But near the middle of the noon repast , some one sighted a mounted man coming at a furious pace for the camp , and shortly the horseman dashed up and inquired for Lovell . We all arose , when the messenger dismounted and handed my employer a letter .