noon
Leaving Murphy bound , Hampton clambered up the front of the rock to where he was able to look out . All was silent , and his heart sank as he surveyed the brown sterile hills stretching to the horizon , having merely narrow gulches of rock and sand between , the sheer nakedness of the picture unrelieved by green shrub or any living thing . Then , almost despairing , he slid back , stretched himself out amid the soft grass , and sank into the slumber of exhaustion , his last conscious memory the incoherent babbling of his insane companion . He awoke shortly after noon , feeling refreshed and renewed in both body and mind . Murphy was sleeping when he first turned to look at him , but he awoke in season to be fed , and accepted the proffered food with all the apparent delight of a child . While he rested , their remaining pack-animal had strayed , and Hampton was compelled to go on with only the two horses , strapping the depleted store of provisions behind his own saddle . Then he carefully hoisted Murphy into place and bound his feet beneath the animal 's belly , the poor fellow gibbering at him , in appearance an utter imbecile , although exhibiting periodic flashes of malignant passion .