three o'clock in the afternoon
When I turned into it -- at about two o'clock a.m. -- the starlit sky gave just sufficient light to enable me to pursue my way along the main road ; but by the time I had penetrated a couple of hundred yards into this by-path , I was enveloped in a perfectly Egyptian darkness . By degrees , however , my vision became accustomed to the gloom , and I stumbled on over the uneven ground for a distance of some twelve miles , when daylight began to appear through the leafy canopy overhead , and prudence suggested to me the desirability of forthwith seeking some safe hiding-place wherein to pass the day and take that repose of which I was beginning to feel the need . I therefore turned off the road and plunged into the forest for about a quarter of a mile , when I came upon a dense and almost impenetrable thicket which seemed admirably suited to my purpose ; I accordingly forced my way into it until I found a spot of clear ground wide enough to stretch myself upon comfortably , when flinging myself upon the turf , and placing my bag beneath my head , I almost immediately dropped off into a deep and dreamless slumber . It was just three o'clock in the afternoon when I awoke . My somewhat unwonted exertions of the previous night had greatly fatigued me , and I should probably have slept on until darkness had once more returned , had it not been for a wandering sun-ray which had found its way through the branches overhead , and , shining directly in my face , had awakened me . I awoke stiff , ravenously hungry , and parched with thirst . I had had the forethought to provide against an inopportune attack of the former feeling , by putting a biscuit or two in my pocket ; but in the excitement of coming away I had omitted -- as I now found to my chagrin -- to bring my flask with me .