noon
At the foot of the mountain they came upon a river , deep but not wide , with low grassy banks , and Hallblithe , who was an exceeding strong swimmer , helped the seekers over without much ado ; and there they stood upon the grass of that goodly waste . Hallblithe looked on them to note if any change should come over them , and he deemed that already they were become stronger and of more avail . But he spake nought thereof , and strode on toward the Uttermost House , even as that other day he had stridden away from it . Such diligence they made , that it was but little after noon when they came to the door thereof . Then Hallblithe took the horn and blew upon it , while his fellows stood by murmuring , `` It is the Land ! It is the Land ! '' So came the Warden to the door , clad in red scarlet , and the elder went up to him and said : `` Is this the Land ? ''