noon
The witch was like a sick child weary of his toy : she would pull her to pieces , and see how she liked it . She would set her in the sun , and see her die , like a jelly from the salt ocean cast out on a hot rock . It would be a sight to soothe her wolf-pain . One day , therefore , a little before noon , while Nycteris was in her deepest sleep , she had a darkened litter brought to the door , and in that she made two of her men carry her to the plain above . There they took her out , laid her on the grass , and left her . Watho watched it all from the top of her high tower , through her telescope ; and scarcely was Nycteris left , when she saw her sit up , and the same moment cast herself down again with her face to the ground . `` She 'll have a sunstroke , '' said Watho , `` and that 'll be the end of her . ''