midday
Out in the sunshine , fishers and trappers came and went ; harvesters staggered in under golden sheaves ; and a group of bathers shouted and splashed in the lake . But the Norman neither saw nor heard anything of the pleasant stir . Through the long golden hours he lay without sound or motion , staring absently at the green turf and the dying leaves that floated down to him with every breeze . A meal at midday was not a Brattahlid custom ; but when the noon-hour came , there was a lull in the activity while Kark carried around bread and meat and ale . Combining prudence with a saving of labor , the thrall made no attempt to approach the brooding stranger ; nor did the latter give any sign of noticing the slight . But the chief 's keen eyes saw it , as they saw everything . From his seat under the maple-tree , he called out with the voice of authority : `` Hardy bear-fighters are not made by abstaining from food ; nor are wits sharpened by sulking .