noon
Peter had the leading rein of the middle horse while Barend steadied its burden , and thus they traveled towards the east and home . `` When the sun was high , they no longer dared follow the road . Out of those they must meet and exchange words with , there would surely be some whom they could not deceive-some who had seen death before and knew the signs of it . So they pulled aside , and made for the high land of Baviaan 's Nek , riding across the gray grass and among the yellow ant-hills till close on noon . Then , dipping to a hollow , where some willows cast a shade upon a pool of a spruit , they dismounted and laid the dead man in the cool , while they off-saddled the horses and rested themselves . There were biltong and bread in their saddle-bags , and tobacco they did not lack , and the need for food drove them to make a big meal . They were concerned with this so deeply that they did not notice that a Kafir , carrying the bundles which Kafirs always carry on the trek , had come up to them .