About midday
A few people stood at the outskirts of the town to watch us pass , but during the remainder of the day we saw no one except our guards . The march was terribly painful and fatiguing , though I have no wish to suggest that we were ill-treated . The fact was , the long confinement we had undergone made us keenly alive to the trials of a wearisome journey such as this . About midday a halt was called , our fastenings were loosened , while we were allowed to sit down and eat a ration of meat which was served out to each of us . Some of the soldiers rested ; others stood on guard , with orders to shoot any man who made the slightest effort to escape . `` They need n't fear my running far , '' said Alzura ruefully , showing me his bleeding feet . `` Caramba ! ''