midnight
When he had walked some distance he sat down beneath one of them to make a frugal supper from the dry rations in his pack , but in the absence of any spring he was forced to quench his thirst with a glass of water in a wayside tavern . Here he was good-humoredly offered something stronger , which he declined , and replied to certain curious interrogations by saying that he expected to overtake his friends in a wagon further on . A new distrust of mankind had begun to make the boy an adept in innocent falsehood , the more deceptive as his careless , cheerful manner , the result of his relief at leaving the city , and his perfect ease in the loving companionship of night and nature , certainly gave no indication of his homelessness and poverty . It was long past midnight , when , weary in body , but still hopeful and happy in mind , he turned off the dusty road into a vast rolling expanse of wild oats , with the same sense of security of rest as a traveler to his inn . Here , completely screened from view by the tall stalks of grain that rose thickly around him to the height of a man 's shoulder , he beat down a few of them for a bed , on which he deposited his blanket . Placing his pack for a pillow , he curled himself up in his blanket , and speedily fell asleep . He awoke at sunrise , refreshed , invigorated , and hungry .