noon
said the minstrel , addressing the messenger . `` If you , as I guess , are the minstrel , Renault Vidal , you are to abide your master at the Battle-bridge , according to the charge formerly given . '' `` I will meet him , as in duty bound , '' was Vidal 's answer ; and scarce was it uttered , ere the two horsemen , turning their backs on him , rode briskly forward , and were speedily out of sight . It was now four hours past noon , and the sun was declining , yet there was more than three hours ' space to the time of rendezvous , and the distance from the place did not now exceed four miles . Vidal , therefore , either for the sake of rest or reflection , withdrew from the path into a thicket on the left hand , from which gushed the waters of a streamlet , fed by a small fountain that bubbled up amongst the trees . Here the traveller sat himself down , and with an air which seemed unconscious of what he was doing , bent his eye on the little sparkling font for more than half an hour , without change of posture ; so that he might , in Pagan times , have represented the statue of a water-god bending over his urn , and attentive only to the supplies which it was pouring forth . At length , however , he seemed to recall himself from this state of deep abstraction , drew himself up , and took some coarse food from his pilgrim 's scrip , as if suddenly reminded that life is not supported without means .