noon
`` Bull Shockhead , '' said the carle . But now the fellowship took to riding so fast down the slopes of the mountains on a far better road , that talking together was not easy . They kept good watch , both behind and ahead , nor were they set upon again , though whiles they saw clumps of men on the hill-sides . So after a while , when it was a little past noon , they came adown to the lower slopes of the mountains and the foot-hills , which were green and unstony ; and thereon were to be seen cattle and neatherds and shepherds , and here and there the garth of a homestead , and fenced acres about it . So now that they were come down into the peopled parts , they displayed the banners of their fellowships , to wit , the Agnes , the White Fleece , the Christopher , and the Ship and Nicholas , which last was the banner of the Faring-knights of Whitwall ; but Ralph was glad to ride under the banner of St. Nicholas , his friend , and deemed that luck might the rather come to him thereby . But they displayed their banners now , because they knew that no man of the peopled parts would be so hardy as to fall upon the Chapmen , of whom they looked to have many matters for their use and pleasure . So now that they felt themselves safe , they stayed them , and sat down by a fair little stream , and ate their dinner of such meat and drink as they had ; and Ralph departed his share with his thrall , and the man was hungry and ate well ; so that Clement said mockingly : `` Thou feedest thy thrall over well , lord , even for a king 's son : is it so that thou art minded to fatten him and eat him ? ''