two o'clock
In my own heart I knew I had none , or one so poor and selfish I scarcely durst whisper it even to myself ; yet I rode steadily on . Impelled by my own weakness , or drawn irresistibly by fate , -- whichever the real cause I know not , -- I would at least look upon those walls that had once sheltered her , would learn if possible if she was yet there . Then -- well , in the bondage of my passion I hoped for what might happen , as every lover does . It must have been two o'clock ; we had baited our horses , I remember , an hour previous ; and the Sergeant had enjoyed his noonday siesta beneath the shade of a great bush bearing purple blossoms . The road we had been travelling since early morning wound in and out among great trees , and crossed and recrossed the little stream called the Cowskin until I almost thought we had lost our way . We met with no one in all the long day 's riding , not even a stray negro , and indeed it was some hours since we had passed a house of any kind . Leaving the brook behind us we toiled slowly up a long hill , and at the top Bungay , riding beside me , pointed to the westward .