late noon
But in a while , espying the woman coming thitherwards , I rose and tramped on again with no thought but to save myself from her companionship . All the morning then I rambled aimlessly to and fro , keeping ever amid the woods and thickets , staying my hunger with such fruit as I fell in with , as grapes and plantains ; or sitting listlessly , my hands idle before me , I stared out across these empty , sun-smitten waters , until , dazzled by their glare , I would rise and wander on again , my mind ever and always troubled of a great perplexity , namely : How might I -LRB- having regard to the devilish nature of this woman Joanna -RRB- keep myself from slaying her in some fit of madness , thereby staining my soul with her murder . So came I at last to my habitation in Skeleton Cove and chancing to espy my great powderhorn where it hung , I reached it down and going without the cave , scattered its contents broadcast , this being all the powder I had brought hither . It being now late noon and very hot , I cast myself down in the shade of a rock , and lying there , I presently came to the following resolution , viz : To shun the woman Joanna 's company henceforth as well as I might ; moreover -LRB- and let her haunt me how she would -RRB- to heed her neither by word or look , bearing all her scorns and revilings patiently , making no answer , and enduring all her tyranny to the uttermost . All of which fine conceits were but the most arrant folly and quickly brought to nothing , as you shall hear . For even now as I sat with these high-flown notions buzzing in my head , I started to her sudden call : `` Martino -- Martino ! '' Glancing up , I beheld her poised upon the rocks above me and a noose of small cord in her hand .