noon
There was still another hindrance . The fire in the morass had alarmed the entire neighborhood , and the inhabitants were out , to a man , fighting the flames which threatened their meadows . Therefore De Fervlans , who wished to avoid attracting attention to his troop , was obliged to make his way through thickets and over rough byways , which was very tedious work . It was noon when they arrived at the bridge which crossed the Raab half a mile from Pomogy . At the farther end of this bridge was the custom-house , which was also a public inn . `` We must rest there , '' said De Fervlans , `` or our worn-out beasts will drop under us . '' Just as the troop rode on to the bridge , two men ran swiftly from the custom-house toward the swampy lowland .