noon
Hi ! but I wish ye kill um . '' The long journey to Jamestown was made . They left at sunrise one morning and rode until noon , when they halted in the wilderness to allow the horses an hour to rest and graze , while they lay on a blanket spread on the grass under a tree . Robert and his sister fell asleep , and the negro was nodding , when a snake came gliding through the grass toward the sleeping children . Sam awoke in a moment and , seizing a stout stick , struck the snake and killed it before it could reach the children . They were awakened by the blow and , trembling at their narrow escape , once more set out for Jamestown .