about two in the afternoon
`` After all , Jack , '' says I to him at the top of my voice , being in advance and next to Don Sanchez ; `` after all , Don Lopez was not such a bad friend to us . '' Upon which , the Don , stopping his mule at the risk of being cast down the abyss , turns in his saddle , and says : `` Fellow , Don Lopez is a Spaniard . A Castilian of noble birth -- '' but here his mule deciding that this was no fit place for halting , bundled onward at a trot to overtake the guides , and obliged his rider to turn his attention to other matters . By the look of the sun it must have been about two in the afternoon when , rounding a great bluff of rock , we came upon a kind of tableland which commanded a wide view of the plain below , most dazzling to our eyes after the gloomy recesses of the pass ; and here we found trees growing and some rude attempt at cultivation , but all very poor and stunted , being still very high and exposed to the bleak winds issuing from the gorges . Our guides , throwing themselves on the ground , repaired once more to their store of onions , and we , nothing loath to follow their examples , opened our saddle bags , and with our cold meat and the hogskin of wine made another good repast and very merry . And the Don , falling into discourse with the guides , pointed out to us a little white patch on the plain below , and told us that was Ravellos , where we should find one of the best posadas in the world , which added to our satisfaction . `` But '' says he , '' 't is yet four hours ' march ere we reach it , so we had best be packing quickly . ''