noon
He had been compelled to abandon his basket of food , which became a perilous incumbrance on the glacier , and had now no means of refreshing himself but by breaking off and eating some of the pieces of ice . This , however , relieved his thirst ; an hour 's repose recruited his hardy frame , and with the indomitable spirit of avarice he resumed his laborious journey . His way now lay straight up a ridge of bare red rocks , without a blade of grass to ease the foot or a projecting angle to afford an inch of shade from the south sun . It was past noon and the rays beat intensely upon the steep path , while the whole atmosphere was motionless and penetrated with heat . Intense thirst was soon added to the bodily fatigue with which Hans was now afflicted ; glance after glance he cast on the flask of water which hung at his belt . `` Three drops are enough , '' at last thought he ; `` I may , at least , cool my lips with it . '' He opened the flask and was raising it to his lips , when his eye fell on an object lying on the rock beside him ; he thought it moved .