noon
`` Well , it is time you did , my Lord , '' said the boy , seizing his lordship 's hand , and covering it with kisses . Glenarvan shook his head , but said no more , as a gesture from Thalcave made them spur on their horses and hurry forward . But it was soon evident that , with the exception of Thaouka , the wearied animals could not go quicker than a walking pace . At noon they were obliged to let them rest for an hour . They could not go on at all , and refused to eat the ALFAFARES , a poor , burnt-up sort of lucerne that grew there . Glenarvan began to be uneasy . Tokens of sterility were not the least on the decrease , and the want of water might involve serious calamities .