about eleven
o'clock
`` Yes , father . '' `` Then let 's canter on . '' Oddly enough -- paradoxically as it may seem -- that tumble on to the elastic bush took away all Nic 's nervousness , and now he began to enjoy the delightful motion of the easy-paced nag , with the wind fanning his cheeks , the sun seeming to flash by him , and the soreness about the knees forgotten . Everything about looked bright and glorious ; and when , about eleven o'clock , they cantered up to the midday halting-place in a clump of gums , where the oxen had just been unyoked , Brookes and Leather stopped from their tasks to stare , and the black was so surprised that he forgot to stand on one leg , but watched the horsemen with wide-open eyes , standing upon two . At the end of six days , though a long way from being a horseman , Nic had reached a pitch when he could mount without fear , and enjoy thoroughly a trot , canter , or gallop ; and his father used laughingly to say that now he would not be ashamed to show him to his mother and sisters . `` It 's a long , slow , monotonous journey , Nic , '' said the doctor , at the end of that sixth day ; `` but I do n't think we 've been idle . '' `` Idle ?