noon
We went on as before . Sometimes a snake glided across our path , but quickly got out of our way , more frightened at us than we were at seeing it . Now we heard a rustling in the underwood , and a panther or hyena dashed away amid the foliage without thinking of attacking us . We had gone on at a slower pace than at first , when , by the appearance of the sun in the sky , I saw that it must be noon . I now once more called a halt , for I felt tired myself , and was afraid that Natty must be equally so . We had for some time been crossing the open prairie , steering , by the sun and the distant line of mountain , as I hoped in the right direction . Before us lay a thick wood .