noon
To-day he seemed very much at home in the great wood as he glanced about him fearlessly , but so he would have been anywhere . Apparently he was unprotected from assault save by the bow he carried . In reality he wore a shirt of chain mail beneath his doublet , a precaution which he the more willingly took because of his good hope one day to be a knight , when not only the shirt of mail , but the helmet , shield , sword , and lance would be his as well . It was not far from noon when he came to the great open place cleared of all timber and undergrowth which announced the presence of a castle . And looking up , he saw the flag of the De Aldithelys flying from its turrets . There was a rustle in the thicket , horse and deerhound pricked up their ears , and then ran pursued by flying arrows . And now ride !