noon
Probably that road was the main road and this the one which turned off . I determined to investigate . It would not do to wander out of my way with my present encumbrance . It was now somewhat after noon ; the country people were eating their dinners or engaged about their barns ; there was nobody upon the road . At some distance ahead of me was a small house standing well back behind a little group of trees , and I decided to go there and make inquiries . And as it would not do at all to throw a rural establishment into a state of wild confusion by leading a bear up to its door , I conducted Orso to the side of the road and chained him to a fence-post . He was perfectly satisfied and lay down , his nose upon his fore-paws .