About noon
As far as the eyes reached not even euphorbias could be seen . Nothing -- only a burnt , desolate plain , covered with tufts of blackened grass and heather . From time to time there resounded in the immeasurable distance light thunder , but this in fair skies proclaims not storms but a drought . About noon , when the heat became the greatest , it was necessary to halt . The caravan broke ranks in gloomy silence . It appeared that one horse fell and about thirteen of the guards remained on the road . During the rest nobody thought of eating .