midday
Whenever the messenger approached he whinnied so menacingly that everybody laughed again . Is there none amongst ye that will help me to catch the horse ? the poor messenger cried after the departing travellers . We have a long day 's march in front of us , Azariah said ; and he warned Joseph not to beat his mule into a gallop at the beginning of the journey or he would repent it later , words that came true sooner than Joseph had expected , for before midday he was asking how many miles would bring them to the caravansary . In about another hour , Azariah answered , and Joseph said he had begun to hate his mule for it would neither trot nor gallop , only walk . Thou ` rt thinking of the nomads and would like to be after them flourishing a lance , Azariah said , and -- afraid that he was being laughed at -- Joseph made no answer . After the rest at midday it seemed to him to be his duty to see that his mule had been properly fed , and he bought some barley from the camel-driver , but while he was giving it to his mule Azariah remarked that he was only depriving other animals of their fair share of provender .