about five hours after noon
Therewith he blew one blast from a horn which hung at his saddle-bow ; the runner leapt up behind old Oliver , and the whole company went off at a smart trot somewhat south-east , slantwise of the cross-roads , where the wood was nought cumbered with undergrowth ; and presently they were all gone to the last horse-tail , and no man took any more note of Ralph . Another Adventure in the Wood Perilous Ralph left alone pondered a little ; and thought that he would by no means go hastily to the Burg of the Four Friths . Said he to himself ; This want-way is all unlike to the one near our house at home : for belike adventures shall befall here : I will even abide here for an hour or two ; but will have my horse by me and keep awake , lest something hap to me unawares . Therewith he whistled for Falcon his horse , and the beast came to him , and whinnied for love of him , and Ralph smiled and tied him to a sapling anigh , and himself sat down on the grass , and pondered many things ; as to what folk were about at Upmeads , and how his brethren were faring ; and it was now about five hours after noon , and the sun 's rays fell aslant through the boughs of the noble oaks , and the scent of the grass and bracken trodden by the horse-hoofs of that company went up into the warm summer air . A while he sat musing but awake , though the faint sound of a little stream in the dale below mingled with all the lesser noises of the forest did its best to soothe him to sleep again : and presently had its way with him ; for he leaned his head back on the bracken , and in a minute or two was sleeping once more and dreaming some dream made up of masterless memories of past days . When he awoke again he lay still a little while , wondering where in the world he was , but as the drowsiness left him , he arose and looked about , and saw that the sun was sinking low and gilding the oakboles red . He stood awhile and watched the gambols of three hares , who had drawn nigh him while he slept , and now noted him not ; and a little way he saw through the trees a hart and two hinds going slowly from grass to grass , feeding in the cool eventide ; but presently he saw them raise their heads and amble off down the slope of the little dale , and therewith he himself turned his face sharply toward the north-west , for he was fine-eared as well as sharp-eyed , and on a little wind which had just arisen came down to him the sound of horse-hoofs once more .