noon
Effects of Corn -- One Night Longer -- The Hoofs -- A Stumble -- Are You Hurt ? -- What a Difference ! -- Drowsy -- Maze of Bushes -- Housekeeping -- Sticks and Furze -- The Drift-way -- Account of Stock -- Anvil and Bellows -- Twenty Years . It was two or three hours past noon when I took my departure from the place of the last adventure , walking by the side of my little cart ; the pony , invigorated by the corn , to which he was probably not much accustomed , proceeded right gallantly ; so far from having to hasten him forward by the particular application which the tinker had pointed out to me , I had rather to repress his eagerness , being , though an excellent pedestrian , not unfrequently left behind . The country through which I passed was beautiful and interesting , but solitary : few habitations appeared . As it was quite a matter of indifference to me in what direction I went , the whole world being before me , I allowed the pony to decide upon the matter ; it was not long before he left the high road , being probably no friend to public places . I followed him I knew not whither , but , from subsequent observation , have reason to suppose that our course was in a north-west direction .