noon
He retreated toward the center of the platform as the day was now coming fast after the southern fashion . The whole circle of the heavens seemed to burst into a blaze of light , and , in a few hours , the sun was hotter than it had been before . Many sounds now came from the camp below , but Ned , although he often looked eagerly , saw no signs of coming departure . Shortly after noon there was a great blare of trumpets , and a detachment of lancers rode up . They were large men , mounted finely , and the heads of their long lances glittered as they brandished them in the sun . Ned 's attention was drawn to the leader of this new detachment , an officer in most brilliant uniform , and he started . He knew him at once .