twenty minutes past eleven
For there in front of him , right across his path , lay the fallen pillar which , according to Heliobas , marked the boundary to the field he sought ! Another glance at his map decided the position ... he had reached his journey 's end at last ! What was the time ? He looked -- it was just twenty minutes past eleven . A curious , unnatural calmness suddenly possessed him , ... he surveyed with a quiet , almost cold , unconcern the prospect before him , -- a wide level square of land covered with tufts of coarse grass and clumps of wild tamarisk , ... nothing more . This was the Field of Ardath ... this bare , unlovely wilderness without so much as a tree to grace its outline ! From where he stood he could view its whole extent , -- and as he beheld its complete desolation he smiled , -- a faint , half-bitter smile .