noon
The island of flowers and the island of silence in one , he felt the place to be , and no fear of fighting , with himself as sole inhabitant . So might the islands have been after Maeldune had renounced his purpose of revenge , after he had returned from the isle of the saint who had spoken words of peace . He lost count of time . A pleasant waking drowsiness fell upon him , till at length , seeing that the sun had reached its zenith , he realized that it must be noon , and began to consider the advisability of retracing his steps . He got to his feet , whistling to a white speck in the distance , which he rightly judged to be Josephus , and set out on his homeward route . * * * * * The village appeared deserted , as he once more reached it . Doubtless the Sunday dinner , which accounts so largely for Sunday sleepiness , was in progress .