midday
The fields of corn were no longer continuous , and presently they came to tracts of uncultivated land with patches of wood . They now left the little road they had been following , and rode straight across country , avoiding all villages . They crossed several hills , and late in the afternoon drew rein in a wide spreading forest . They were , Malcolm thought , quite as far south as Orleans , and by starting at daylight would arrive at Tours by midday . `` Here at least we are perfectly safe , '' he said ; `` when we approach Tours our perils will begin again . When once they find that we have given them the slip they are not likely to try to intercept us anywhere along the route till we near the town , for they will know that the chances are enormous against their doing so , and the parties along the various roads will push on so as to meet us somewhere near that city . The river can only be crossed at certain points , and they will feel sure we shall go by one or other of them . ''