twelve o'clock
What a pleasant thing it was to be able to ride forth again free to go where I liked ! And so ends my snake-story , which is perhaps not very interesting ; but it is true , and therefore has one advantage over all other snake-stories told by travellers . Before leaving the magistrate 's _ estancia _ I had made up my mind to return by the shortest route , and as quickly as possible , to Montevideo ; and that morning , mounted on a well-rested horse , I covered a great deal of ground . By twelve o'clock , when I stopped to rest my horse and get some refreshment at a wayside _ pulpería _ , I had got over about eight leagues . This was travelling at an imprudent pace , of course ; but in the Banda Orientál it is so easy to pick up a fresh horse that one becomes somewhat reckless . My journey that morning had taken me over the eastern portion of the Durazno district , and I was everywhere charmed with the beauty of the country , though it was still very dry , the grass on the higher lands being burnt to various shades of yellow and brown . Now , however , the summer heats were over , for the time was near the end of February ; the temperature , without being oppressive , was deliciously warm , so that travelling on horseback was delightful .