a couple of hours after noon
They must be up early indeed who would weather on _ him _ ! And so , ruminating somewhat vain-gloriously , he pushed on over the ringing ground , his horse snorting frosty breaths on the chill air , and inclined to hump his back and squeal on the smallest excuse . Mile after mile slipped easily behind him , and the sun began to show a blood-red face over the hill ; a `` hare limped trembling through the frozen grass , '' and crows cawed hungrily as they flew past on sluggish , blue-black wing , questing for food . The world was awake now , and M'Fadyen reckoned that by a couple of hours after noon he should be safe home with his money . Only -- who was that on the road ahead of him ? A soldier by his coat , surely , with his servant riding behind . Well , so much the better ; that would be company for him over the loneliest part of his ride , across the moor which bore an evil name .