autumn noon
Men were drawn by lot to drive the cattle , and others to form a rearguard . The rest set off for their homes by the nearest road . The shelty had been recovered , and Sim to his pride found himself riding in the front with Wat and young Harden and others of the Scott and Elliot gentry . The company rode fast over the green hills in the clear autumn noon . Harden 's blue eyes danced , and he sang snatches in his gay voice . Wat rumbled his own praises and told of the raid over Liddel . Sim felt a new being from the broken man who the night before had wearily jogged on the same road .