noon
Long rides , you will say ! Aye , rides to remember ; but think of the brimming stillness of the journey , hushed and governed by that silent companion , while thought could not stray nor fancy escape from the death that chased at the elbow of each . When , on the third morning , as the sun came spouting up from the low country , they saw afar the roof that was their goal , Peter cried aloud like a child awaking from evil dreams . `` Ere noon their hoofs knocked on the stones in the front kraal , and they bore the body to the shade of the tobacco shed . '' ` And now , ' said Peter , when that was done , ` who is to tell the ou tante ? ' `` Barend leaned at the door-post with his arm cast up over his face and said nought , but there came from the house a girl of the neighborhood , who laid a finger to her lips . '' ` Hush , ' she said .