noon
He had been shot through the middle with an arrow , but had lived to tell of victory . In an instant the Queen knelt beside him , trying to raise his head ; and he smiled when he knew her , and died . But there were gentle tears in her eyes as she rose to her feet and bade them bury the Gascon deep , while she herself laid his shield upon his knees , and crossed his hands upon his breast . Many others died there , and were buried quickly ; but the bodies of the Seljuks were dragged aside , out of the line of the march ; and it was high noon , for all that had happened had taken place in about two hours . Yet as the way was long to the summit of the pass , those of Gilbert 's men who had not been killed urged the Queen to march on at once , in order that the camp might be pitched by daylight where Gilbert was waiting . So Eleanor commanded that all her people should follow her in the best order they could keep , and she began to ride up the steep way . But in the valley the King 's army was pressing on and up toward the place where Gilbert had fought yesterday , where the bones of the slain Seljuks were already white , and the gorged vultures perched sleeping in the noonday sun .