midday
They must have had to dig the grave , for I waited near the road in a clump of cherry-trees , with my feet in two inches of mud and water , till I felt chilled to the bone . I prayed to God it would not bring back my fever , for I was only one day out of bed . I had very little tobacco left in my pouch , but I stood myself one pipe , and I ate one of the three cakes of chocolate I still carried . At last , well after midday , I could see the ship 's party returning . They marched two by two and I was thankful to see that they had no villagers with them . I walked to the road , turned up it , and met the vanguard , carrying my head as high as I knew how . ` Where 's your captain ? '