noon
And on the boat glided , kept closer to the shore where the eddies played and the full force of the stream was missed . And then on and on hour after hour , with a few intervals of rest where the waters whispered and they made fast to some overhanging bough and spent the minutes thinking that horsemen might be near , scouring the country where they could approach the banks on either side to cut off the fugitives , though not a sound was heard . And so on till day broke and they made fast amongst the trees in the most secluded place they came to , not daring to expose themselves where they might be seen . They had no trouble with the King , for , weak with his wound and half stupefied by the drug Leoni had administered , he slept on hour after hour through the pleasant morning and through the heat of noon , his resting-place quite cool beneath the shadowing trees and with his brow fanned by the soft summer breeze . He did not even stir when , kneeling in the boat , Leoni moistened and drew off the bandages to dress his wound , washing them in the stream and drying them in a patch where the hot sun heated the bows of the boat , but still slept on as if restful and comforted by the chirurgeon 's skilful hands . `` Better or worse ? '' whispered Saint Simon , while the task was in progress .