noon
`` Shall we go into the town and cross by the bridge , or try for a ford ? There is one a little to the north . '' `` The ford will suit our purpose , '' I said , `` and I hardly care about trusting myself in the town . '' There still wanted two hours to noon when , coming to a grassy and tree-shaded plateau through which ran a sparkling stream , Jacques proposed that we should rest the horses . So we dismounted , gave them a drink , fastened them to a tree , and lay down beside them . `` Monsieur might be able to sleep , '' suggested Jacques . `` I will watch , but we can not afford more than an hour . ''