about five in
the afternoon
Parched and silent , the forest seemed thirsty . The birds , even the insects , were voiceless ; the tree-tops scarcely waved . Those persons who may still remember the summer of 1819 can imagine the woes of the poor deputy , who was struggling along , drenched in sweat , to regain his mocking friend . The latter , while smoking his cigar , had calculated from the position of the sun that it must be about five in the afternoon . `` Where the devil are we ? '' said the stout huntsman , mopping his forehead and leaning against the trunk of a tree nearly opposite to his companion , for he felt unequal to the effort of leaping the ditch between them . `` That 's for me to ask you , '' said the other , laughing , as he lay among the tall brown brake which crowned the bank .