noon
While thus engaged , the wind blowing gently from the west , in which quarter Limerick lay , I distinctly heard the explosion of the cannon , which played from and against the city , though at a distance of eleven miles at the least . I never yet heard the music that had for me half the attractions of that sullen sound , and as I noted again and again the distant thunder that proclaimed the perils , and the valour , and the faithfulness of my brethren , my heart swelled with pride , and the tears rose to my eyes ; and lifting up my hands to heaven , I prayed to God that I might be spared to take a part in the righteous quarrel that was there so bravely maintained . I felt , indeed , at this moment a longing , more intense than I have the power to describe , to be at once with my brave companions in arms , and so inwardly excited and stirred up as if I had been actually within five minutes ' march of the field of battle . It was now almost noon , and I had walked hard since morning across a difficult and broken country , so that I was a little fatigued , and in no small degree hungry . As I approached the hamlet , I was glad to see in the window of a poor hovel several large cakes of meal displayed , as if to induce purchasers to enter . I was right in regarding this exhibition as an intimation that entertainment might be procured within , for upon entering and inquiring , I was speedily invited by the poor woman , who , it appeared , kept this humble house of refreshment , to lay down my pack and seat myself by a ponderous table , upon which she promised to serve me with a dinner fit for a king ; and indeed , to my mind , she amply fulfilled her engagement , supplying me abundantly with eggs , bacon , and wheaten cakes , which I discussed with a zeal which almost surprised myself . Having disposed of the solid part of my entertainment , I was proceeding to regale myself with a brimming measure of strong waters , when my attention was arrested by the sound of horses ' hoofs in brisk motion upon the broken road , and evidently approaching the hovel in which I was at that moment seated .