midday
Regaining the road , I proceeded once more in the direction of the north ; and , after a few hours , coming to a comfortable public house , I stopped and put up for the night . I did not wake till rather late the next morning ; and when I did , I felt considerable drowsiness , with a slight headache , which I was uncharitable enough to attribute to the mead which I had drank on the preceding day . After feeding my horse , and breakfasting , I proceeded on my wanderings . Nothing occurred worthy of relating till midday was considerably past , when I came to a pleasant valley , between two gentle hills . I had dismounted , in order to ease my horse , and was leading him along by the bridle , when , on my right , behind a bank in which some umbrageous ashes were growing , I heard a singular noise . I stopped short and listened , and presently said to myself , `` Surely this is snoring , perhaps that of a hedgehog . '' On further consideration , however , I was convinced that the noise which I heard , and which certainly seemed to be snoring , could not possibly proceed from the nostrils of so small an animal , but must rather come from those of a giant , so loud and sonorous was it .