midday
As it is , the path will doubtless be clear . '' So saying , he turned his horse , galloped back to the spot where the tracks separated , and then followed the left-hand route . As he had hoped , he passed through the wood without incident or interruption , and arrived safely that night at a small town , having seen no signs of his enemies . The next day he started again early , and rode on until midday , when he halted at a large village , at which was the only inn between the place from which he started and his destination . He declined the offer of the servant of the inn to take his horse round to the stable , telling the man to hold him outside the door and give him from a sieve a few handfuls of grain . Then he entered the inn and ate a hearty meal . As he appeared at the door he saw several men gathered near .