noon
He strung his bow , but he could not fit the arrow to the string , he missed the notch , so much did his hands shake . He motioned to the retainers who had gathered around , and one of them thrust his spear into the horse behind his shoulder . When Felix at last returned to his chamber he could not but reflect , as the sun rose and the beams entered , that every omen had been against him ; the adder under foot , the bandit 's bolt , the Bushman 's poisoned point . He slept till noon , and , upon going out , unrefreshed and still weary , he found that they had already buried the horse , and ordered a mound to be raised above his grave . The day passed slowly ; he wandered about the castle and the enclosed grounds , seeking comfort and finding none . His mind vacillated ; he recalled all that Aurora had said , persuading him not to do anything in haste or despair . Yet he could not continue in his present condition .