noon
He was hungry , but there were no means at hand with which to satisfy the cravings of his stomach , and so he had to move forward without eating . Getting into the forest had been difficult , but getting out was even more of a task . The underbrush at certain points was positively impassable , and he had to make long detours , which took time and tired him greatly . At noon he was still in the forest , and the mountain seemed as far off as ever . `` I am lost , that is all there is to it ! '' he burst out with a groan . `` I am lost , and perhaps I 'll never get out ! ''