midday
All dismounted , examined horses for galls , and looked at their shoes , took pulls at water-bottles , lit cigarettes , expectorated , coughed , flicked at flies with handkerchiefs . The two chromatic girls cycled past slowly , laughing . A stretcher-party also went past , and shortly afterwards returned with the stretcher laden . It was after the long halt at midday that the weather changed . The horses , martyrized by insects , had been elaborately watered and fed with immense labour ; officers and men had eaten rations and dust from their haversacks , and for the most part emptied their water-bottles ; and the march had been resumed in a temper captious and somewhat exacerbated . `` Get your horse away ; he 's kicking mine ! '' said Captain Resmith impatiently to George , reflecting the general mood .