noon
He joined his hands across his knees , and leaned his head on the curve of the shield behind him . ` Late in the summer , when the first frosts begin and the Picts kill their bees , we three rode out after wolf with some new hounds . Rutilianus , our General , had given us ten days ' leave , and we had pushed beyond the Second Wall -- beyond the Province of Valentia -- into the higher hills , where there are not even any of old Rome 's ruins . We killed a she-wolf before noon , and while Allo was skinning her he looked up and said to me , `` When you are Captain of the Wall , my child , you wo n't be able to do this any more ! '' ` I might as well have been made Prefect of Lower Gaul , so I laughed and said , `` Wait till I am Captain . '' ' `` No , do n't wait , '' said Allo . `` Take my advice and go home -- both of you . '' '