noon
The bright light of the day dispelled the terrors of the night ; both awoke not only well rested , but refreshed in spirit . Nell looked better and felt stronger . As both wanted to ride away as far as possible from the place where the slain Sudânese were lying , immediately after the refreshments they mounted their horses and moved ahead . At that time of the day all travelers in Africa stop for the noon rest , and even caravans composed of negroes seek shelter under the shade of great trees ; for they are the so-called white hours , hours of heat and silence , during which the sun broils unmercifully and , looking from above , seems to seek whom to slay . Every beast at such times burrows itself in the greatest thicket , the song of birds ceases , the buzz of insects stops , and all nature falls into silence , secreting itself as if desirous of guarding against the eye of a wicked divinity . But they rode on in the ravine in which one of the walls cast a deep shadow , enabling them to proceed without exposing themselves to the scorching heat . Stas did not want to leave the ravine , firstly , because , above , they might be espied from a distance by Smain 's detachments , and then it was easier to find , in rocky crevices , water , which in uncovered places soaked into the ground or under the influence of the sun 's rays was transformed into steam .