midday
He would also stand for hours on the top of a monolith -- he thought it was a gate-post -- and try to crack his cattle-whip like a pistol-shot . He had to climb to a height to get the lash off the ground at all . When the animals lay down in the middle of the morning , he was often tired too , and then he would seat himself upon the head of one of the big bullocks , and hold on to the points of its horns ; and while the animal lay chewing with a gentle vibration like a machine , he sat upon its head and shouted at the top of his voice songs about blighted affections and horrible massacres . Toward midday Rud came running up , as hungry as a hunter . His mother sent him out of the house when the hour for a meal drew near . Pelle shared the contents of his basket with him , but required him to bring the animals together a certain number of times for every portion of food . The two boys could not exist apart for a whole day together .