noon
The hungry wanderers needed no further invitation . The scanty meal , equally divided , was soon despatched . It is a common saying , but excellent to be remembered by any wanderers in our forest wilds , that those who travel by the sun travel in a circle , and usually find themselves at night in the same place from whence they started in the morning ; so it was with our wanderers . At sunset they found themselves once more in the ravine , beside the big stone , in which they had rested at noon . They had imagined themselves miles distant from it : they were grievously disappointed . They had encouraged each other with the confident hope that they were drawing near to the end of their bewildering journey : they were as far from their home as ever , without the slightest clue to guide them to the right path . Despair is not a feeling which takes deep root in the youthful breast .