about noon
From his retreat , built high among the dense trees , Piang watched the lake people ply their way to and fro across the water . Somewhere on that lake was the secret of the floating rice , and the boy was determined to discover the truth . He hid before dawn at the water 's edge near a spot that he had noticed was much frequented . As usual , a swarm of natives visited it about noon . Piang watched them dip up gourds and cocoanut-shell cups full of water . They strained it through cloths , repeating and repeating the action . He was sure it was the coveted rice that they were gathering and he impatiently waited for them to go ; no sooner had they departed , however , than others arrived to take up the task .