nearly noon
Rob looked ruefully at the wet willow thicket in which their camp was pitched . `` We can get a few dead limbs , '' he said , `` but , wet as things are now , we 'd only smoke the stuff and not dry it much . '' `` Wait for the sun , '' advised John . And this they found it wise to do , not leaving the island until nearly noon . `` Morale pretty good ! '' said Uncle Dick . `` John , set down , ` Men in verry high sperrits . '