midday
His eyes opened without drowsiness ; he shot to his knees , sweeping the river bank with a glance like the boring of a gimlet . Larry , looking at him , knew that nothing -- nothing , bird , beast or man -- could escape that penetrating scrutiny . Then , without comment , the boy curled down among his blankets again and slept . They did not stop for `` grub '' at midday -- just opened a can of pork and beans , finished up the cold fried fish , and drank from the clear blue waters of the river . Then on once more upstream , which now began to broaden into placid lakelets , thereby lessening the current and giving them a chance to make more rapid headway . At four o'clock they reached the forks of the stream -- one flowed towards them from the north , the other from the west . `` Which way ? ''