noon
It was moist , when found , with the natural juices of the plant . While it dried in the sun , under Elaine 's supervision , Grenville worked at a stout , elastic tree-branch to taper out a bow . His stub of a knife-blade served indifferently against the close-grained wood , which , nevertheless , was obliged to yield to his persevering efforts . At noon the weapon , save for the cord , was rudely finished . No arrows had been as yet provided . Obliged at this hour to replenish the camp supply of water , Grenville once more visited the spring . So fresh were the tracks of the tiger here , in the mire about the trickling stream , that he felt they must almost be warm .