noon
When it wanted perhaps an hour of noon , they came to a little patch of meadow surrounding a solitary Judas-tree covered with bloom . Here they built a fire , for the replenishing of the coals in the fire-baskets , and as a menace to prowling beasts . Then they dined on their sun-dried meat and on ripe plantains gathered during the journey . Having dined , the three younger members of the party stretched themselves out in the shade for their noon sleep , while Grôm , whose restless brain never suffered him to sleep by day , kept watch , and pondered the adventure which lay before them . As Grôm sat there , ten or a dozen paces from the fire , absorbed in thought , his eyes gradually focussed themselves upon a big purple-and-lemon orchid bloom , which glowed forth conspicuously from the rank green jungle-growth fringing the meadow . The gorgeous bloom seemed to rise out of a black , curiously gnarled elbow of branch or trunk which thrust itself out through the leafage . Grôm 's eyes dwelt for a time , unheeding , upon this piece of misshapen tree trunk .