noon
The damp chill of the nights penetrated the bodies of the closely huddled groups , and caused them to shiver ; and during the hottest hours of the day they trembled with the ague . So their existence , taken as a whole was a most unfortunate and melancholy one . There were also other denizens of the dismal places . At noon the marsh deer with wide-spreading antlers sought them out as the only available protection from the blistering sunlight . But they were wary creatures , ever on the alert , sensing danger and fleeing from it before their position was really imperilled . The tapirs too were shy but not so apprehensive of their welfare , for they were powerful animals and well versed in jungle strategy . Once Suma had essayed to try her prowess on one of the big ungulates by springing from a lower branch and burying her claws and fangs in its shoulder .