midday sun
`` Why , no , '' says I. `` He 's about the last of this crew for that , I take it . '' `` Well , shipmate , '' said Gray , `` mad he may not be , but if _ he 's _ not , mark my words , _ I _ am . '' `` I take it , '' replied I , `` the doctor has his idea , and if I am right , he 's going now to see Ben Gunn . '' I was right , as appeared later ; but in the meantime , the house being stifling hot , and the little patch of sand inside the palisade ablaze with midday sun , I began to get another thought into my head which was not by any means so right . What I began to do was to envy the doctor , walking in the cool shadow of the woods , with the birds about him and the pleasant smell of the pines , while I sat grilling , with my clothes stuck to the hot resin , and so much blood about me , and so many poor dead bodies lying all around , that I took a disgust of the place that was almost as strong as fear . All the time I was washing out the blockhouse , and then washing up the things from dinner , this disgust and envy kept growing stronger and stronger , till at last , being near a bread-bag , and no one then observing me , I took the first step toward my escapade and filled both pockets of my coat with biscuit . I was a fool , if you like , and certainly I was going to do a foolish , over-bold act , but I was determined to do it with all the precautions in my power .