nearly noon
`` I should have done it before . And they will probably fire to attract our attention , for there are several guns aboard the steamer . '' They now made up a definite program , to the effect that they would stop every half-hour to listen for possible shouts and shots and would also shout and fire in their turn . This was done , but the sun was nearly noon high , and they had heard no sounds save the natural ones of the swamp and forest . Now and then they would see alligators in the waters up or down which they rowed , but the saurians showed no disposition to molest the boat . And Russ had too few cartridges to wish to waste any on the creatures . `` We may have to spend another night in the open , '' he confided to Paul .