about noon
`` I am ; but I shall do as you say . '' `` I say ' go on . ' '' Sam reached out and took Ulna 's hand , and so they stood for some minutes looking at the frightful rapids which they had decided to face . It was now about noon , there was fully five hours of daylight left , and they decided to avail themselves of it to test the rapids . Sam reasoned that the thing had to be done , and the sooner the experiment was made the better , and in addition to this he knew that there was no more food left , and that from this time on himself and his companions would grow weaker and weaker for the effort . They turned to walk back , Sam clambering along the giddy ledge of the rock which rose straight up from the water . He was a few yards in advance of Ulna , for whose immediate safety he had no fear , when he was brought to a sudden stand , and his heart stopped beating , and the cold sweat came out on his forehead at hearing a short , quick cry of alarm behind him .