midday
The sun is baking hot . The shadows begin to grow shorter and to draw in on themselves , like the horns of a snail ... . The high grass warmed by the sun begins to give out a strong , heavy smell of honey . It will soon be midday , and Gerassim and Lubim are still floundering under the willow tree . The husky bass and the shrill , frozen tenor persistently disturb the stillness of the summer day . `` Pull him out by the gills , pull him out ! Stay , I 'll push him out !