noon
`` Now we must push on again , '' exclaimed Sir Reginald . `` I do n't know , Professor , whether or not you wish to have either of those skins ; but , if you do , we must wait until we get back to the ship , and then come and look for them . We can not spare the time to take them now , or cumber ourselves with them when taken . Now , gentlemen , it is noon , and there is the sun . He is on the meridian , and consequently due north of us . He certainly does not cast a very long shadow , but he casts enough to show that yonder lies our path ; so , forward ! '' Their path happened to lead almost directly through the centre of this wide , open space , and the going being easy they quickly traversed it , and plunged again into the forest shadows on the other side , where their slow , toilsome , groping style of progress was resumed .