noon
They deemed it probable that he had pushed on to the village , with the expectation of reaching it ahead of them and thus preparing the way for their reception . This , however , was but a pretty theory which was as liable to be wrong as right . At any rate , Ziffak must reach his home ahead of or simultaneously with the whites . The latter continued using their paddles with steady vigor , until near noon , when they knew that considerably more than half the distance was passed . They now began swaying their paddles less powerfully , for the feeling was strong upon them that they had approached as close as was prudent to the Murhapa village . It was about this time , that they rounded a bend in the Xingu which gave them sight of the river for fully half a mile before another change in its course shut out all view . Naturally , they scanned the stream in quest of enemies , who were now likely to be quite close .