about noon
The sun shining gloriously made the day delightful , but its very brightness was the cause of Alec 's discomfiture . Nothing more quickly disturbs sturgeon than a sudden shadow thrown on the water . Alec , not knowing this , was being quietly paddled against the current , thus facing toward the west . As it was now about noon , the bright sun was on his left . In this position he ought only to have attempted to spear the fish on the left side of his canoe , where he would have thrown no shadow . Ignorant of this , as soon as he observed a large sturgeon not far ahead of him he quietly indicated by signs to the canoemen which way he wished them to paddle , so as to bring him close enough to spear the fish . The men from their positions not being able to see the sturgeon paddled as directed , and soon Alec was brought close enough to make the attempt .