midday
`` Yes , '' I replied . `` Perhaps , '' he continued , `` we shall learn something from it when we get back to the tent . We had better hurry , too ; we 're a long way off still , and I do n't fancy , now , being caught out here in the dark . '' It was two hours later when we reached the tent ; and , without delay , we set to work to prepare a meal ; for we had eaten nothing since our lunch at midday . Supper over , we cleared the things out of the way , and lit our pipes . Then Tonnison asked me to get the manuscript out of my satchel . This I did , and then , as we could not both read from it at the same time , he suggested that I should read the thing out loud .