midday
But rocks or vines would not dampen the Professor 's ardour . He saw himself upon a pedestal that he would build out of the Polynesian lore and the relics which he would collect . With Spartan fortitude he would not allow the expedition to halt for one moment while the injured nose was being attended to , and he took up the interrupted matter with Soma before the blood had been staunched . Kaipi worked himself close to me just before midday , and , with one eye upon Soma and the other five carriers , whispered a message . `` Soma much friend of big man . '' `` How do you know ? '' I questioned .