noon
And he went on with his troughs and spouts until near sundown , when he and Arthur went to look at the Indian encampment , and see what progress was being made there . ` I ca n't imagine , ' said the latter , ` why the tree which produces only a watery juice in Europe should produce a diluted syrup in Canada . ' ` Holt said something of the heat of the March sun setting the sap in motion , and making it sweet . You feel how burning the noon is , these days . ' ` That 's a statement of a fact , but not an explanation , ' said the cavilling Arthur . ` Why should a hot sun put sugar in the sap ? ' Robert had no answer , nor has philosophy either .