the noon sun
Then he slowly backed off down into the water where the weedy growths were thickest , till once more his whole form was concealed except the insignificant head . This he reared among the swaying tufts of the `` mares ' tails , '' and waited to see what strange thing would happen next . He had not long to wait . That hideous , mangled heap there , sweating blood in the noon sun , seemed to have some way of making its presence known . Crashing sounds arose in different parts of the forest , and presently some half-dozen of the leaping , kangaroo-like flesh-eaters appeared . They were of varying sizes , from ten or twelve feet in length to eighteen or twenty , and they eyed each other with jealous hostility . But one glance at the weltering heap showed them that here was feasting abundant for them all .