about noon
`` Since then , I have been longing to go back to see the white man ; but I found that a watch was kept on me . When I heard you , however , inquiring for a white man , I at once thought that the stranger I had seen must be the one you were in search of , and I resolved to help you to find him , being assured that he is no magician . '' `` I have great hopes that he is the very man we are in search of , '' exclaimed Oliver , after Manita had finished her narrative , which took much longer time to give than it has to describe , seeing that she had to repeat it in a variety of ways before she was satisfied that her listener understood what she said . She had brought a good supply of provisions , and as Oliver hinted that he was getting very hungry , somewhere about noon she guided the canoe towards the bank , where they rested for awhile , and ate their food . They then paddled on again with renewed vigour . Manita complimented Oliver on the way in which he handled his paddle , and remarked that they were getting on much faster than when she had gone up before . It was thus some time before evening when she announced that they had arrived at the spot where she had before landed .