noon
Halloran had enjoined silence for some reason , and he stopped his brother irritably when that usually irrepressible youth started to whistle feebly . With an occasional rest the expedition made slow but certain headway during the night , halting for the day when the rapidly brightening east warned them that old Sol would soon have to be reckoned with . A barrel of water was buried in the sand , a bamboo brought for the purpose being planted upright near the spot , and after a hasty breakfast the tired men were soon asleep under a light awning carried for the purpose ; one man , however , being constantly on watch . By noon the heat had become intolerable . Roasting in the sun seemed preferable to stewing under the canvas , and by three o'clock the party were on their way again . They rested at midnight , and rested better . The fourth night found them still on the sand-dunes , and by this time the weird journey was beginning to tell upon the white men .