noon
In the stern , Mukoki nodded and grunted his conviction . `` Dead , '' he repeated . The Ombabika had now become narrow and violent . Against its swift current the canoe made but little headway , and at noon Mukoki announced that the river journey was at an end . For a few moments Rod did not recognize where they had landed . Then he gave a sudden cry of glad surprise . `` Why , this is where we had supper that night after our terrible adventure on the river last winter , '' he exclaimed .