noon
Four blankets were taken from the other barrel and that too was closed . Then with the shovels the whole lot was sanded over and the rocks replaced , the girl helping in the work as well as directing . When everything was finished they made three bundles , using the blankets as holdalls , and started back . It was now noon and the breeze that had been blowing ever since dawn had died away , but great clouds were banking up over the islands , vast , solemn , leaden-coloured clouds rolling up from the far sea and piling one on the other like alps on alps . They had nearly reached the caves when a roll of thunder like the ruffle of muffled drums came over the water , but they got under shelter before the rain began to fall , just a few heavy drops , at first , and then in a moment a cataract . The islands vanished , the sea vanished to within a few hundred yards of the beach , the voices of the gulls and the breaking of the waves became merged and vague in the hiss of the sheeting rain . `` The chaps that left the truck in that cask forgot to shove in some oilskins , '' said La Touche as he undid his load .