noon
Then they began to search the forest . They felt sure that such woodsmen as they , with the daylight to help them , would find some trace of Long Jim , but they saw none at all , although they constantly widened their circle , and again tried all their signals . Half the forenoon passed in the vain search , and then they held a council . `` I think we 'd better scatter , '' said Shif ` less Sol , `` an ' meet here again when the sun marks noon . '' It was agreed , and they took careful note of the place , a little hill crowned with a thick cluster of black oaks , a landmark easy to remember . Henry turned toward the south , and the forest was so dense that in two minutes all his comrades were lost to sight . He went several miles , and his search was most rigid .