nearly noon
He then gathered from the drift-wood a number of dry sticks , and broke and split them up very fine . `` We must have a few splinters of light-wood , '' he said ; `` but after the fire is once started , we must n't put any more pine on . '' So saying , he split off a few splinters from a piece of rich heart-pine , which Southern people call `` light-wood , '' because the negroes use it instead of lamps or candles . `` Come now , '' said Sam , `` its nearly noon , and I think I can get fire for you . Go up on top of the drift-pile , Tom , and look out for Indians . If you do n't see any we can all go down to the spring together long enough to start a fire . Then I must come back to Judie , and I 'll keep a look-out for Indians while you and Joe get the corn on .