noon
So he was given an outfit also , and the three men furnished themselves with the small-bore Austrian army rifles , whose cordite bullets possessed terrific power . Jerry said that all arrangements were made for their welfare in the village , and that tents were unnecessary as the natives could build thatch huts in half an hour while on the trip , so the impedimenta of the party was light . Canteens and cartridge belts were donned , medicine cases , mosquito nets , binoculars and blankets stowed away , and the three men shook hands with the two boys . Jerry said that the natives were even then making ready a huge barbecue in the village , which was half a mile up-river , so without pausing for noon mess the hunters departed . They took both trading goods and money with them , in order to make payments to the natives , and when they stepped down into the prau and the Malays shoved off , the boys led the crew in three hearty cheers . Out flashed the long Malay sweeps , and with final shouts ringing over the water , the prau swiftly moved off toward the river mouth . Mart and Bob watched the three stalwart khaki-clad figures standing erect amid the brown men , and followed the prau with their glasses until it was lost around the first projection of the river bank Bob little dreamed what would transpire before he was to see his father 's face again !