midday
`` If they did , they 'd be sure to go and bother Whopper and Tommy at once -- and two could n't do much against that whole crowd . '' Snap and Shep had fixed the direction well in their mind and studied the position of the sun , so that they might not go astray . Having left the Spink camp behind them , the three boys struck out in a bee line for the spot where they had left the pit with the dead wildcats as bait . They made good progress , and stopped less than half an hour for lunch at midday . `` We ought to reach there before nightfall , '' said the doctor 's son . `` That is , unless we get turned around again . '' `` I think we are going straight , '' answered Snap .