noon
`` Luncheon is served , sir . On top of that , a little rest ; and the sooner I 'm off the better ! '' He made an excellent lunch ; and a long siesta , under the vessel , among the packing-cases , restored his strength completely . When he woke and saw that his watch was already pointing to noon , he felt uneasy at the waste of time and suddenly reflected that others must have taken the same path and would now be able to catch him up and outstrip him . And he did not intend this to happen . Accordingly , feeling as fit as at the moment of starting , provided with the indispensable provisions and determined to follow up the adventure to the very end , without a companion to share his glory or to rob him of it , he set off again at a very brisk , unflagging pace . `` I shall get there , '' he thought , `` I mean to get there .