midday
Their backward glances spoke far louder than words . Had their mission been in the nature of their ordinary calling they would possibly have felt nothing but curiosity , and their curiosity would have led them to investigate further , but as it was , all their inclinations tended in the opposite direction . `` The Dread of the Wild '' had come to them . When they camped at midday things were no better . They had seen nothing more to disturb them , but the thoughts of both had turned upon the night , so long and drear , which was to come ; and the `` dread '' grew stronger . After the noon meal Nick harnessed the dogs while Ralph stowed the chattels . They were on a hillside overlooking a wide valley of unbroken forest .