about noon
But for hour after hour the animal stayed on duty , never going farther than the mouth of the cave . When the second morning broke , however , the hyena grew very restless , going out and remaining away for brief periods . But it always returned , and every time it did so Spencer naturally imagined it had seen the pack returning , and that the worst was in store for him . But at length , about noon , the brute went out and did not come back . Spencer waited and waited , fearing to move lest the creature should only be outside , fearing to tarry lest he should miss his only chance of escaping . After about an hour of this suspense he crept to the mouth of the cave . No living creature was within sight .