noon
But Terry had slipped out to clean up at the creek before the girls should come . That morning they noted that for the first time a number of warriors hung around the village , watching the hut where the white men lived with a studied insolence that proved their hostility . Pud-Pud was of them , and loudest in his talk . At noon a large crowd had gathered , composed of those most inimical to the strangers . While the two stood near the entrance to their shack watching the eddying currents of almost naked humanity they saw Pud-Pud detach himself from his companions and swagger toward them , spear in hand . The crowd watched him eagerly as he advanced to test the mettle of the pale outlanders : Pud-Pud had boasted that he would end this suspense . The insolent savage advanced , stopped ten feet from them and brandished his weapon , his attitude one of utter contempt .