noon
Indeed , Lil Artha felt sure he could see a satisfied grin upon the rubicund face of the happy-go-lucky , fat scout from time to time as he heard the one at the pole puffing with the exertion . Perhaps in the end it would prove to be a case of the `` last straw on the camel 's back , '' and Lil Artha , casting discretion to the winds , would feel impelled to thrust the push-pole into the inexperienced hands of Landy Smith . He was evidently putting off the evil hour as long as he could , fearful of consequences . So noon came and found them well into the depths of Sassafras Swamp . They went ashore to eat their lunch , Lil Artha begging that they have a small fire and make a pot of coffee . `` I c 'n pick up aplenty of real dry wood , you know , Elmer , '' he went on to say in his wheedling way , `` so that there ai n't going to be hardly a whiff of smoke that anybody could see with a field glass . And say , when you 're all tuckered out with pushing a boat through the grass and lily-pads , nothing makes you feel so fine as a brimming cup of coffee .