noon
Billy , as usual , was the first to cry out . `` What do you say to dinner , Rogers ? '' Tom looked at his watch , and directed Pat to go to the camp and prepare dinner , while the rest continued to work as before . It took them till noon to clear away the sand as far down as the gunwale , as of course it was necessary to dig a much wider space all round the boat than simply her width . The sun , too , had now become excessively hot , and the only coverings they had for their heads were straw hats . Tom suggested that they should stick some large leaves or small branches into the bands , by which means a more effectual shelter could be formed for their heads . In spite of the heat , they returned with good appetites to the camp .