noon
`` We 'll strike it in the afternoon , '' Vane assured him . They reslung their packs and set out wearily . Carroll , limping and stumbling along , was soon troubled by a distressful stitch in his side . He managed to keep pace with Vane , however , and some time after noon a twinkling gleam among the trees caught their eye . Then the shuffling pace grew faster , and they were breathless when at last they stopped and dropped their burdens beside the boat . It was only at the third or fourth attempt that they got her down to the water , and the veins were swollen high on Vane 's flushed forehead when he sat down , panting heavily , on her gunwale . `` We ran her up quite easily , though we had the slope to face then , '' he remarked .