noon
Here , under the shade , I had my mats spread , and with one of his children sitting at my head to fan away the flies , I lay and watched , through the belt of coconuts that lined the beach , the blue rollers breaking on the reef and the snow-white boatswain-birds floating high overhead . * * * * * Tom was in the bush one morning when his family carried me to the boat-shed . He had gone for a log of seasoned TOA wood -LSB- A hard wood much used in boat building -RSB- to another village . At noon he returned , and I heard him bawling for me . His little daughter , the fly-brusher , gave an answering yell , and then Tom walked down the path , carrying two bottles of beer ; behind him Lucia , his eldest daughter , a monstrous creature of giggles , adipose tissue , and warm heart , with glasses and a plate of crackers ; lastly , old Marie , the wife , with a little table . `` By -- , you 've a lot more sense 'n me . It 's better lyin ' here in the cool , than foolin ' around in the sun ; so I 've brought yer suthin ' to drink . ''