noon
They found the swan quite dead and lying upon its back as the eagles had turned it . Its breast was torn open , and the crimson blood , with which they had been gorging themselves , was spread in broad flakes over its snowy plumage . The eagles themselves , scared by the dog Marengo , had taken flight before the boys could get within shot of them . As it was just the hour for a `` noon halt '' and a luncheon , the swan was carried to the bank of the river , where a crackling fire was soon kindled to roast him ; and while this operation was going on the `` naturalist '' was requested by his companions to give them an account of the `` swans of America . '' `` Very well , then , '' said Lucien , agreeing to the request . `` I shall tell you all I know of the swans ; and , indeed , that is not much , as the natural history of these birds in their wild state is but little understood . On account of their shy habits , there is not much opportunity of observing them ; and as they annually migrate and breed in those desolate regions within the Arctic circle , where civilised men do not live , but little information has been collected about them .