noon
Even so , he would not admit to himself that the hateful thing had happened . Nevertheless he ate the fish . `` I 've got to keep my strength up if I 'm going to help myself , '' he excused it . The sun was hidden , but he knew by that instinct which serves us when we give up mechanical contrivances , that it was no more than noon . Half of this hideous day remained to be got over . He sat dwelling on his grievances until the top of his head seemed about to fly off . Then he set to work to search for and collect dry logs and stow them under the willows , and in so doing managed to tire himself out .