noon
Below on one side , stretched the jungle . On the other , tall grass , reeds and undergrowth led away to the river . And on that little eminence the expedition all but came to grievous wreck . Fortunately for the entire party , the bandoliers were filled that noon with the heavy cordite bullets , for Schoverling advised all to carry their heavy guns . Guru , Akram Das and Amir Ali carried the 30-30s , while von Hofe broke out a box of shells for the shotgun , as he wished to get a specimen of a peculiar crane he had seen that morning in the river , and refused to let the others shoot it for him . `` Nein , '' he objected determinedly . `` I shoot my own specimens , thanks , for it is good to say , ` Shot and mounted by Gross von Hofe . '