one o'clock in the afternoon
Ten minutes after everybody was stretched out on a carpet of sea-weed . Negoro himself thought he must rejoin the little troop and take his part of the repast , which was going to be made in common . Doubtless he had not judged it proper to venture alone under the thick forest , through which the winding river made its way . It was one o'clock in the afternoon . The preserved meat , the biscuit , the sweet water , with the addition of a few drops of rum , of which Bat had saved a quarter cask , made the requisites for this repast . But if Negoro took part in it , he did not at all mingle in the conversation , in which were discussed the measures demanded by the situation of the shipwrecked . All the time , without appearing to do so , he listened to it , and doubtless profited by what he heard .