midday
Know where it is ? '' `` Ise know where chopper , but de hut all gone away . '' The wood-shed was standing though , and before very long , with Hannibal 's help , a good basketful of dry wood was cut ; and after a long struggle and several dryings in the hot sun , the tinder and matches acted , and big fires were blazing in the house , whose floors were now only covered with mud . Already the thatch and shingle roof had ceased to drip , and was rapidly drying , while by midday Sarah was busy at work with brush and pail cleansing the floors , and keeping the two blacks and myself busy bringing things out to dry , while Morgan was removing mud from the various objects within the house . The main difficulty we had to encounter was how to find a dry resting-place for the night . Sheets and blankets promised to be quite fit for use by sundown , but the question was where to lay them . Every one naturally objected to the trees , and the ridge of the roof was no more inviting than on the first night .