noon
Eli also glanced back just before they turned a bend , and as there was quite a little stretch of clear water back of them ere the stream twisted its way around a big bunch of birch trees that stood like sentinels on a projecting knoll , he was able to see the two bullboats come around the curve , and follow grimly in their wake , the occupants evidently making no effort at speed , for had they chosen they could have given our youngsters a warm proposition in the way of a race , their muscles being inured to the monotonous labor of the paddle . Cuthbert began asking questions of Owen , who allowed the other boat to gain a position alongside , so that conversation might be the more easily carried on . Thus he learned that , proceeding leisurely they would readily make the Hudson Bay post ere nightfall ; had there been any reason for haste this time might have been shortened by several hours ; but it suited all of them to arrive around the sunset hour . Having an abundance of time they went ashore at high noon , built a fire and had quite a healthy little lunch , washing it down with a pot of coffee , the delightful aroma of which must have reached the nostrils of the Cree paddlers who had drawn their boats ashore just below , for the wind lay in that quarter . Cuthbert expected to hear from those who were playing this comical game of tag , and , indeed , he had purposely caused the coffee to boil madly in order that the appetizing scent might be wafted with the breeze ; consequently when Eli declared one of the Indians was advancing toward the fire , the explorer grinned as though he might be patting himself on the back over having accomplished a rather pretty piece of strategy . The fellow came directly up to where they sat finishing their meal . Cuthbert did not altogether like his looks , but then he realized that he was hardly capable of judging a good Indian from a bad one , since he had only a limited experience with the natives -- what appeared to be a scowling phiz to him might seem only the natural expression to be found upon the dusky faces of these Saskatchewan dwellers of the woods , when viewed by Owen .