midnight
They came to me , and entered fully into my object ; and it was decided that we should go on immediately to the fortress where those who wished to carry on war had intrenched themselves . We got there just as the sun was setting ; and from that time till midnight I was engaged in what I saw now for the first time ; a savage council of war . Grim black warriors covered with black powder sat or stood about , on a little clear spot of ground where the moon shone down ; muskets and clubs and spears lay on the glass and were scattered about among the boles of the trees ; a heathen-looking scene . Till midnight we talked , and hard talking too ; then it was ended as I had prayed it might . The party with whom I was had suffered already in battle and had not had their revenge ; it was difficult to give that up ; but at last the chief got up and put his hand in mine . ` I should like to be a heathen a little longer , ' he said , ` but I will _ lotu _ as you so earnestly entreat me . ' _ Lotu _ is their name for embracing Christianity .