midnight
By its light I saw that the figure was Nombe 's . The eternal smile was still upon her face , the smile which suggested a knowledge of hidden things that from moment to moment amused her soul . Her lips moved as though she were talking to an invisible companion , and from time to time , like one who acts upon directions , she took a pinch of ashes and blew them , either towards Heda 's hut or ours . Yes , she did this when all decent young women should have been asleep , like one who keeps some unholy , midnight assignation . Talking with her master , Zikali , or trying to cast spells upon us , confound her ! thought I to myself , and very silently crept back into the hut . Afterwards it occurred to me that she might have had another motive , namely of watching to see that none of us left the huts .