eight o’clock
The savages are superstitiously affected by the great phenomena of nature . The New Zealanders think that thunder is the angry voice of Noui-Atoua , and lightning the fierce gleam of his eyes . Thus their deity was coming personally to chastise the violators of the taboo . At eight o'clock , the summit of the Maunganamu was lost in portentous darkness . The sky would supply a black background for the blaze which Paganel was about to throw on it . The Maories could no longer see their prisoners ; and this was the moment for action . Speed was necessary .