noon
Leonard saw these dangers and spoke seriously to the dwarf on the subject . Still he could not conceal from himself that , putting aside the question of his _ ennui _ , which made his conduct natural , at any rate in a savage , Otter 's position was a difficult one . So Leonard shrugged his shoulders and consoled himself as best he could with the reflection that , at least , his wife would teach the dwarf something of her language , which , by the way , he himself was practising assiduously under the tuition of Juanna and Soa . At noon the party adjourned to the temple , escorted by a bevy of priests and soldiers , for in obedience to Juanna 's commands the feast was to be celebrated in the daytime and not at night . As before , the vast amphitheatre was crowded with thousands of human beings , but there was a difference in the arrangements . Juanna and Otter had declined to occupy their lofty thrones , and sat in chairs at the feet of the huge and hideous stone idol , almost on the edge of the pool , Nam alone standing before them , while Leonard , Francisco , and the Settlement men ranged themselves on either side . The day was cold and miserable , and snow fell from time to time in large flakes from an ashen sky .