about noon
He should see by that means what sort of impression he would be likely to make on his own people . Nominally they were Christians ; but they were hardly ever visited by the priest , and he knew that the bulk of them were still much as in his father 's day , and still placed reliance on the fetishes of the shamans . Accordingly he made his approaches to the Ballena village with caution . It was about noon when he came near , and he could see , as he reconnoitered , that a group of men were talking together in the open space about which the houses were irregularly placed . That was excellent . He crept cautiously near , having some trouble to keep the umbrella out of sight till the psychological moment : and then , holding it high overhead with one hand and the slippers and extra garments in the other , in token of amity , he uttered the orthodox Indian greeting which answers to our `` How d' ye do ? '' and advanced upon them .