midnight
I held my way due west to the Malhominis . I could secure their cooperation , if nothing more . Pierre followed at a canoe length , and we traveled unbrokenly . It was an hour short of midnight when we saw the west shore . I could take no bearings in the dim light , so we nosed along , uncertain whether to go north or south to find the mouth of the Wild Rice River where the Malhominis had their home . We held a short colloquy and started northward . Suddenly Pierre shot his canoe beside my own .