midday
The hot African glow , the adventurous life , replete with every phase of weird and depressing incident , had strangely affected this man 's temperament . With all his coolness in emergencies -- his readiness of resource -- in times of rest he would grow moody and high-strung . A sort of surcharged , mesmeric property seemed to hold him at such times , and he would wonder whether the hideous experiences and iron self-repression which he had passed through of late had not begun , unknown to himself , actually to affect his brain . Now during the heat of the midday halt , he would withdraw and sit alone by the hour , contemplating the metal box , and at times its contents . More and more , since his wonderful escape , was it assuming in his eyes the properties of an amulet , or charm . It would reassure him , too , what time unpleasant thoughts would weigh upon him as to the end to which he had been reserved . Twice had Lilith 's love stood between him and death .