midnight
Fain would that unhappy son of the forest have bid the party farewell , and returned to his own wigwam alone ; but this might not be , for his services were of some importance , and the leader of the expedition kept on him constantly an eye , which excelled in intense watchfulness the glare of the fiercest of those creatures which filled his imagination . He submitted , therefore , with the best grace he could assume ; but , what between being watched by Mackenzie , haunted by ghosts , and bullied by English Chief , poor Coppernose had a sad time of it . He possessed , however , a naturally elastic and jovial spirit , which tended greatly to ameliorate his condition ; and as time passed by without any serious mishap , or the appearance of any unusually dreadful creature , he became gradually reconciled to his position . One day -- perhaps we should rather say one night , for it was approaching midnight , although the sun was still above the horizon , owing to the high northern latitude to which they had attained , rendering the whole twenty-four hours round a continuous day -- one day -LRB- or night -RRB- as the canoes were sweeping down a reach of the broad river , they saw a few wreaths of smoke rising above the tree-tops . The spot was very beautiful , being thickly wooded and backed by high land , on the slopes of which the trees and bushes hung like delicate fringes of green among masses of silvery grey rock . `` That looks like the smoke of an Indian wigwam , Louis , '' said Mackenzie to his bowman . `` No , monsieur , it is the wood burning , '' replied Louis , dipping his vermilion-painted paddle with great vigour .