nearly midnight
The teacher thanked us warmly , but declined to come with us , saying that he could not leave the many for the few , `` for , '' he added sadly , `` who will read the service over those who die ? As you sail down the lagoon you will meet canoes coming up from Funâfala bringing the dead . I can not go there to bury them . '' It was nearly midnight when we put off from the schooner 's side , but with Suka as pilot we ran quickly down to the island . A few natives met us as we stepped on shore , and to these we gave the provisions we had brought , telling them to divide them equally . Then with Suka leading , and carrying a lighted torch made from the spathe of the cocoanut tree , we made our way through the darkened forest to the house in which Susâni and her people were living . It was situated on the verge of the shore , on the weather side of the narrow island , so as to be exposed to the cooling breath of the trade wind , and consisted merely of a roof of thatch with open sides , and the ground within covered with coarse mats , upon which we saw were lying three figures .