midnight
It was a `` sweathouse , '' an institution common to nearly all the aboriginal tribes of California . Half a religious temple , it was also half a sanitary asylum , was used as a Russian bath or superheated vault , from which the braves , sweltering and stifling all night , by smothered fires , at early dawn plunged , perspiring , into the ice-cold river . The heat and smoke were further utilized to dry and cure the long strips of fish hanging from the roof , and it was through the narrow aperture that served as a chimney that the odor escaped which Martin had detected . He knew that as the bathers only occupied the house from midnight to early morn , it was now probably empty . He advanced confidently toward it . He was a little surprised to find that the small open space between it and the river was occupied by a rude scaffolding , like that on which certain tribes exposed their dead , but in this instance it only contained the feathered leggings , fringed blanket , and eagle-plumed head-dress of some brave . He did not , however , linger in this plainly visible area , but quickly dropped on all fours and crept into the interior of the house .