about noon
Not a beast , bird , or insect was stirring throughout the whole length and breadth of the far-stretching forest aisles . The grass , the flowers , the leaves of the trees , the graceful festoons of parasitic creepers , were all as still as though cut out of iron . The stagnant air was saturated to oppressiveness with a thousand mingled perfumes ; and not a sound of any kind broke in upon the death-like stillness of the scene . It was Nature 's silent hour , the hour of intensest heat ; that short interval about noon when all living things appear to retire into the most sheltered nooks -- the darkest , coolest shadows ; the one hour out of the twenty-four when absolute , unbroken silence reigns throughout the African forest . Under Daphne 's leadership we struck off on a westerly course through the green shadows of the forest , and toiled laboriously forward until the dusky twilight warned us of the necessity for seeking a resting-place wherein to pass the coming night . This was found at length in the centre of a wide clearing or break in the forest ; and Smellie and I , at Daphne 's expressively -- conveyed pantomimic suggestion , forthwith set about gathering the wherewithal to build a fire , whilst the damsel herself undertook the task of providing a supper for the party . Our task was barely completed when her dusky ladyship returned with three grey parrots and a pair of green pigeons , as well as a large gourd of water , from which we eventually managed to make a very satisfying supper .