noon
Slumber claimed the inhabitants of the barrio , but all around the jungle woke to the night . Noxious blooms raised their heads to drink in the deadly moisture ; hungry pythons took up their silent vigil at water holes ; night prowlers slunk in the gloom to spring on the more defenseless creatures , and over it all the inscrutable jungle kept watch , passing silent judgment on man and beast , in this great scheme of life . Like a mirror framed in soft velvet green , the lake broke upon Piang . In the still noon heat the motionless water scintillated and sparkled and the powerful rays of the sun seemed to penetrate to the very bottom . Dragon-flies and spiders skated merrily about , eluding the ever-watchful fishes lying in wait amid forests of lacy seaweeds and coral . Tall , stately palms , towering above their mates , scorned to seek their reflections in the clear depths , but frivolous bamboo and nipa-palms swayed gently out over the water , rustling and chattering with delight at their mirrored images . Piang slipped through the mouth of the creek and gazed in amazement at the vast sheet of water .