About noon
On the day preceding the ceremony , Charley and Jacques had received cards of invitation from the principal chief in the shape of two quills ; similar invites being issued at the same time to all the braves . Jacques being accustomed to the doings of the Indians , and aware of the fact that whatever was provided for each man _ must _ be eaten before he quitted the scene of operations , advised Charley to eat no breakfast , and to take a good walk as a preparative . Charley had strong faith , however , in his digestive powers , and felt much inclined , when morning came , to satisfy the cravings of his appetite as usual ; but Jacques drew such a graphic picture of the work that lay before him , that he forbore to urge the matter , and went off to walk with a light step , and an uncomfortable feeling of vacuity about the region of the stomach . About noon , the chiefs and braves assembled in an open enclosure situated in an exposed place on the banks of the river , where the proceedings were watched by the women , children , and dogs . The oldest chief sat himself down on the turf at one end of the enclosure , with Jacques Caradoc on his right hand , and next to him Charley Kennedy , who had ornamented himself with a blue stripe painted down the middle of his nose , and a red bar across his chin . Charley 's propensity for fun had led him thus to decorate his face , in spite of his companion 's remonstrances , -- urging , by way of excuse , that worthy 's former argument , `` that it was well to fall in with the ways o ' the people a man happened to be among , so long as these ways and customs were not contrary to what was right . '' Now Charley was sure there was nothing wrong in his painting his nose sky blue , if he thought fit .