midnight
At length the last smoker had taken what he evidently believed the proper number of whiffs , and they arose and embarked again in their canoes . In the boat , which really belonged to the Huron , were seated himself , Lieutenant Canfield , and Heigon , who insisted upon using the paddle himself . For a moment they glided along under the shadow of the wooded bank , and then , coming out on the clear , moonlit surface of the river , they shot downstream like swallows upon the wing . It was not quite ten miles to the Shawnee town , and , as it was now in the neighborhood of midnight , their destination would be easily reached in time . All went well for some four or five miles , when an exclamation from the canoe in advance attracted the attention of Oonomoo and the soldier . `` What is it ? '' inquired the latter .