midnight
Now , did n't you ? '' And they were safely embarked on a conversation of no interest to any other person in the wide world , but which provided them with the most delightful topic imaginable . Thus the time sped until the rising moon silhouetted the cliff on the white carpet of coral-strewn sand . The black shadow-line traveled slowly closer to the base of the cliff , and Jenks , guided also by the stars , told Iris that midnight was at hand . They knelt on the parapet of the ledge , alert to catch any unusual sound , and watching for any indication of human movement . But Rainbow Island was now still as the grave . The wounded Dyaks had seemingly been removed from hut and beach ; the dead lay where they had fallen .