about two o'clock in the
afternoon
Neither did we turn aside to hunt , although we were much tempted so to do , but contented ourselves with killing such animals as we required for our daily subsistence ; and of these we shot as many as we required without having to turn aside from our straight course . Thus we went on day after day , and slept under the shade of the trees or under the wide canopy of heaven night after night , until we arrived one day at a beautiful valley , bordered by a plain , and traversed by a river , where Peterkin met with a sad accident , and our onward progress was for a short period arrested . It happened thus : -- The region through which we chanced to be passing was peopled by so many natives that we had the utmost difficulty in avoiding them , and more than once were compelled to halt during the daytime in some sequestered dell , and resume our journey during the night . One day -- it was , if I remember rightly , about two o'clock in the afternoon -- we came suddenly in sight of a native village on the banks of the river whose course we were at that time following , and made a wide detour in order to avoid it . We had passed it several miles , and were gradually bending into our course again , when we came unexpectedly upon a band of natives who had been out hunting and were returning to their village with the spoils of the chase on their shoulders . Both parties at once came to an abrupt halt , and we stood for several minutes looking at each other -- the natives in speechless amazement , while we conversed in whispers , uncertain what to do . We knew that if we made friendly advances we should no doubt be welcomed , but then we should certainly be compelled to go back with them to their village and spend at least a day or two with them , as we could not hope to give them a satisfactory reason for our going on at once .