midnight
It was a portion of the Bible in the Malagasy language . A few verses were reverently read by the guide ; a brief earnest prayer was offered by a very old man ; a hymn was sung , and then the people dispersed to their several sections of the cave . Finally the lights were extinguished , and the place was left in silence and darkness profound . Dawn was still struggling to assert itself in the far east and the depths of the forest were still shrouded in almost midnight gloom , when the strange band of outlaws emerged from their cave , and , led by Ravonino , went forth to search for a safer dwelling-place in the still more inaccessible fastnesses of the wilderness . They had not much difficulty in finding a suitable spot , for the particular region to which they had fled from persecution was exceedingly wild and broken in form , and abounded with concealed caverns having outlets in several directions , so that pursuit and discovery were alike difficult . We may not delay here , however , to tell of their wanderings . Like the Christians of other lands and , more ancient times , they were hunted like wild beasts , though their only crime was a desire to serve and worship God according to the dictates of their consciences .