about midnight
In a few moments , a boy entered with a wooden trencher of poee-poee ; and in regaling myself with its contents , I was obliged again to submit to the officious intervention of my indefatigable servitor . Various other dishes followed , the chief manifesting the most hospitable importunity in pressing us to partake , and to remove all bashfulness on our part , set us no despicable example in his own person . The repast concluded , a pipe was lighted , which passed from mouth to mouth , and yielding to its soporific influence , the quiet of the place , and the deepening shadows of approaching night , my companion and I sank into a kind of drowsy repose , while the chief and Kory-Kory seemed to be slumbering beside us . I awoke from an uneasy nap , about midnight , as I supposed ; and , raising myself partly from the mat , became sensible that we were enveloped in utter darkness . Toby lay still asleep , but our late companions had disappeared . The only sound that interrupted the silence of the place was the asthmatic breathing of the old men I have mentioned , who reposed at a little distance from us . Besides them , as well as I could judge , there was no one else in the house .