midnight
After telling his stories , and singing his songs , he sprang to his feet , clasped a young damsel of the grove round the waist , and waltzed over the grass with her . But there 's no telling all the pranks he played that night . The natives , who delight in a wag , emphatically pronounced him `` maitai . '' It was long after midnight ere we broke up ; but when the rest had retired , Zeke , with the true thrift of a Yankee , salted down what was left of the meat . The next day was Sunday ; and at my request , Shorty accompanied me to Afrehitoo -- a neighbouring bay , and the seat of a mission , almost directly opposite Papeetee . In Afrehitoo is a large church and school-house , both quite dilapidated ; and planted amid shrubbery on a fine knoll , stands a very tasteful cottage , commanding a view across the channel . In passing , I caught sight of a graceful calico skirt disappearing from the piazza through a doorway .