midnight
A half-moon was in the sky , with patches of cloud now and then shadowing it , and in the intervals casting its faint silver over the lonely expanse and tipping the crest of the waves as they crept in upon the beach . The great Indian village to the westward was fairly ablaze with fires ; while the unending procession of black dots that flitted past them , together with the echo of constant uproar , showed that the savages were likewise astir in eager preparation for the morrow . We could hear the pounding of wooden drums , mingled with shrill yells that split the night-air like so many war-missiles . Only those above , upon the platform , could mind these things ; for the bustle within the enclosure below continued unabated until long after midnight . The report of our mission spread rapidly , and the pledge of protection given by the chiefs greatly heartened the men , so that they worked now with many a peal of laughter and careless jest . The women and children , ever quick to feel the influence of the soldiers , responded at once to this new feeling of confidence , which was encouraged by the officers , however they may have secretly doubted the good-faith of the savages . So the children tumbled about in the red glare of the flames , the soldiers swung their traps into the waiting wagons with good-natured badinage , their brawny breasts bare and glistening with sweat in the hot night ; while , as the hour grew late and discipline sensibly relaxed , the women danced in the open and sang songs of home .