midnight
The girl cut through the forest and came again to the river , and for a night and a day awaited the coming of the canoe . `` The third evening it came and the man camped , and Jeanne crept close and watched him across the blaze of his little fire as he smoked and stared into the embers . While Wa-ha-ta-na-ta also crept stealthily to the fire , making no sound , and she came to within an arm 's reach of the man 's back , and in her hand was clutched tightly the sheath-knife with its long , keen blade . `` At the midnight the man unrolled his blankets and laid down to sleep , and then it was that Jeanne stepped into the firelight . And in the deep shadow , Wa-ha-ta-na-ta gripped more tightly the knife and made ready to strike . '' The half-breed paused while the others waited breathlessly for him to resume . `` Think not that Jeanne is bad .