midnight
Each man was a warrior , and each warrior was in his paint . These were facts that the familiarity of the two white men with Indian customs rendered only too certain . What was still more striking was the fact that all present appeared to be chiefs ; a circumstance which went to show that an imposing body of red men was most likely somewhere in the openings , and that too at no great distance . It was while observing and reflecting on all these things , a suspicion first crossed the mind of le Bourdon that this great council was about to be held , at that midnight hour , and so near his own abode , for the purpose of accommodating Peter , whose appearance in the dark crowd , from that instant , he began to expect . The Indians already present were not seated . They stood in groups conversing , or stalked across the arena , resembling so many dark and stately spectres . No sound was heard among them , a circumstance that added largely to the wild and supernatural aspect of the scene .