about midday
He whispered into Almayer 's ear a childish prattle of many years ago . Almayer , his head bent on one side , seemed to listen to his invisible companion , but his face was like the face of a man that has died struck from behind -- a face from which all feelings and all expression are suddenly wiped off by the hand of unexpected death . * * * * * They slept on the river that night , mooring their canoe under the bushes and lying down in the bottom side by side , in the absolute exhaustion that kills hunger , thirst , all feeling and all thought in the overpowering desire for that deep sleep which is like the temporary annihilation of the tired body . Next day they started again and fought doggedly with the current all the morning , till about midday they reached the settlement and made fast their little craft to the jetty of Lingard and Co. . Almayer walked straight to the house , and Ali followed , paddles on shoulder , thinking that he would like to eat something . As they crossed the front courtyard they noticed the abandoned look of the place . Ali looked in at the different servants ' houses : all were empty .