midnight
At first he demurred ; and shrugging his shoulders like a Frenchman , declared it could not be brought about -- was a dangerous matter to attempt , and might bring all concerned into trouble . But we overcame all this , convinced him that the thing could be done , and a `` hevar , '' a genuine pagan fandango , was arranged for that very night . THERE were some ill-natured people -- tell-tales -- it seemed , in Tamai ; and hence there was a deal of mystery about getting up the dance . An hour or two before midnight , Rartoo entered the house , and , throwing robes of tappa over us , bade us follow at a distance behind him ; and , until out of the village , hood our faces . Keenly alive to the adventure , we obeyed . At last , after taking a wide circuit , we came out upon the farthest shore of the lake . It was a wide , dewy , space ; lighted up by a full moon , and carpeted with a minute species of fern growing closely together .