eleven o'clock
He relaxed , slowly . Big drops of moisture dripped from the invisible treetops . Thinking it nearly dawn he consulted his watch . It was eleven o'clock . Suddenly he sensed that he was no longer alone , felt the presence of stealthy forms in the surrounding darkness , heard a twig snap in the still forest behind him . He waited , tense , the hair at the back of his neck stiffening as he thought of blowpipes and of darts poisoned by steeping in the putrid entrails of wild hogs . He felt the scrutiny of hostile eyes .