noon
On the right stood the young men , armed , while left was occupied by the women and children . In the centre was an open space of considerable extent , always canopied by trees , but from which the underbrush , dead wood , and other obstacles had been carefully removed . The more open area had probably been much used by former parties , for this was the place where the appearance of a sward was the most decided . The arches of the woods , even at high noon , cast their sombre shadows on the spot , which the brilliant rays of the sun that struggled through the leaves contributed to mellow , and , if such an expression can be used , to illuminate . It was probably from a similar scene that the mind of man first got its idea of the effects of gothic tracery and churchly hues , this temple of nature producing some such effect , so far as light and shadow were concerned , as the well-known offspring of human invention . As was not unusual among the tribes and wandering bands of the Aborigines , two chiefs shared , in nearly equal degrees , the principal and primitive authority that was wielded over these children of the forest . There were several who might claim the distinction of being chief men , but the two in question were so much superior to all the rest in influence , that , when they agreed , no one disputed their mandates , and when they were divided the band hesitated , like men who had lost their governing principle of action .