noon
At that time , he did not know that the forces of civilization were equally sinister , equally overwhelming . All his belated brain knew , was that if he failed to answer the call of those in authority , he must take refuge in the forests . Which was sure death . It was sure death to wander defenceless , unarmed , in the twilight gloom of noon day , enveloped by dense overgrowth , avoiding venomous serpents and vile stinging insects by day , and crouching by night from man-eating tigers . It presented therefore , no pleasant alternative -- no free wandering amidst beautiful , tropical trees and vines heavy with luscious fruits -- there would be no drinking from running streams in pleasant , sunlit clearings . Ouk knew the jungle , and as the alternative was civilization , he chose civilization which he did not yet know . Therefore he freely offered himself one evening , coming from his native village attired in a gay sarong , a peaked hat , and nothing more .