midnight
The move from above was merely to get away from the sights that met them at every turn ; and , without seeking to drift to the point where Ashman was supposed to be waiting , the explorers turned the prow to land , which they touched a moment later . It would have been more cheerful to have had a fire burning , but there was no other call for it . The mild temperature rendered it really more enjoyable without it , since the blaze was always sure to attract innumerable insects , and possibly might tempt the defeated natives to another effort to wipe out the deadly insults that had been theirs from the beginning . It was not yet midnight , nor indeed anywhere near it , but the Professor volunteered to take his turn with Bippo for the remaining hours of darkness . But no such arrangement was necessary , since every member of the party was rendered wakeful by the exciting incidents , while the grief of Bippo and Pedros over the loss of their friend was sure to drive away all slumber for a long time . The luggage was left in the canoe , where all the party would have stayed , had not their positions been so cramped as to render sleeping difficult . Their blankets were spread on the ground , where they reclined , talking in low tones , watching , listening , and speculating as to the cause of Fred Ashman 's continued absence .