midnight
The seven casks were placed in a row ; each could choose that which he liked best . Those who had had enough stretched themselves out on the sands , where they slept for a while ; and when they awoke they began again . Little by little the others spread the fun until they took up the whole beach . Right up to midnight they skipped in the open air . The sea had a soft sound , the stars shone in a deep sky , a sky of vast peace . It was the serenity of the infant ages enveloping the joy of a tribe of savages , intoxicated by their first cask of eau-de-vie . Nevertheless , Coqueville went home to bed again .