midnight
`` I am here , Mr. Barry , '' and followed by three stalwart men and the two young women who had formerly accompanied her at their first meeting , Mrs. Tracey , although still slightly lame , ran to him and shook his hand warmly . `` We started immediately we saw your fire , '' she said , `` but came across the lagoon in canoes , instead of walking . Now come with me . There are several empty houses here , just over the brow of the beach , and in one of them there is a midnight supper for us all -- crayfish , baked fish , pork , and chickens , and young coconuts to drink . '' The two native women leading the way , the whole party soon gained the houses , which stood in a thick grove of giant jack-fruit trees . A bright fire was blazing out in the open , and spread out on the matted floor of the best of the houses was the midnight supper . `` We are quite safe here , '' said Mrs. Tracey as she bade Barry be seated ; `` this fire can not be seen from the ship , can it ? ''