midnight
All the other Isanusis , male and female , sat down in a half-moon facing the king , but this woman drew forward , and with her came nine of her sisterhood . They turned east and west , north and south , searching the heavens ; they turned east and west , north and south , searching the earth ; they turned east and west , north and south , searching the hearts of men . Then they crept round and round the great ring like cats ; then they threw themselves upon the earth and smelt it . And all the time there was silence , silence deep as midnight , and in it men hearkened to the beating of their hearts ; only now and again the vultures shrieked in the trees . At length Nobela spoke : -- `` Do you smell him , sisters ? '' `` We smell him , '' they answered . `` Does he sit in the east , sisters ? ''