About midnight
Strung up as they were to such tension by their surroundings out there in the gloom of that quiet night , and then to be thus startled by such a cry , no wonder each lad clutched his gun and instinctively crowded close to his experienced companion in that trying hour . Yet such was their confidence in them that they remained silent , but were soon relieved when they were told , in a whisper , that it was only the cry of the lynx , and , blood-curdling though it was , it was really a good sign for them . When this harsh , doleful sound had died away in the distance , from a tree near them some great owls began their strange hootings , and the Indians again said , `` Good signs . '' About midnight the first note of the sound for which they were listening was heard . It was far away in the forest directly east from them , with the wind coming from the same direction . The Indians remained perfectly still until the roaring became somewhat louder , and then the boys were somewhat startled at hearing , but in a much softer key , a sound very similar in their rear . This latter sound was made by the men through these queer birch-bark horns they had been so industriously working at during the day .