noon
If the wolf had met his death as well as the Indian , surely she would have mentioned both ? The recollection comforted him , as he got up and once more started on his way . Though the country he was passing through was utterly strange to him , he knew that the river must be somewhere to the north-east , and that if he wished to strike the shores of the great lake , he must keep to the neighbourhood of the river for a guide . He pushed on rapidly , and , when the sun was half-way towards noon , saw with relief the light on the water between the trees . But now , owing to the swampy nature of the ground , the going was not so good , and he found it necessary to go back continually into the woods in order to travel on firmer ground . Evening was already drawing on before he heard the roar of the rapids in the distance , and knew that the lake was not far off . But he also knew that it was necessary now to travel with extreme caution , owing to the fact that there had been plenty of time for his enemies to have learnt of his escape , and have sent out a party to re-capture him .