midnight
His happiness decreased in nowise . The familiar voices of the night were speaking to him . He heard the distant hoot of an owl , a deer rustled in the bush , a lizard scuttled over the leaves , and he rejoiced at the sounds . He did not think of hunger but toward midnight he raked some of last year 's fallen leaves close to the trunk of a big tree , lay down upon them , and fell in a few moments into happy and dreamless sleep . He awoke with the first rays of the dawn , shot a deer after an hour 's search , and then cooked his breakfast by the side of one of the little brooks . It was the first food that had tasted just right to him in many weeks , and afterwards he lay by the camp fire awhile , and luxuriated . He had the most wonderful feeling of peace and ease ; all the world was his to go where he chose and to do what he chose , and he began to think of an autumn camp , a tiny lodge in the deepest recess of the wilderness , where he could store spare ammunition , furs and skins and find a frequent refuge , when the time for storms and cold came .