noon
He was followed soon by Cole who brought some pheasants and a grey squirrel . As the shades of night began to gather around them , the others came in with a fawn and a mountain sheep . There was no fear then of their being supperless ; and , after eating a hearty meal , they laid down to sleep with the snow still falling around them . When they awoke in the morning the sky was clear and the sun arose warm , and by noon had softened the snow so much as to make it wet their clothing , as they brushed it from the pendant branches in riding along . When they encamped that night , Jane was shivering with cold , and too ill to eat ; but the rest lay by the fire , and slept as well as the disagreeable situation in which they were placed would allow . Jane was quite ill the next day , and they did not think it prudent to travel ; but by night she felt much better , and as they calculated they could strike the trail in another day 's journey , they determined to be in the saddle by daylight . Riding , as fast as the rugged uneven country through which they were travelling would permit , for three hours , they came to the trail earlier in the day than they had anticipated , greatly to their relief .