noon
The hoar frost that lay upon the bushes along the river bank sparkled like filmy draperies of spun silver , and transformed the bushes into an unearthly multitude of shining spirits that had gathered there from the dark , mysterious forest which lay behind them , to watch the passing strangers . Presently the light of dawn began to diffuse itself upon the world , and the spirit creations were replaced by substantial banks of frost-encrusted willows . In a little while the sun peeped timorously over the eastern hills , but , half obscured by a haze of frost flakes which hung suspended in the air , gave out no warmth to the frozen earth . No halt was made until noon . Then a fire was built and a kettle of ice was melted and tea brewed . Bob was hungry , and the jerked venison , with its delicate nutty flavour , and the hot tea , were delicious . The latter , poured boiling from the kettle , left a sediment of ice in the bottom of the tin cup before it was drained , so great was the cold .