noon
He retreated deeper into the thicket , and he was glad that he had kept the great painted coat , as he wrapped himself in it from head to foot and lay down between two fallen logs , with the dense bushes over his head . He must find another interval of rest and sleep , and feeling that his best chance lay here , he drew the coat very close . It kept him thoroughly warm , and , as soon as his nerves settled into their normal condition , he slept . He awoke before noon , and the morning was still frosty and cold . Yet the wilderness was more beautiful than ever . The frost had merely deepened its colors . While many dead leaves had fallen , myriads remained , and they had taken on more intense and glowing tints .