midnight
Despite danger and his anxiety to reach his comrades , he felt all its beauty and majesty , in truth fairly reveled in it . He noticed the different trees , the oaks , the elms , the maples , the walnuts , the hickories , the sycamores , the willows at the edges of the stream , the dogwoods , and all the other kinds which made up the immeasurable forest . They were in the early but full foliage of spring , and the light wind brought odors that were like a perfumed breath . It was past midnight , when he stopped to enjoy again the fine flavor of his kingdom . Then he suddenly lay flat among the dead leaves of the year before , and thrust forward the barrel of his rifle . He had heard a footfall , the footfall of a moccasin , not much heavier than the fall of a leaf , and every nerve and faculty within him was concentrated to meet the new danger . The sound had come from his right , and raising his head just a little he looked , but saw nothing , that is nothing new in the waving forest .