About ten o'clock
It was six paces one way and five the other . He counted the steps consciously , until the mental process became mechanical . Then the count went on steadily behind his other thoughts -- five , six ; five , six ; five , six ; over and over again , like that . About ten o'clock he ceased opening and shutting his hands and began to scream , at first under his breath , then louder in the over tone , then with the full strength of his lungs . A mountain lion on another slope answered him . He stretched his arms up over his head , every muscle tense , and screamed . And then , without appreciable transition , he sank to the rock and hid his face .