about midnight
The season was far advanced , when , one day returning home , he perceived that the bears , the squirrels , and the deer had made rather free with the golden ears of his corn . The remainder he resolved to save for the use of his horse , and as he wished to begin harvest next morning , he slept that night in the cabin , on his solitary pallet . The heat was intense , and , as usual in these countries during summer , he had left his door wide open . It was about midnight , when he heard something tumbling in the room ; he rose in a moment , and , hearing a short and heavy breathing , he asked who it was , for the darkness was such , that he could not see two yards before him . No answer being given , except a kind of half-smothered grunt , he advanced , and , putting out his hand , he seized the shaggy coat of a bear . Surprise rendered him motionless , and the animal giving him a blow in the chest with his terrible paw , threw him down outside the door . Boone could have escaped , but , maddened with the pain of his fall , he only thought of vengeance , and , seizing his knife and tomahawk , which were fortunately within his reach , he darted furiously at the beast , dealing blows at random .