about midnight
Now and then he saw wide black pools , and once he crossed a deep creek on a fallen tree . Night found him yet in this marshy region , but he was not sorry as he had left no trail behind , and , after looking around some time , he found a little oasis of dry land with a mighty oak tree growing in the center . Here he felt absolutely secure , and , making his supper of dried venison , he lay down under the boughs of the oak , with one blanket beneath him and another above him and was soon in a deep and dreamless sleep . He awoke about midnight to find a gorgeous parade of the moon and all the stars , and he lay for a while watching them through the leaves of the oak . Powerful are nature and habit , and Henry 's life was in accordance with both . Lying alone at midnight on that little knoll in the midst of a great marsh in the country of wary and cruel enemies , he was thankful that it had been given to him to be there , and that his lot had been cast among the conditions that surrounded him . He heard a slight noise to the left of him , but he knew that it was only another hungry bear stealing about .