r grub was gone, for every one had clung till
his food grew low. As the obsession left them their brotherhood
returned--food was apportioned in community, and they spoke vaguely of
the fate of Sully.

For still another half-fortnight they lay about the cabin while the
streams raged, and then Crowley spoke to his partner. Rolling their
blankets, they started, and, although many were tempted to go, none had
the courage, preferring to starve on quarter rations till the waters
lowered.

Ascending for miles where the torrent narrowed, they felled a tree
across for a bridge and, ascending the ridges, took the direction of
camp. In a new and broken country, not formed of continuous ranges, this
is difficult. So to avoid frequent fordings they followed the high
ground, going devious, confusing miles. The snows were largely gone,
though the nights were cruel, and thus they traveled.

At last, when they had worked through to the Yukon spurs, one morning on
a talus high above Buck spied the flapping forms of a flock of ravens.
They fluttered ceaselessly among the rocks, rising noisily, only to
settle again.

These are the gleaming, baleful vultures of the North, and often they
attain a considerable size and ferocity.

The men gazed at them with apathy. Was it worth while to spend the steps
to see what drew them? By following their course they would pass far to
the right.

"I hate the dam' things," said Crowley, crossly. "I seen 'em, oncet,
hangin' to a caribou calf with a broken leg, tryin' to pick his eyes
out. Let's see what it is."

He veered to the left, scrambling up among the boulders. The birds rose
fretfully, perching near by, but the men saw nothing. As they rested
momentarily the birds again swooped downward, reassured.

Then, partly hidden among the detritus, they spied that which made
Crowley cry out in horror, while the sound of Buck's voice was like the
choking of a woman. As they started, one of the ebony scavengers dipped
fiercely, picking at a ragged object. A human arm slowly arose and
blindly beat it off, but the raven's mate settled also, and, sinking its
beak into the object, tore hungrily.

With a shout they stumbled forward, lacerated by the jagged slide rock,
only to pause aghast and shaking.

Sully lay crouched against a boulder where he had crawled for the sun
heat. Rags of clothing hung upon his gaunt frame, through which the
sharp bones strove to pierce; also at sight of his hands and feet