and, over the threshold slantwise across the snow, the fire
from the stove threw an angry glare. It was only a mile from the Point
to the bend, yet he seemed to have been journeying for hours. The
surface of the river was difficult to travel because the snow which
had fallen was wet; it shrank away from the feet at every stride. For
this season of the year in Keewatin the night was mild; there was a
damp rawness, but scarcely any frost in the air. If the ice had been
rotten in the morning at the bend, it would be doubly treacherous now.
Ah, but he had warned Strangeways! Surely he would be sufficiently
cautious to half-believe him at least in that. When he came to where
the river turned northwards, he would forsake the short-cut of the old
trail and swing out into the middle stream, or work safely round along
the bank. If he couldn't scent danger for himself, his huskies would
choose their own path and save him, unless--unless, feeling the
smoothness of the old trail beneath the snow, they should lazily
choose that, or unless that leader of Spurling's should wilfully lead
them astray; but surely the four hind-dogs would have sense not to
follow him, and would hang back.

He kept his eyes on the darkness before him, but to the northeast all
was shadowy; he could discern nothing. Yes, there was something moving
over there. He judged that he had already traversed three-quarters of
that interminable mile; surely he would be able to catch up with him
now. The recent blizzard had wiped out the old trail, but he could
still feel it firm beneath the snow; he was following in Strangeways'
tracks--Strangeways' which had been Spurling's. Then he came to a
point where the staler tracks, which were Spurling's, had branched out
into mid-stream to round the bend; but he saw to his horror that
Strangeways' had kept on to the left by the winter trail, toward the
spot of which he had warned him--he had even suspected that that final
warning was a trap.

Ah, there he was straight ahead of him; he could see him distinctly
now. The moon, rising clear of cloud, made his figure plain. He called
to him, and it seemed that he half-turned his head. He was keeping
perilously near in to the bend. He called to him again, and signed to
him with his arms to drive out. Then once more a cloud passed before
the moon, making the land seem dead.

He advanced cautiously, moving slowly, testing the strength of the ice
at each fresh step before trusting