Костер

           Andhehadlaughedathimatthetime! Thatshowedonemustnotbetoosureofthings. Therewasnomistakeaboutit,itwascold. Hestrodeupanddown,stampinghisfeetandthreshinghisarms,untilreassuredbythereturningwarmth. Thenhegotoutmatchesandproceededtomakeafire. Fromtheundergrowth,wherehighwaterofthepreviousspringhadlodgedasupplyofseasonedtwigs,hegothisfirewood. Workingcarefullyfromasmallbeginning,hesoonhadaroaringfire,overwhichhethawedtheicefromhisfaceandintheprotectionofwhichheatehisbiscuits. Forthemomentthecoldofspacewasoutwitted. Thedogtooksatisfactioninthefire,stretchingoutcloseenoughforwarmthandfarenoughawaytoescapebeingsinged. 

           Whenthemanhadfinished,hefilledhispipeandtookhiscomfortabletimeoverasmoke. Thenhepulledonhismittens,settledtheear-flapsofhiscapfirmlyabouthisears,andtookthecreektrailuptheleftfork. Thedogwasdisappointedandyearnedbacktowardthefire. Thismandidnotknowcold. Possiblyallthegenerationsofhisancestryhadbeenignorantofcold,ofrealcold,ofcoldonehundredandsevendegreesbelowfreezing-point. Butthedogknew;allitsancestryknew,andithadinheritedtheknowledge. Anditknewthatitwasnotgoodtowalkabroadinsuchfearfulcold. Itwasthetimetoliesnuginaholeinthesnowandwaitforacurtainofcloudtobedrawnacrossthefaceofouterspacewhencethiscoldcame. Ontheotherhand,therewaskeenintimacybetweenthedogandtheman.