Костер

           Itmeantlife,anditmustnotperish. Thewithdrawalofbloodfromthesurfaceofhisbodynowmadehimbegintoshiver,andhegrewmoreawkward. Alargepieceofgreenmossfellsquarelyonthelittlefire. Hetriedtopokeitoutwithhisfingers,buthisshiveringframemadehimpoketoofar,andhedisruptedthenucleusofthelittlefire,theburninggrassesandtinytwigsseparatingandscattering. Hetriedtopokethemtogetheragain,butinspiteofthetensenessoftheeffort,hisshiveringgotawaywithhim,andthetwigswerehopelesslyscattered. Eachtwiggushedapuffofsmokeandwentout. Thefire-providerhadfailed. Ashelookedapatheticallyabouthim,hiseyeschancedonthedog,sittingacrosstheruinsofthefirefromhim,inthesnow,makingrestless,hunchingmovements,slightlyliftingoneforefootandthentheother,shiftingitsweightbackandforthonthemwithwistfuleagerness. 

           Thesightofthedogputawildideaintohishead. Herememberedthetaleoftheman,caughtinablizzard,whokilledasteerandcrawledinsidethecarcass,andsowassaved. Hewouldkillthedogandburyhishandsinthewarmbodyuntilthenumbnesswentoutofthem. Thenhecouldbuildanotherfire. Hespoketothedog,callingittohim;butinhisvoicewasastrangenoteoffearthatfrightenedtheanimal,whohadneverknownthemantospeakinsuchwaybefore. Somethingwasthematter,anditssuspiciousnaturesenseddanger,—itknewnotwhatdangerbutsomewhere,somehow,initsbrainaroseanapprehensionoftheman.