Костер

           Hedidnotshiver. Maybe,ifheranon,hisfeetwouldthawout;and,anyway,ifheranfarenough,hewouldreachcampandtheboys. Withoutdoubthewouldlosesomefingersandtoesandsomeofhisface;buttheboyswouldtakecareofhim,andsavetherestofhimwhenhegotthere. Andatthesametimetherewasanotherthoughtinhismindthatsaidhewouldnevergettothecampandtheboys;thatitwastoomanymilesaway,thatthefreezinghadtoogreatastartonhim,andthathewouldsoonbestiffanddead. Thisthoughthekeptinthebackgroundandrefusedtoconsider. Sometimesitpusheditselfforwardanddemandedtobeheard,buthethrustitbackandstrovetothinkofotherthings. 

           Itstruckhimascuriousthathecouldrunatallonfeetsofrozenthathecouldnotfeelthemwhentheystrucktheearthandtooktheweightofhisbody. Heseemedtohimselftoskimalongabovethesurfaceandtohavenoconnectionwiththeearth. SomewherehehadonceseenawingedMercury,andhewonderedifMercuryfeltashefeltwhenskimmingovertheearth. 

           Histheoryofrunninguntilhereachedcampandtheboyshadoneflawinit: helackedtheendurance. Severaltimeshestumbled,andfinallyhetottered,crumpledup,andfell. Whenhetriedtorise,hefailed. Hemustsitandrest,hedecided,andnexttimehewouldmerelywalkandkeepongoing. Ashesatandregainedhisbreath,henotedthathewasfeelingquitewarmandcomfortable. Hewasnotshivering,anditevenseemedthatawarmglowhadcometohischestandtrunk.