Костер

           Thefrozenmoistureofitsbreathinghadsettledonitsfurinafinepowderoffrost,andespeciallywereitsjowls,muzzle,andeyelasheswhitenedbyitscrystalledbreath. Theman’sredbeardandmoustachewerelikewisefrosted,butmoresolidly,thedeposittakingtheformoficeandincreasingwitheverywarm,moistbreathheexhaled. Also,themanwaschewingtobacco,andthemuzzleoficeheldhislipssorigidlythathewasunabletoclearhischinwhenheexpelledthejuice. Theresultwasthatacrystalbeardofthecolourandsolidityofamberwasincreasingitslengthonhischin. Ifhefelldownitwouldshatteritself,likeglass,intobrittlefragments. Buthedidnotmindtheappendage. Itwasthepenaltyalltobacco-chewerspaidinthatcountry,andhehadbeenoutbeforeintwocoldsnaps. Theyhadnotbeensocoldasthis,heknew,butbythespiritthermometeratSixtyMileheknewtheyhadbeenregisteredatfiftybelowandatfifty-five. 

           Heheldonthroughthelevelstretchofwoodsforseveralmiles,crossedawideflatofnigger-heads,anddroppeddownabanktothefrozenbedofasmallstream. ThiswasHendersonCreek,andheknewhewastenmilesfromtheforks. Helookedathiswatch. Itwasteno’clock. Hewasmakingfourmilesanhour,andhecalculatedthathewouldarriveattheforksathalf-pasttwelve. Hedecidedtocelebratethateventbyeatinghislunchthere. 

           Thedogdroppedinagainathisheels,withataildroopingdiscouragement,asthemanswungalongthecreek-bed.