Костер

           Once,comingaroundabend,heshiedabruptly,likeastartledhorse,curvedawayfromtheplacewherehehadbeenwalking,andretreatedseveralpacesbackalongthetrail. Thecreekheknewwasfrozencleartothebottom—nocreekcouldcontainwaterinthatarcticwinter—butheknewalsothattherewerespringsthatbubbledoutfromthehillsidesandranalongunderthesnowandontoptheiceofthecreek. Heknewthatthecoldestsnapsneverfrozethesesprings,andheknewlikewisetheirdanger. Theyweretraps. Theyhidpoolsofwaterunderthesnowthatmightbethreeinchesdeep,orthreefeet. Sometimesaskinoficehalfaninchthickcoveredthem,andinturnwascoveredbythesnow. Sometimestherewerealternatelayersofwaterandice-skin,sothatwhenonebrokethroughhekeptonbreakingthroughforawhile,sometimeswettinghimselftothewaist. 

           Thatwaswhyhehadshiedinsuchpanic. Hehadfeltthegiveunderhisfeetandheardthecrackleofasnow-hiddenice-skin. Andtogethisfeetwetinsuchatemperaturemeanttroubleanddanger. Attheveryleastitmeantdelay,forhewouldbeforcedtostopandbuildafire,andunderitsprotectiontobarehisfeetwhilehedriedhissocksandmoccasins. Hestoodandstudiedthecreek-bedanditsbanks,anddecidedthattheflowofwatercamefromtheright. Hereflectedawhile,rubbinghisnoseandcheeks,thenskirtedtotheleft,steppinggingerlyandtestingthefootingforeachstep. Onceclearofthedanger,hetookafreshchewoftobaccoandswungalongathisfour-milegait.