Костер

           Inthecourseofthenexttwohourshecameuponseveralsimilartraps. Usuallythesnowabovethehiddenpoolshadasunken,candiedappearancethatadvertisedthedanger. Onceagain,however,hehadaclosecall;andonce,suspectingdanger,hecompelledthedogtogooninfront. Thedogdidnotwanttogo. Ithungbackuntilthemanshoveditforward,andthenitwentquicklyacrossthewhite,unbrokensurface. Suddenlyitbrokethrough,flounderedtooneside,andgotawaytofirmerfooting. Ithadwetitsforefeetandlegs,andalmostimmediatelythewaterthatclungtoitturnedtoice. Itmadequickeffortstolicktheiceoffitslegs,thendroppeddowninthesnowandbegantobiteouttheicethathadformedbetweenthetoes. Thiswasamatterofinstinct. Topermittheicetoremainwouldmeansorefeet. Itdidnotknowthis. Itmerelyobeyedthemysteriouspromptingthatarosefromthedeepcryptsofitsbeing. Butthemanknew,havingachievedajudgmentonthesubject,andheremovedthemittenfromhisrighthandandhelpedtearouttheice-particles. Hedidnotexposehisfingersmorethanaminute,andwasastonishedattheswiftnumbnessthatsmotethem. Itcertainlywascold. Hepulledonthemittenhastily,andbeatthehandsavagelyacrosshischest. 

           Attwelveo’clockthedaywasatitsbrightest. Yetthesunwastoofarsouthonitswinterjourneytoclearthehorizon. ThebulgeoftheearthintervenedbetweenitandHendersonCreek,wherethemanwalkedunderaclearskyatnoonandcastnoshadow.