Костер

           Athalf-pasttwelve,totheminute,hearrivedattheforksofthecreek. Hewaspleasedatthespeedhehadmade. Ifhekeptitup,hewouldcertainlybewiththeboysbysix. Heunbuttonedhisjacketandshirtanddrewforthhislunch. Theactionconsumednomorethanaquarterofaminute,yetinthatbriefmomentthenumbnesslaidholdoftheexposedfingers. Hedidnotputthemittenon,but,instead,struckthefingersadozensharpsmashesagainsthisleg. Thenhesatdownonasnow-coveredlogtoeat. Thestingthatfolloweduponthestrikingofhisfingersagainsthislegceasedsoquicklythathewasstartled,hehadhadnochancetotakeabiteofbiscuit. Hestruckthefingersrepeatedlyandreturnedthemtothemitten,baringtheotherhandforthepurposeofeating. Hetriedtotakeamouthful,buttheice-muzzleprevented. Hehadforgottentobuildafireandthawout. Hechuckledathisfoolishness,andashechuckledhenotedthenumbnesscreepingintotheexposedfingers. Also,henotedthatthestingingwhichhadfirstcometohistoeswhenhesatdownwasalreadypassingaway. Hewonderedwhetherthetoeswerewarmornumbed. Hemovedtheminsidethemoccasinsanddecidedthattheywerenumbed. 

           Hepulledthemittenonhurriedlyandstoodup.Hewasabitfrightened. Hestampedupanddownuntilthestingingreturnedintothefeet. Itcertainlywascold,washisthought. ThatmanfromSulphurCreekhadspokenthetruthwhentellinghowcolditsometimesgotinthecountry.