按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He stood and studied the creek…bed and its banks； and decided that the
flow of water came from the right。 He reflected awhile； rubbing his nose
and cheeks； then skirted to the left； stepping gingerly and testing the
footing for each step。 Once clear of the danger； he took a fresh chew of
tobacco and swung along at his four…mile gait。
In the course of the next two hours he came upon several similar traps。
Usually the snow above the hidden pools had a sunken； candied
appearance that advertised the danger。 Once again； however； he had a
close call； and once； suspecting danger； he compelled the dog to go on in
front。 The dog did not want to go。 It hung back until the man shoved it
forward； and then it went quickly across the white； unbroken surface。
Suddenly it broke through； floundered to one side； and got away to firmer
footing。 It had wet its forefeet and legs； and almost immediately the
water that clung to it turned to ice。 It made quick efforts to lick the ice
off its legs； then dropped down in the snow and began to bite out the ice
that had formed between the toes。 This was a matter of instinct。 To
permit the ice to remain would mean sore feet。 It did not know this。 It
merely obeyed the mysterious prompting that arose from the deep crypts
of its being。 But the man knew； having achieved a judgment on the subject；
and he removed the mitten from his right hand and helped tear out the ice…
32
… Page 33…
LOST FACE
particles。 He did not expose his fingers more than a minute； and was
astonished at the swift numbness that smote them。 It certainly was cold。
He pulled on the mitten hastily； and beat the hand savagely across his
chest。
At twelve o'clock the day was at its brightest。 Yet the sun was too far
south on its winter journey to clear the horizon。 The bulge of the earth
intervened between it and Henderson Creek； where the man walked under
a clear sky at noon and cast no shadow。 At half…past twelve； to the
minute； he arrived at the forks of the creek。 He was pleased at the speed
he had made。 If he kept it up； he would certainly be with the boys by six。
He unbuttoned his jacket and shirt and drew forth his lunch。 The action
consumed no more than a quarter of a minute； yet in that brief moment the
numbness laid hold of the exposed fingers。 He did not put the mitten on；
but； instead； struck the fingers a dozen sharp smashes against his leg。
Then he sat down on a snow…covered log to eat。 The sting that followed
upon the striking of his fingers against his leg ceased so quickly that he
was startled； he had had no chance to take a bite of biscuit。 He struck the
fingers repeatedly and returned them to the mitten； baring the other hand
for the purpose of eating。 He tried to take a mouthful； but the ice…muzzle
prevented。 He had forgotten to build a fire and thaw out。 He chuckled
at his foolishness； and as he chuckled he noted the numbness creeping into
the exposed fingers。 Also； he noted that the stinging which had first come
to his toes when he sat down was already passing away。 He wondered
whether the toes were warm or numbed。 He moved them inside the
moccasins and decided that they were numbed。
He pulled the mitten on hurriedly and stood up。 He was a bit
frightened。 He stamped up and down until the stinging returned into the
feet。 It certainly was cold； was his thought。 That man from Sulphur
Creek had spoken the truth when telling how cold it sometimes got in the
country。 And he had laughed at him at the time！ That showed one must
not be too sure of things。 There was no mistake about it； it was cold。
He strode up and down； stamping his feet and threshing his arms； until
reassured by the returning warmth。 Then he got out matches and
proceeded to make a fire。 From the undergrowth； where high water of
33
… Page 34…
LOST FACE
the previous spring had lodged a supply of seasoned twigs； he got his
firewood。 Working carefully from a small beginning； he soon had a
roaring fire； over which he thawed the ice from his face and in the
protection of which he ate his biscuits。 For the moment the cold of space
was outwitted。 The dog took satisfaction in the fire； stretching out close
enough for warmth and far enough away to escape being singed。
When the man had finished； he filled his pipe and took his comfortable
time over a smoke。 Then he pulled on his mittens； settled the ear…flaps of
his cap firmly about his ears； and took the creek trail up the left fork。
The dog was disappointed and yearned back toward the fire。 This man
did not know cold。 Possibly all the generations of his ancestry had been
ignorant of cold； of real cold； of cold one hundred and seven degrees
below freezing…point。 But the dog knew； all its ancestry knew； and it had
inherited the knowledge。 And it knew that it was not good to walk abroad
in such fearful cold。 It was the time to lie snug in a hole in the snow and
wait for a curtain of cloud to be drawn across the face of outer space
whence this cold came。 On the other hand； there was keen intimacy
between the dog and the man。 The one was the toil…slave of the other；
and the only caresses it had ever received were the caresses of the whip…
lash and of harsh and menacing throat…sounds that threatened the whip…
lash。 So the dog made no effort to communicate its apprehension to the
man。 It was not concerned in the welfare of the man； it was for its own
sake that it yearned back toward the fire。 But the man whistled； and
spoke to it with the sound of whip…lashes； and the dog swung in at the
man's heels and followed after。
The man took a chew of tobacco and proceeded to start a new amber
beard。 Also； his moist breath quickly powdered with white his
moustache； eyebrows； and lashes。 There did not seem to be so many
springs on the left fork of the Henderson； and for half an hour the man saw
no signs of any。 And then it happened。 At a place where there were no
signs； where the soft； unbroken snow seemed to advertise solidity beneath；
the man broke through。 It was not deep。 He wetted himself half…way to
the knees before he floundered out to the firm crust。
He was angry； and cursed his luck aloud。 He had hoped to get into
34
… Page 35…
LOST FACE
camp with the boys at six o'clock； and this would delay him an hour； for he
would have to build a fire and dry out his foot…gear。 This was imperative
at that low temperaturehe knew that much； and he turned aside to the
bank； which he climbed。 On top； tangled in the underbrush about the
trunks of several small spruce trees； was a high…water deposit of dry
firewoodsticks and twigs principally； but also larger portions of seasoned
branches and fine； dry； last…year's grasses。 He threw down several large
pieces on top of the snow。 This served for a foundation and prevented the
young flame from drowning itself in the snow it otherwise would melt。
The flame he got by touching a match to a small shred of birch…bark that
he took from his pocket。 This burned even more readily than paper。
Placing it on the foundation； he fed the young flame with wisps of dry
grass and with the tiniest dry twigs。
He worked slowly and carefully； keenly aware of his danger。
Gradually； as the flame grew stronger； he increased the size of the twi