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enough blood up to the surface to put a stop to his shivering。 But no
sensation was aroused in the hands。 He had an impression that they hung
like weights on the ends of his arms； but when he tried to run the
impression down； he could not find it。
A certain fear of death； dull and oppressive； came to him。 This fear
quickly became poignant as he realized that it was no longer a mere matter
of freezing his fingers and toes； or of losing his hands and feet； but that it
was a matter of life and death with the chances against him。 This threw
him into a panic； and he turned and ran up the creek…bed along the old；
dim trail。 The dog joined in behind and kept up with him。 He ran
blindly； without intention； in fear such as he had never known in his life。
Slowly； as he ploughed and floundered through the snow； he began to see
things againthe banks of the creek； the old timber…jams； the leafless
aspens； and the sky。 The running made him feel better。 He did not shiver。
Maybe； if he ran on； his feet would thaw out； and； anyway； if he ran far
enough； he would reach camp and the boys。 Without doubt he would
lose some fingers and toes and some of his face； but the boys would take
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care of him； and save the rest of him when he got there。 And at the same
time there was another thought in his mind that said he would never get to
the camp and the boys； that it was too many miles away； that the freezing
had too great a start on him； and that he would soon be stiff and dead。
This thought he kept in the background and refused to consider。
Sometimes it pushed itself forward and demanded to be heard； but he
thrust it back and strove to think of other things。
It struck him as curious that he could run at all on feet so frozen that
he could not feel them when they struck the earth and took the weight of
his body。 He seemed to himself to skim along above the surface and to
have no connection with the earth。 Somewhere he had once seen a
winged Mercury； and he wondered if Mercury felt as he felt when
skimming over the earth。
His theory of running until he reached camp and the boys had one flaw
in it： he lacked the endurance。 Several times he stumbled； and finally
he tottered； crumpled up； and fell。 When he tried to rise； he failed。 He
must sit and rest； he decided； and next time he would merely walk and
keep on going。 As he sat and regained his breath； he noted that he was
feeling quite warm and comfortable。 He was not shivering； and it even
seemed that a warm glow had come to his chest and trunk。 And yet；
when he touched his nose or cheeks； there was no sensation。 Running
would not thaw them out。 Nor would it thaw out his hands and feet。
Then the thought came to him that the frozen portions of his body must be
extending。 He tried to keep this thought down； to forget it； to think of
something else； he was aware of the panicky feeling that it caused； and he
was afraid of the panic。 But the thought asserted itself； and persisted；
until it produced a vision of his body totally frozen。 This was too much；
and he made another wild run along the trail。 Once he slowed down to a
walk； but the thought of the freezing extending itself made him run again。
And all the time the dog ran with him； at his heels。 When he fell
down a second time； it curled its tail over its forefeet and sat in front of
him facing him curiously eager and intent。 The warmth and security of
the animal angered him； and he cursed it till it flattened down its ears
appeasingly。 This time the shivering came more quickly upon the man。
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He was losing in his battle with the frost。 It was creeping into his body
from all sides。 The thought of it drove him on； but he ran no more than a
hundred feet； when he staggered and pitched headlong。 It was his last
panic。 When he had recovered his breath and control； he sat up and
entertained in his mind the conception of meeting death with dignity。
However； the conception did not come to him in such terms。 His idea of
it was that he had been making a fool of himself； running around like a
chicken with its head cut offsuch was the simile that occurred to him。
Well； he was bound to freeze anyway； and he might as well take it
decently。 With this new…found peace of mind came the first glimmerings
of drowsiness。 A good idea； he thought； to sleep off to death。 It was
like taking an anaesthetic。 Freezing was not so bad as people thought。
There were lots worse ways to die。
He pictured the boys finding his body next day。 Suddenly he found
himself with them； coming along the trail and looking for himself。 And；
still with them； he came around a turn in the trail and found himself lying
in the snow。 He did not belong with himself any more； for even then he
was out of himself； standing with the boys and looking at himself in the
snow。 It certainly was cold； was his thought。 When he got back to the
States he could tell the folks what real cold was。 He drifted on from this
to a vision of the old…timer on Sulphur Creek。 He could see him quite
clearly； warm and comfortable； and smoking a pipe。
〃You were right； old hoss； you were right；〃 the man mumbled to the
old…timer of Sulphur Creek。
Then the man drowsed off into what seemed to him the most
comfortable and satisfying sleep he had ever known。 The dog sat facing
him and waiting。 The brief day drew to a close in a long； slow twilight。
There were no signs of a fire to be made； and； besides； never in the dog's
experience had it known a man to sit like that in the snow and make no
fire。 As the twilight drew on； its eager yearning for the fire mastered it；
and with a great lifting and shifting of forefeet； it whined softly； then
flattened its ears down in anticipation of being chidden by the man。 But
the man remained silent。 Later； the dog whined loudly。 And still later it
crept close to the man and caught the scent of death。 This made the
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animal bristle and back away。 A little longer it delayed； howling under
the stars that leaped and danced and shone brightly in the cold sky。 Then
it turned and trotted up the trail in the direction of the camp it knew； where
were the other food…providers and fire…providers。
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THAT SPOT
I don't think much of Stephen Mackaye any more； though I used to
swear by him。 I know that in those days I loved him more than my own
brother。 If ever I meet Stephen Mackaye again； I shall not be responsible
for my actions。 It passes beyond me that a man with whom I shared food
and blanket； and with whom I mushed over the Chilcoot Trail； should turn
out the way he did。 I always sized Steve up as a square man； a kindly
comrade； without an iota of anything vindictive or malicious in his nature。
I shall never trust my judgment in men again。 Why； I nursed that man
through typhoid fever； we starved together on the headwaters of the
Stewart； and he saved my life on the Little Salmon。 And now； after the
years we were together； all I can say of Stephen Mackaye is that he is the
meanest man I ever knew。
We started for the Klondike in the fall rush of 1897； and we started too
late to get over Chilcoot Pass before the freeze…up。 We packed our outfit
o