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！
frozen bed of a small stream。 This was Henderson Creek； and he knew
he was ten miles from the forks。 He looked at his watch。 It was ten
o'clock。 He was making four miles an hour； and he calculated that he
would arrive at the forks at half…past twelve。 He decided to celebrate that
event by eating his lunch there。
The dog dropped in again at his heels； with a tail drooping
discouragement； as the man swung along the creek…bed。 The furrow of
the old sled…trail was plainly visible； but a dozen inches of snow covered
the marks of the last runners。 In a month no man had come up or down
that silent creek。 The man held steadily on。 He was not much given to
thinking； and just then particularly he had nothing to think about save that
he would eat lunch at the forks and that at six o'clock he would be in camp
with the boys。 There was nobody to talk to and； had there been； speech
would have been impossible because of the ice…muzzle on his mouth。 So
he continued monotonously to chew tobacco and to increase the length of
his amber beard。
Once in a while the thought reiterated itself that it was very cold and
that he had never experienced such cold。 As he walked along he rubbed
his cheek…bones and nose with the back of his mittened hand。 He did this
automatically； now and again changing hands。 But rub as he would； the
instant he stopped his cheek…bones went numb； and the following instant
the end of his nose went numb。 He was sure to frost his cheeks； he knew
that； and experienced a pang of regret that he had not devised a nose…strap
of the sort Bud wore in cold snaps。 Such a strap passed across the cheeks；
as well； and saved them。 But it didn't matter much； after all。 What were
frosted cheeks？ A bit painful； that was all； they were never serious。
Empty as the man's mind was of thoughts； he was keenly observant；
and he noticed the changes in the creek； the curves and bends and timber…
jams； and always he sharply noted where he placed his feet。 Once；
coming around a bend； he shied abruptly； like a startled horse； curved
away from the place where he had been walking； and retreated several
paces back along the trail。 The creek he knew was frozen clear to the
bottomno creek could contain water in that arctic winterbut he knew
31
… Page 32…
LOST FACE
also that there were springs that bubbled out from the hillsides and ran
along under the snow and on top the ice of the creek。 He knew that the
coldest snaps never froze these springs； and he knew likewise their danger。
They were traps。 They hid pools of water under the snow that might be
three inches deep； or three feet。 Sometimes a skin of ice half an inch
thick covered them； and in turn was covered by the snow。 Sometimes
there were alternate layers of water and ice…skin； so that when one broke
through he kept on breaking through for a while； sometimes wetting
himself to the waist。
That was why he had shied in such panic。 He had felt the give under
his feet and heard the crackle of a snow…hidden ice…skin。 And to get his
feet wet in such a temperature meant trouble and danger。 At the very
least it meant delay； for he would be forced to stop and build a fire； and
under its protection to bare his feet while he dried his socks and moccasins。
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