adventurers were pitting themselves against the Wild determined to win They traveled on without speaking Silence surrounded them on all sides When the sun started to fade a faint cry arose in the air The front man turned his head until he locked eyes with the second Then across the narrow box the two men nodded at each other A second cry pierced the silence Both men turned to face the area they had just come from A third answering cry arose in the same spot They’re after us said Bill to the man in the front His voice was hoarse Meat is scarce answered his friend Henry I ain’t seen a rabbit for days Although they didn’t speak again each time they heard the cry they gave a nodding look to each other At the fall of darkness the men swung their dogs into a cluster of spruce trees and made camp The coffi n served as chair and table The wolf dogs stayed on the other side of the 6
fi re Although they snarled and bickered they made no attempt to stray into the darkness Seems to me Henry that they’re staying remarkably close to camp said Bill Henry squatting over the fi re with the coffee pot nodded They know their hides are safe They’d sooner eat grub than be grub They’re pretty wise them dogs Bill shook his head Oh I don’t know about that Did you happen to notice the way the dogs kicked up while I was feeding them They did cut up more than the usual replied Henry How many dogs we got Henry Six said Henry Well Henry I took six fi sh out of the bag I gave one fi sh to each dog But I was short Henry One fi sh short You counted wrong Bill I didn’t count wrong One Ear didn’t get a fi sh I won’t say they were all dogs but there was seven lined up for fi sh 8
There’s six now Just counted them I saw one run across the snow Henry sighed I’ll be glad when this trip is done and over I think it’s getting to you too You’re seeing things I thought of that said Bill But I counted them and saw the tracks of the one that ran off Then you’re thinking it was one of them A long wailing cry fi ercely sad from somewhere in the darkness interrupted them Bill pointed One of them for sure Cry after cry could be heard from the distance It shattered the silence and angered the Wild The sled dogs huddled in fear by the fi re So close did they gather that their fur was singed by the fl ames Looking out around the fi re a circle of eyes like gleaming coals could be seen getting closer Wish we had more than three bullets left Henry I wish we had 300 I’d show them said Bill And I wish this cold snap would break Fifty below for over two weeks is frightful 9
