"Nothingimportant，"Churchillechoedinafaint，smallvoice。Thenhespokewithdecision："Louis，what’sinthatbag？Iwanttoknow。"
Louislookedathimcuriously，thenlefttheroomandreturnedwithabunchofkeys。HeinsertedhishandanddrewoutaheavyColt’srevolver。NextcameoutafewboxesofammunitionfortherevolverandseveralboxesofWinchestercartridges。
Churchilltookthegripsackandlookedintoit。Thenheturneditupsidedownandshookitgently。
"Thegun’sallrusted，"Bondellsaid。"Musthavebeenoutintherain。"
"Yes，"Churchillanswered。"Toobaditgotwet。IguessIwasabitcareless。"
Hegotupandwentoutside。TenminuteslaterLouisBondellwentoutandfoundhimonthesteps，sittingdown，elbowsonkneesandchinonhands，gazingsteadfastlyoutintothedarkness。
TOBUILDAFIRE
Dayhadbrokencoldandgrey，exceedinglycoldandgrey，whenthemanturnedasidefromthemainYukontrailandclimbedthehighearth-
bank，whereadimandlittle-travelledtrailledeastwardthroughthefatsprucetimberland。Itwasasteepbank，andhepausedforbreathatthetop，excusingtheacttohimselfbylookingathiswatch。Itwasnineo’clock。Therewasnosunnorhintofsun，thoughtherewasnotacloudinthesky。Itwasaclearday，andyetthereseemedanintangiblepalloverthefaceofthings，asubtlegloomthatmadethedaydark，andthatwasduetotheabsenceofsun。Thisfactdidnotworrytheman。Hewasusedtothelackofsun。Ithadbeendayssincehehadseenthesun，andheknewthatafewmoredaysmustpassbeforethatcheerfulorb，duesouth，wouldjustpeepabovethesky-
lineanddipimmediatelyfromview。
Themanflungalookbackalongthewayhehadcome。TheYukonlayamilewideandhiddenunderthreefeetofice。Ontopofthisicewereasmanyfeetofsnow。Itwasallpurewhite，rollingingentleundulationswheretheice-jamsofthefreeze-uphadformed。Northandsouth，asfarashiseyecouldsee，itwasunbrokenwhite，saveforadarkhair-linethatcurvedandtwistedfromaroundthespruce-
coveredislandtothesouth，andthatcurvedandtwistedawayintothenorth，whereitdisappearedbehindanotherspruce-coveredisland。
Thisdarkhair-linewasthetrail——themaintrail——thatledsouthfivehundredmilestotheChilcootPass，Dyea，andsaltwater;andthatlednorthseventymilestoDawson，andstillontothenorthathousandmilestoNulato，andfinallytoSt。MichaelonBeringSea，athousandmilesandhalfathousandmore。
Butallthis——themysterious，far-reachinghairlinetrail，theabsenceofsunfromthesky，thetremendouscold，andthestrangenessandweirdnessofitall——madenoimpressionontheman。Itwasnotbecausehewaslongusedtoit。Hewasanew-comerintheland，achechaquo，andthiswashisfirstwinter。Thetroublewithhimwasthathewaswithoutimagination。Hewasquickandalertinthethingsoflife，butonlyinthethings，andnotinthesignificances。
Fiftydegreesbelowzeromeanteightyodddegreesoffrost。Suchfactimpressedhimasbeingcoldanduncomfortable，andthatwasall。
Itdidnotleadhimtomeditateuponhisfrailtyasacreatureoftemperature，anduponman’sfrailtyingeneral，ableonlytolivewithincertainnarrowlimitsofheatandcold;andfromthereonitdidnotleadhimtotheconjecturalfieldofimmortalityandman’splaceintheuniverse。Fiftydegreesbelowzerostoodforabiteoffrostthathurtandthatmustbeguardedagainstbytheuseofmittens，ear-flaps，warmmoccasins，andthicksocks。Fiftydegreesbelowzerowastohimjustpreciselyfiftydegreesbelowzero。Thatthereshouldbeanythingmoretoitthanthatwasathoughtthatneverenteredhishead。
Asheturnedtogoon，hespatspeculatively。Therewasasharp，explosivecracklethatstartledhim。Hespatagain。Andagain，intheair，beforeitcouldfalltothesnow，thespittlecrackled。Heknewthatatfiftybelowspittlecrackledonthesnow，butthisspittlehadcrackledintheair。Undoubtedlyitwascolderthanfiftybelow——howmuchcolderhedidnotknow。Butthetemperaturedidnotmatter。HewasboundfortheoldclaimontheleftforkofHendersonCreek，wheretheboyswerealready。TheyhadcomeoveracrossthedividefromtheIndianCreekcountry，whilehehadcometheroundaboutwaytotakealookatthepossibilitiesofgettingoutlogsinthespringfromtheislandsintheYukon。Hewouldbeintocampbysixo’clock;abitafterdark，itwastrue，buttheboyswouldbethere，afirewouldbegoing，andahotsupperwouldbeready。Asforlunch，hepressedhishandagainsttheprotrudingbundleunderhisjacket。Itwasalsounderhisshirt，wrappedupinahandkerchiefandlyingagainstthenakedskin。Itwastheonlywaytokeepthebiscuitsfromfreezing。Hesmiledagreeablytohimselfashethoughtofthosebiscuits，eachcutopenandsoppedinbacongrease，andeachenclosingageneroussliceoffriedbacon。
Heplungedinamongthebigsprucetrees。Thetrailwasfaint。A
footofsnowhadfallensincethelastsledhadpassedover，andhewasgladhewaswithoutasled，travellinglight。Infact，hecarriednothingbutthelunchwrappedinthehandkerchief。Hewassurprised，however，atthecold。Itcertainlywascold，heconcluded，asherubbedhisnumbednoseandcheek-boneswithhismittenedhand。Hewasawarm-whiskeredman，butthehaironhisfacedidnotprotectthehighcheek-bonesandtheeagernosethatthrustitselfaggressivelyintothefrostyair。
Attheman’sheelstrottedadog，abignativehusky，theproperwolf-dog，grey-coatedandwithoutanyvisibleortemperamentaldifferencefromitsbrother，thewildwolf。Theanimalwasdepressedbythetremendouscold。Itknewthatitwasnotimefortravelling。
Itsinstincttolditatruertalethanwastoldtothemanbytheman’sjudgment。Inreality，itwasnotmerelycolderthanfiftybelowzero;itwascolderthansixtybelow，thanseventybelow。Itwasseventy-fivebelowzero。Sincethefreezing-pointisthirty-twoabovezero，itmeantthatonehundredandsevendegreesoffrostobtained。Thedogdidnotknowanythingaboutthermometers。
Possiblyinitsbraintherewasnosharpconsciousnessofaconditionofverycoldsuchaswasintheman’sbrain。Butthebrutehaditsinstinct。Itexperiencedavaguebutmenacingapprehensionthatsubdueditandmadeitslinkalongattheman’sheels，andthatmadeitquestioneagerlyeveryunwontedmovementofthemanasifexpectinghimtogointocamportoseeksheltersomewhereandbuildafire。Thedoghadlearnedfire，anditwantedfire，orelsetoburrowunderthesnowandcuddleitswarmthawayfromtheair。
Thefrozenmoistureofitsbreathinghadsettledonitsfurinafinepowderoffrost，andespeciallywereitsjowls，muzzle，andeyelasheswhitenedbyitscrystalledbreath。Theman’sredbeardandmoustachewerelikewisefrosted，butmoresolidly，thedeposittakingtheformoficeandincreasingwitheverywarm，moistbreathheexhaled。
Also，themanwaschewingtobacco，andthemuzzleoficeheldhislipssorigidlythathewasunabletoclearhischinwhenheexpelledthejuice。Theresultwasthatacrystalbeardofthecolourandsolidityofamberwasincreasingitslengthonhischin。Ifhefelldownitwouldshatteritself，likeglass，intobrittlefragments。
Buthedidnotmindtheappendage。Itwasthepenaltyalltobacco-
chewerspaidinthatcountry，andhehadbeenoutbeforeintwocoldsnaps。Theyhadnotbeensocoldasthis，heknew，butbythespiritthermometeratSixtyMileheknewtheyhadbeenregisteredatfiftybelowandatfifty-five。
Heheldonthroughthelevelstretchofwoodsforseveralmiles，crossedawideflatofnigger-heads，anddroppeddownabanktothefrozenbedofasmallstream。ThiswasHendersonCreek，andheknewhewastenmilesfromtheforks。Helookedathiswatch。Itwasteno’clock。Hewasmakingfourmilesanhour，andhecalculatedthathewouldarriveattheforksathalf-pasttwelve。Hedecidedtocelebratethateventbyeatinghislunchthere。
Thedogdroppedinagainathisheels，withataildroopingdiscouragement，asthemanswungalongthecreek-bed。Thefurrowoftheoldsled-trailwasplainlyvisible，butadozeninchesofsnowcoveredthemarksofthelastrunners。Inamonthnomanhadcomeupordownthatsilentcreek。Themanheldsteadilyon。Hewasnotmuchgiventothinking，andjustthenparticularlyhehadnothingtothinkaboutsavethathewouldeatlunchattheforksandthatatsixo’clockhewouldbeincampwiththeboys。Therewasnobodytotalktoand，hadtherebeen，speechwouldhavebeenimpossiblebecauseoftheice-muzzleonhismouth。Sohecontinuedmonotonouslytochewtobaccoandtoincreasethelengthofhisamberbeard。
Onceinawhilethethoughtreiterateditselfthatitwasverycoldandthathehadneverexperiencedsuchcold。Ashewalkedalongherubbedhischeek-bonesandnosewiththebackofhismittenedhand。
Hedidthisautomatically，nowandagainchanginghands。Butrubashewould，theinstanthestoppedhischeek-boneswentnumb，andthefollowinginstanttheendofhisnosewentnumb。Hewassuretofrosthischeeks;heknewthat，andexperiencedapangofregretthathehadnotdevisedanose-strapofthesortBudworeincoldsnaps。
Suchastrappassedacrossthecheeks，aswell，andsavedthem。Butitdidn’tmattermuch，afterall。Whatwerefrostedcheeks？Abitpainful，thatwasall;theywereneverserious。
Emptyastheman’smindwasofthoughts，hewaskeenlyobservant，andhenoticedthechangesinthecreek，thecurvesandbendsandtimber-
jams，andalwayshesharplynotedwhereheplacedhisfeet。Once，comingaroundabend，heshiedabruptly，likeastartledhorse，curvedawayfromtheplacewherehehadbeenwalking，andretreatedseveralpacesbackalongthetrail。Thecreekheknewwasfrozencleartothebottom——nocreekcouldcontainwaterinthatarcticwinter——butheknewalsothattherewerespringsthatbubbledoutfromthehillsidesandranalongunderthesnowandontoptheiceofthecreek。Heknewthatthecoldestsnapsneverfrozethesesprings，andheknewlikewisetheirdanger。Theyweretraps。Theyhidpoolsofwaterunderthesnowthatmightbethreeinchesdeep，orthreefeet。Sometimesaskinoficehalfaninchthickcoveredthem，andinturnwascoveredbythesnow。Sometimestherewerealternatelayersofwaterandice-skin，sothatwhenonebrokethroughhekeptonbreakingthroughforawhile，sometimeswettinghimselftothewaist。
Thatwaswhyhehadshiedinsuchpanic。Hehadfeltthegiveunderhisfeetandheardthecrackleofasnow-hiddenice-skin。Andtogethisfeetwetinsuchatemperaturemeanttroubleanddanger。Attheveryleastitmeantdelay，forhewouldbeforcedtostopandbuildafire，andunderitsprotectiontobarehisfeetwhilehedriedhissocksandmoccasins。Hestoodandstudiedthecreek-bedanditsbanks，anddecidedthattheflowofwatercamefromtheright。Hereflectedawhile，rubbinghisnoseandcheeks，thenskirtedtotheleft，steppinggingerlyandtestingthefootingforeachstep。Onceclearofthedanger，hetookafreshchewoftobaccoandswungalongathisfour-milegait。
Inthecourseofthenexttwohourshecameuponseveralsimilartraps。Usuallythesnowabovethehiddenpoolshadasunken，candiedappearancethatadvertisedthedanger。Onceagain，however，hehadaclosecall;andonce，suspectingdanger，hecompelledthedogtogooninfront。Thedogdidnotwanttogo。Ithungbackuntilthemanshoveditforward，andthenitwentquicklyacrossthewhite，unbrokensurface。Suddenlyitbrokethrough，flounderedtooneside，andgotawaytofirmerfooting。Ithadwetitsforefeetandlegs，andalmostimmediatelythewaterthatclungtoitturnedtoice。Itmadequickeffortstolicktheiceoffitslegs，thendroppeddowninthesnowandbegantobiteouttheicethathadformedbetweenthetoes。Thiswasamatterofinstinct。Topermittheicetoremainwouldmeansorefeet。Itdidnotknowthis。Itmerelyobeyedthemysteriouspromptingthatarosefromthedeepcryptsofitsbeing。
Butthemanknew，havingachievedajudgmentonthesubject，andheremovedthemittenfromhisrighthandandhelpedtearouttheice-
particles。Hedidnotexposehisfingersmorethanaminute，andwasastonishedattheswiftnumbnessthatsmotethem。Itcertainlywascold。Hepulledonthemittenhastily，andbeatthehandsavagelyacrosshischest。
Attwelveo’clockthedaywasatitsbrightest。Yetthesunwastoofarsouthonitswinterjourneytoclearthehorizon。ThebulgeoftheearthintervenedbetweenitandHendersonCreek，wherethemanwalkedunderaclearskyatnoonandcastnoshadow。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。Andhehadlaughedathimatthetime！Thatshowedonemustnotbetoosureofthings。Therewasnomistakeaboutit，itwascold。Hestrodeupanddown，stampinghisfeetandthreshinghisarms，untilreassuredbythereturningwarmth。Thenhegotoutmatchesandproceededtomakeafire。Fromtheundergrowth，wherehighwaterofthepreviousspringhadlodgedasupplyofseasonedtwigs，hegothisfirewood。Workingcarefullyfromasmallbeginning，hesoonhadaroaringfire，overwhichhethawedtheicefromhisfaceandintheprotectionofwhichheatehisbiscuits。
Forthemomentthecoldofspacewasoutwitted。Thedogtooksatisfactioninthefire，stretchingoutcloseenoughforwarmthandfarenoughawaytoescapebeingsinged。
Whenthemanhadfinished，hefilledhispipeandtookhiscomfortabletimeoverasmoke。Thenhepulledonhismittens，settledtheear-flapsofhiscapfirmlyabouthisears，andtookthecreektrailuptheleftfork。Thedogwasdisappointedandyearnedbacktowardthefire。Thismandidnotknowcold。Possiblyallthegenerationsofhisancestryhadbeenignorantofcold，ofrealcold，ofcoldonehundredandsevendegreesbelowfreezing-point。Butthedogknew;allitsancestryknew，andithadinheritedtheknowledge。
Anditknewthatitwasnotgoodtowalkabroadinsuchfearfulcold。
Itwasthetimetoliesnuginaholeinthesnowandwaitforacurtainofcloudtobedrawnacrossthefaceofouterspacewhencethiscoldcame。Ontheotherhand，therewaskeenintimacybetweenthedogandtheman。Theonewasthetoil-slaveoftheother，andtheonlycaressesithadeverreceivedwerethecaressesofthewhip-
lashandofharshandmenacingthroat-soundsthatthreatenedthewhip-lash。Sothedogmadenoefforttocommunicateitsapprehensiontotheman。Itwasnotconcernedinthewelfareoftheman;itwasforitsownsakethatityearnedbacktowardthefire。Butthemanwhistled，andspoketoitwiththesoundofwhip-lashes，andthedogswunginattheman’sheelsandfollowedafter。
Themantookachewoftobaccoandproceededtostartanewamberbeard。Also，hismoistbreathquicklypowderedwithwhitehismoustache，eyebrows，andlashes。TheredidnotseemtobesomanyspringsontheleftforkoftheHenderson，andforhalfanhourthemansawnosignsofany。Andthenithappened。Ataplacewheretherewerenosigns，wherethesoft，unbrokensnowseemedtoadvertisesoliditybeneath，themanbrokethrough。Itwasnotdeep。
Hewettedhimselfhalf-waytothekneesbeforeheflounderedouttothefirmcrust。
Hewasangry，andcursedhisluckaloud。Hehadhopedtogetintocampwiththeboysatsixo’clock，andthiswoulddelayhimanhour，forhewouldhavetobuildafireanddryouthisfoot-gear。Thiswasimperativeatthatlowtemperature——heknewthatmuch;andheturnedasidetothebank，whichheclimbed。Ontop，tangledintheunderbrushaboutthetrunksofseveralsmallsprucetrees，wasahigh-waterdepositofdryfirewood——sticksandtwigsprincipally，butalsolargerportionsofseasonedbranchesandfine，dry，last-year’sgrasses。Hethrewdownseverallargepiecesontopofthesnow。
Thisservedforafoundationandpreventedtheyoungflamefromdrowningitselfinthesnowitotherwisewouldmelt。Theflamehegotbytouchingamatchtoasmallshredofbirch-barkthathetookfromhispocket。Thisburnedevenmorereadilythanpaper。Placingitonthefoundation，hefedtheyoungflamewithwispsofdrygrassandwiththetiniestdrytwigs。
Heworkedslowlyandcarefully，keenlyawareofhisdanger。
Gradually，astheflamegrewstronger，heincreasedthesizeofthetwigswithwhichhefedit。Hesquattedinthesnow，pullingthetwigsoutfromtheirentanglementinthebrushandfeedingdirectlytotheflame。Heknewtheremustbenofailure。Whenitisseventy-
fivebelowzero，amanmustnotfailinhisfirstattempttobuildafire——thatis，ifhisfeetarewet。Ifhisfeetaredry，andhefails，hecanrunalongthetrailforhalfamileandrestorehiscirculation。Butthecirculationofwetandfreezingfeetcannotberestoredbyrunningwhenitisseventy-fivebelow。Nomatterhowfastheruns，thewetfeetwillfreezetheharder。
Allthisthemanknew。Theold-timeronSulphurCreekhadtoldhimaboutitthepreviousfall，andnowhewasappreciatingtheadvice。
Alreadyallsensationhadgoneoutofhisfeet。Tobuildthefirehehadbeenforcedtoremovehismittens，andthefingershadquicklygonenumb。Hispaceoffourmilesanhourhadkepthisheartpumpingbloodtothesurfaceofhisbodyandtoalltheextremities。Buttheinstanthestopped，theactionofthepumpeaseddown。Thecoldofspacesmotetheunprotectedtipoftheplanet，andhe，beingonthatunprotectedtip，receivedthefullforceoftheblow。Thebloodofhisbodyrecoiledbeforeit。Thebloodwasalive，likethedog，andlikethedogitwantedtohideawayandcoveritselfupfromthefearfulcold。Solongashewalkedfourmilesanhour，hepumpedthatblood，willy-nilly，tothesurface;butnowitebbedawayandsankdownintotherecessesofhisbody。Theextremitieswerethefirsttofeelitsabsence。Hiswetfeetfrozethefaster，andhisexposedfingersnumbedthefaster，thoughtheyhadnotyetbeguntofreeze。Noseandcheekswerealreadyfreezing，whiletheskinofallhisbodychilledasitlostitsblood。
Buthewassafe。Toesandnoseandcheekswouldbeonlytouchedbythefrost，forthefirewasbeginningtoburnwithstrength。Hewasfeedingitwithtwigsthesizeofhisfinger。Inanotherminutehewouldbeabletofeeditwithbranchesthesizeofhiswrist，andthenhecouldremovehiswetfoot-gear，and，whileitdried，hecouldkeephisnakedfeetwarmbythefire，rubbingthematfirst，ofcourse，withsnow。Thefirewasasuccess。Hewassafe。Herememberedtheadviceoftheold-timeronSulphurCreek，andsmiled。
Theold-timerhadbeenveryseriousinlayingdownthelawthatnomanmusttravelaloneintheKlondikeafterfiftybelow。Well，herehewas;hehadhadtheaccident;hewasalone;andhehadsavedhimself。Thoseold-timerswereratherwomanish，someofthem，hethought。Allamanhadtodowastokeephishead，andhewasallright。Anymanwhowasamancouldtravelalone。Butitwassurprising，therapiditywithwhichhischeeksandnosewerefreezing。Andhehadnotthoughthisfingerscouldgolifelessinsoshortatime。Lifelesstheywere，forhecouldscarcelymakethemmovetogethertogripatwig，andtheyseemedremotefromhisbodyandfromhim。Whenhetouchedatwig，hehadtolookandseewhetherornothehadholdofit。Thewireswereprettywelldownbetweenhimandhisfinger-ends。
Allofwhichcountedforlittle。Therewasthefire，snappingandcracklingandpromisinglifewitheverydancingflame。Hestartedtountiehismoccasins。Theywerecoatedwithice;thethickGermansockswerelikesheathsofironhalf-waytotheknees;andthemocassinstringswerelikerodsofsteelalltwistedandknottedasbysomeconflagration。Foramomenthetuggedwithhisnumbedfingers，then，realizingthefollyofit，hedrewhissheath-knife。
Butbeforehecouldcutthestrings，ithappened。Itwashisownfaultor，rather，hismistake。Heshouldnothavebuiltthefireunderthesprucetree。Heshouldhavebuiltitintheopen。Butithadbeeneasiertopullthetwigsfromthebrushanddropthemdirectlyonthefire。Nowthetreeunderwhichhehaddonethiscarriedaweightofsnowonitsboughs。Nowindhadblownforweeks，andeachboughwasfullyfreighted。Eachtimehehadpulledatwighehadcommunicatedaslightagitationtothetree——animperceptibleagitation，sofarashewasconcerned，butanagitationsufficienttobringaboutthedisaster。Highupinthetreeoneboughcapsizeditsloadofsnow。Thisfellontheboughsbeneath，capsizingthem。Thisprocesscontinued，spreadingoutandinvolvingthewholetree。Itgrewlikeanavalanche，anditdescendedwithoutwarninguponthemanandthefire，andthefirewasblottedout！Whereithadburnedwasamantleoffreshanddisorderedsnow。
Themanwasshocked。Itwasasthoughhehadjustheardhisownsentenceofdeath。Foramomenthesatandstaredatthespotwherethefirehadbeen。Thenhegrewverycalm。Perhapstheold-timeronSulphurCreekwasright。Ifhehadonlyhadatrail-matehewouldhavebeeninnodangernow。Thetrail-matecouldhavebuiltthefire。Well，itwasuptohimtobuildthefireoveragain，andthissecondtimetheremustbenofailure。Evenifhesucceeded，hewouldmostlikelylosesometoes。Hisfeetmustbebadlyfrozenbynow，andtherewouldbesometimebeforethesecondfirewasready。
Suchwerehisthoughts，buthedidnotsitandthinkthem。Hewasbusyallthetimetheywerepassingthroughhismind，hemadeanewfoundationforafire，thistimeintheopen;wherenotreacheroustreecouldblotitout。Next，hegathereddrygrassesandtinytwigsfromthehigh-waterflotsam。Hecouldnotbringhisfingerstogethertopullthemout，buthewasabletogatherthembythehandful。Inthiswayhegotmanyrottentwigsandbitsofgreenmossthatwereundesirable，butitwasthebesthecoulddo。Heworkedmethodically，evencollectinganarmfulofthelargerbranchestobeusedlaterwhenthefiregatheredstrength。Andallthewhilethedogsatandwatchedhim，acertainyearningwistfulnessinitseyes，foritlookeduponhimasthefire-provider，andthefirewasslowincoming。
Whenallwasready，themanreachedinhispocketforasecondpieceofbirch-bark。Heknewthebarkwasthere，and，thoughhecouldnotfeelitwithhisfingers，hecouldhearitscrisprustlingashefumbledforit。Tryashewould，hecouldnotclutchholdofit。
Andallthetime，inhisconsciousness，wastheknowledgethateachinstanthisfeetwerefreezing。Thisthoughttendedtoputhiminapanic，buthefoughtagainstitandkeptcalm。Hepulledonhismittenswithhisteeth，andthreshedhisarmsbackandforth，beatinghishandswithallhismightagainsthissides。Hedidthissittingdown，andhestooduptodoit;andallthewhilethedogsatinthesnow，itswolf-brushofatailcurledaroundwarmlyoveritsforefeet，itssharpwolf-earsprickedforwardintentlyasitwatchedtheman。Andthemanashebeatandthreshedwithhisarmsandhands，feltagreatsurgeofenvyasheregardedthecreaturethatwaswarmandsecureinitsnaturalcovering。
Afteratimehewasawareofthefirstfar-awaysignalsofsensationinhisbeatenfingers。Thefainttinglinggrewstrongertillitevolvedintoastingingachethatwasexcruciating，butwhichthemanhailedwithsatisfaction。Hestrippedthemittenfromhisrighthandandfetchedforththebirch-bark。Theexposedfingerswerequicklygoingnumbagain。Nexthebroughtouthisbunchofsulphurmatches。
Butthetremendouscoldhadalreadydriventhelifeoutofhisfingers。Inhisefforttoseparateonematchfromtheothers，thewholebunchfellinthesnow。Hetriedtopickitoutofthesnow，butfailed。Thedeadfingerscouldneithertouchnorclutch。Hewasverycareful。Hedrovethethoughtofhisfreezingfeet;andnose，andcheeks，outofhismind，devotinghiswholesoultothematches。
Hewatched，usingthesenseofvisioninplaceofthatoftouch，andwhenhesawhisfingersoneachsidethebunch，heclosedthem——thatis，hewilledtoclosethem，forthewiresweredrawn，andthefingersdidnotobey。Hepulledthemittenontherighthand，andbeatitfiercelyagainsthisknee。Then，withbothmittenedhands，hescoopedthebunchofmatches，alongwithmuchsnow，intohislap。
Yethewasnobetteroff。
Aftersomemanipulationhemanagedtogetthebunchbetweentheheelsofhismittenedhands。Inthisfashionhecarriedittohismouth。
Theicecrackledandsnappedwhenbyaviolenteffortheopenedhismouth。Hedrewthelowerjawin，curledtheupperlipoutoftheway，andscrapedthebunchwithhisupperteethinordertoseparateamatch。Hesucceededingettingone，whichhedroppedonhislap。
Hewasnobetteroff。Hecouldnotpickitup。Thenhedevisedaway。Hepickeditupinhisteethandscratcheditonhisleg。
Twentytimeshescratchedbeforehesucceededinlightingit。Asitflamedhehelditwithhisteethtothebirch-bark。Buttheburningbrimstonewentuphisnostrilsandintohislungs，causinghimtocoughspasmodically。Thematchfellintothesnowandwentout。
Theold-timeronSulphurCreekwasright，hethoughtinthemomentofcontrolleddespairthatensued：afterfiftybelow，amanshouldtravelwithapartner。Hebeathishands，butfailedinexcitinganysensation。Suddenlyhebaredbothhands，removingthemittenswithhisteeth。Hecaughtthewholebunchbetweentheheelsofhishands。
Hisarm-musclesnotbeingfrozenenabledhimtopressthehand-heelstightlyagainstthematches。Thenhescratchedthebunchalonghisleg。Itflaredintoflame，seventysulphurmatchesatonce！Therewasnowindtoblowthemout。Hekepthisheadtoonesidetoescapethestranglingfumes，andheldtheblazingbunchtothebirch-bark。
Ashesoheldit，hebecameawareofsensationinhishand。Hisfleshwasburning。Hecouldsmellit。Deepdownbelowthesurfacehecouldfeelit。Thesensationdevelopedintopainthatgrewacute。
Andstillheenduredit，holdingtheflameofthematchesclumsilytothebarkthatwouldnotlightreadilybecausehisownburninghandswereintheway，absorbingmostoftheflame。
Atlast，whenhecouldendurenomore，hejerkedhishandsapart。
Theblazingmatchesfellsizzlingintothesnow，butthebirch-barkwasalight。Hebeganlayingdrygrassesandthetiniesttwigsontheflame。Hecouldnotpickandchoose，forhehadtoliftthefuelbetweentheheelsofhishands。Smallpiecesofrottenwoodandgreenmossclungtothetwigs，andhebitthemoffaswellashecouldwithhisteeth。Hecherishedtheflamecarefullyandawkwardly。Itmeantlife，anditmustnotperish。Thewithdrawalofbloodfromthesurfaceofhisbodynowmadehimbegintoshiver，andhegrewmoreawkward。Alargepieceofgreenmossfellsquarelyonthelittlefire。Hetriedtopokeitoutwithhisfingers，buthisshiveringframemadehimpoketoofar，andhedisruptedthenucleusofthelittlefire，theburninggrassesandtinytwigsseparatingandscattering。Hetriedtopokethemtogetheragain，butinspiteofthetensenessoftheeffort，hisshiveringgotawaywithhim，andthetwigswerehopelesslyscattered。Eachtwiggushedapuffofsmokeandwentout。Thefire-providerhadfailed。Ashelookedapatheticallyabouthim，hiseyeschancedonthedog，sittingacrosstheruinsofthefirefromhim，inthesnow，makingrestless，hunchingmovements，slightlyliftingoneforefootandthentheother，shiftingitsweightbackandforthonthemwithwistfuleagerness。
Thesightofthedogputawildideaintohishead。Herememberedthetaleoftheman，caughtinablizzard，whokilledasteerandcrawledinsidethecarcass，andsowassaved。Hewouldkillthedogandburyhishandsinthewarmbodyuntilthenumbnesswentoutofthem。Thenhecouldbuildanotherfire。Hespoketothedog，callingittohim;butinhisvoicewasastrangenoteoffearthatfrightenedtheanimal，whohadneverknownthemantospeakinsuchwaybefore。Somethingwasthematter，anditssuspiciousnaturesenseddanger，——itknewnotwhatdangerbutsomewhere，somehow，initsbrainaroseanapprehensionoftheman。Itflatteneditsearsdownatthesoundoftheman’svoice，anditsrestless，hunchingmovementsandtheliftingsandshiftingsofitsforefeetbecamemorepronouncedbutitwouldnotcometotheman。Hegotonhishandsandkneesandcrawledtowardthedog。Thisunusualpostureagainexcitedsuspicion，andtheanimalsidledmincinglyaway。
Themansatupinthesnowforamomentandstruggledforcalmness。
Thenhepulledonhismittens，bymeansofhisteeth，andgotuponhisfeet。Heglanceddownatfirstinordertoassurehimselfthathewasreallystandingup，fortheabsenceofsensationinhisfeetlefthimunrelatedtotheearth。Hiserectpositioninitselfstartedtodrivethewebsofsuspicionfromthedog’smind;andwhenhespokeperemptorily，withthesoundofwhip-lashesinhisvoice，thedogrendereditscustomaryallegianceandcametohim。Asitcamewithinreachingdistance，themanlosthiscontrol。Hisarmsflashedouttothedog，andheexperiencedgenuinesurprisewhenhediscoveredthathishandscouldnotclutch，thattherewasneitherbendnorfeelinginthelingers。Hehadforgottenforthemomentthattheywerefrozenandthattheywerefreezingmoreandmore。Allthishappenedquickly，andbeforetheanimalcouldgetaway，heencircleditsbodywithhisarms。Hesatdowninthesnow，andinthisfashionheldthedog，whileitsnarledandwhinedandstruggled。
Butitwasallhecoulddo，holditsbodyencircledinhisarmsandsitthere。Herealizedthathecouldnotkillthedog。Therewasnowaytodoit。Withhishelplesshandshecouldneitherdrawnorholdhissheath-knifenorthrottletheanimal。Hereleasedit，anditplungedwildlyaway，withtailbetweenitslegs，andstillsnarling。
Ithaltedfortyfeetawayandsurveyedhimcuriously，withearssharplyprickedforward。Themanlookeddownathishandsinordertolocatethem，andfoundthemhangingontheendsofhisarms。Itstruckhimascuriousthatoneshouldhavetousehiseyesinordertofindoutwherehishandswere。Hebeganthreshinghisarmsbackandforth，beatingthemittenedhandsagainsthissides。Hedidthisforfiveminutes，violently，andhisheartpumpedenoughblooduptothesurfacetoputastoptohisshivering。Butnosensationwasarousedinthehands。Hehadanimpressionthattheyhunglikeweightsontheendsofhisarms，butwhenhetriedtoruntheimpressiondown，hecouldnotfindit。
Acertainfearofdeath，dullandoppressive，cametohim。Thisfearquicklybecamepoignantasherealizedthatitwasnolongeramerematteroffreezinghisfingersandtoes，oroflosinghishandsandfeet，butthatitwasamatteroflifeanddeathwiththechancesagainsthim。Thisthrewhimintoapanic，andheturnedandranupthecreek-bedalongtheold，dimtrail。Thedogjoinedinbehindandkeptupwithhim。Heranblindly，withoutintention，infearsuchashehadneverknowninhislife。Slowly，asheploughedandflounderedthroughthesnow，hebegantoseethingsagain——thebanksofthecreek，theoldtimber-jams，theleaflessaspens，andthesky。
Therunningmadehimfeelbetter。Hedidnotshiver。Maybe，ifheranon，hisfeetwouldthawout;and，anyway，ifheranfarenough，hewouldreachcampandtheboys。Withoutdoubthewouldlosesomefingersandtoesandsomeofhisface;buttheboyswouldtakecareofhim，andsavetherestofhimwhenhegotthere。Andatthesametimetherewasanotherthoughtinhismindthatsaidhewouldnevergettothecampandtheboys;thatitwastoomanymilesaway，thatthefreezinghadtoogreatastartonhim，andthathewouldsoonbestiffanddead。Thisthoughthekeptinthebackgroundandrefusedtoconsider。Sometimesitpusheditselfforwardanddemandedtobeheard，buthethrustitbackandstrovetothinkofotherthings。
Itstruckhimascuriousthathecouldrunatallonfeetsofrozenthathecouldnotfeelthemwhentheystrucktheearthandtooktheweightofhisbody。Heseemedtohimselftoskimalongabovethesurfaceandtohavenoconnectionwiththeearth。SomewherehehadonceseenawingedMercury，andhewonderedifMercuryfeltashefeltwhenskimmingovertheearth。
Histheoryofrunninguntilhereachedcampandtheboyshadoneflawinit：helackedtheendurance。Severaltimeshestumbled，andfinallyhetottered，crumpledup，andfell。Whenhetriedtorise，hefailed。Hemustsitandrest，hedecided，andnexttimehewouldmerelywalkandkeepongoing。Ashesatandregainedhisbreath，henotedthathewasfeelingquitewarmandcomfortable。Hewasnotshivering，anditevenseemedthatawarmglowhadcometohischestandtrunk。Andyet，whenhetouchedhisnoseorcheeks，therewasnosensation。Runningwouldnotthawthemout。Norwoulditthawouthishandsandfeet。Thenthethoughtcametohimthatthefrozenportionsofhisbodymustbeextending。Hetriedtokeepthisthoughtdown，toforgetit，tothinkofsomethingelse;hewasawareofthepanickyfeelingthatitcaused，andhewasafraidofthepanic。Butthethoughtasserteditself，andpersisted，untilitproducedavisionofhisbodytotallyfrozen。Thiswastoomuch，andhemadeanotherwildrunalongthetrail。Oncehesloweddowntoawalk，butthethoughtofthefreezingextendingitselfmadehimrunagain。
Andallthetimethedogranwithhim，athisheels。Whenhefelldownasecondtime，itcurleditstailoveritsforefeetandsatinfrontofhimfacinghimcuriouslyeagerandintent。Thewarmthandsecurityoftheanimalangeredhim，andhecursedittillitflatteneddownitsearsappeasingly。Thistimetheshiveringcamemorequicklyupontheman。Hewaslosinginhisbattlewiththefrost。Itwascreepingintohisbodyfromallsides。Thethoughtofitdrovehimon，butherannomorethanahundredfeet，whenhestaggeredandpitchedheadlong。Itwashislastpanic。Whenhehadrecoveredhisbreathandcontrol，hesatupandentertainedinhismindtheconceptionofmeetingdeathwithdignity。However，theconceptiondidnotcometohiminsuchterms。Hisideaofitwasthathehadbeenmakingafoolofhimself，runningaroundlikeachickenwithitsheadcutoff——suchwasthesimilethatoccurredtohim。Well，hewasboundtofreezeanyway，andhemightaswelltakeitdecently。Withthisnew-foundpeaceofmindcamethefirstglimmeringsofdrowsiness。Agoodidea，hethought，tosleepofftodeath。Itwasliketakingananaesthetic。Freezingwasnotsobadaspeoplethought。Therewerelotsworsewaystodie。
Hepicturedtheboysfindinghisbodynextday。Suddenlyhefoundhimselfwiththem，comingalongthetrailandlookingforhimself。
And，stillwiththem，hecamearoundaturninthetrailandfoundhimselflyinginthesnow。Hedidnotbelongwithhimselfanymore，foreventhenhewasoutofhimself，standingwiththeboysandlookingathimselfinthesnow。Itcertainlywascold，washisthought。WhenhegotbacktotheStateshecouldtellthefolkswhatrealcoldwas。Hedriftedonfromthistoavisionoftheold-timeronSulphurCreek。Hecouldseehimquiteclearly，warmandcomfortable，andsmokingapipe。
"Youwereright，oldhoss;youwereright，"themanmumbledtotheold-timerofSulphurCreek。
Thenthemandrowsedoffintowhatseemedtohimthemostcomfortableandsatisfyingsleephehadeverknown。Thedogsatfacinghimandwaiting。Thebriefdaydrewtoacloseinalong，slowtwilight。
Therewerenosignsofafiretobemade，and，besides，neverinthedog’sexperiencehaditknownamantositlikethatinthesnowandmakenofire。Asthetwilightdrewon，itseageryearningforthefiremasteredit，andwithagreatliftingandshiftingofforefeet，itwhinedsoftly，thenflatteneditsearsdowninanticipationofbeingchiddenbytheman。Butthemanremainedsilent。Later，thedogwhinedloudly。Andstilllateritcreptclosetothemanandcaughtthescentofdeath。Thismadetheanimalbristleandbackaway。Alittlelongeritdelayed，howlingunderthestarsthatleapedanddancedandshonebrightlyinthecoldsky。Thenitturnedandtrottedupthetrailinthedirectionofthecampitknew，whereweretheotherfood-providersandfire-providers。
THATSPOT
Idon’tthinkmuchofStephenMackayeanymore，thoughIusedtoswearbyhim。IknowthatinthosedaysIlovedhimmorethanmyownbrother。IfeverImeetStephenMackayeagain，Ishallnotberesponsibleformyactions。ItpassesbeyondmethatamanwithwhomIsharedfoodandblanket，andwithwhomImushedovertheChilcootTrail，shouldturnoutthewayhedid。IalwayssizedSteveupasasquareman，akindlycomrade，withoutaniotaofanythingvindictiveormaliciousinhisnature。Ishallnevertrustmyjudgmentinmenagain。Why，Inursedthatmanthroughtyphoidfever;westarvedtogetherontheheadwatersoftheStewart;andhesavedmylifeontheLittleSalmon。Andnow，aftertheyearsweweretogether，allI
cansayofStephenMackayeisthatheisthemeanestmanIeverknew。
WestartedfortheKlondikeinthefallrushof1897，andwestartedtoolatetogetoverChilcootPassbeforethefreeze-up。Wepackedouroutfitonourbackspartwayover，whenthesnowbegantofly，andthenwehadtobuydogsinordertosledittherestoftheway。
ThatwashowwecametogetthatSpot。Dogswerehigh，andwepaidonehundredandtendollarsforhim。Helookedworthit。IsayLOOKED，becausehewasoneofthefinest-appearingdogsIeversaw。
Heweighedsixtypounds，andhehadallthelinesofagoodsledanimal。Wenevercouldmakeouthisbreed。Hewasn’thusky，norMalemute，norHudsonBay;helookedlikeallofthemandhedidn’tlooklikeanyofthem;andontopofitallhehadsomeofthewhiteman’sdoginhim，forononeside，inthethickofthemixedyellow-
brown-red-and-dirty-whitethatwashisprevailingcolour，therewasaspotofcoal-blackasbigasawater-bucket。ThatwaswhywecalledhimSpot。
Hewasagoodlookerallright。Whenhewasinconditionhismusclesstoodoutinbunchesalloverhim。Andhewasthestrongest-lookingbruteIeversawinAlaska，alsothemostintelligent-looking。Torunyourevesoverhim，you’dthinkhecouldoutpullthreedogsofhisownweight。Maybehecould，butIneversawit。Hisintelligencedidn’trunthatway。Hecouldstealandforagetoperfection;hehadaninstinctthatwaspositivelygruesomefordiviningwhenworkwastobedoneandformakingasneakaccordingly;
andforgettinglostandnotstayinglosthewasnothingshortofinspired。Butwhenitcametowork，thewaythatintelligencedribbledoutofhimandlefthimamereclotofwobbling，stupidjellywouldmakeyourheartbleed。
TherearetimeswhenIthinkitwasn’tstupidity。Maybe，likesomemenIknow，hewastoowisetowork。Ishouldn’twonderifheputitalloveruswiththatintelligenceofhis。Maybehefigureditalloutanddecidedthatalickingnowandagainandnoworkwasawholelotbetterthanworkallthetimeandnolicking。Hewasintelligentenoughforsuchacomputation。Itellyou，I’vesatandlookedintothatdog’seyestilltheshiversranupanddownmyspineandthemarrowcrawledlikeyeast，whatoftheintelligenceIsawshiningout。Ican’texpressmyselfaboutthatintelligence。Itisbeyondmerewords。Isawit，that’sall。Attimesitwaslikegazingintoahumansoul，tolookintohiseyes;andwhatIsawtherefrightenedmeandstartedallsortsofideasinmyownmindofreincarnationandalltherest。ItellyouIsensedsomethingbiginthatbrute’seyes;therewasamessagethere，butIwasn’tbigenoughmyselftocatchit。Whateveritwas（IknowI’mmakingafoolofmyself）——
whateveritwas，itbaffledme。Ican’tgiveaninklingofwhatI
sawinthatbrute’seyes;itwasn’tlight，itwasn’tcolour;itwassomethingthatmoved，awayback，whentheeyesthemselvesweren’tmoving。AndIguessIdidn’tseeitmoveeither;Ionlysensedthatitmoved。Itwasanexpression——that’swhatitwas——andIgotanimpressionofit。No;itwasdifferentfromamereexpression;itwasmorethanthat。Idon’tknowwhatitwas，butitgavemeafeelingofkinshipjustthesame。Oh，no，notsentimentalkinship。
Itwas，rather，akinshipofequality。Thoseeyesneverpleadedlikeadeer’seyes。Theychallenged。No，itwasn’tdefiance。Itwasjustacalmassumptionofequality。AndIdon’tthinkitwasdeliberate。Mybeliefisthatitwasunconsciousonhispart。Itwastherebecauseitwasthere，anditcouldn’thelpshiningout。
No，Idon’tmeanshine。Itdidn’tshine;itMOVED。IknowI’mtalkingrot，butifyou’dlookedintothatanimal’seyesthewayI
have，you’dunderstand。StevewasaffectedthesamewayIwas。Why，ItriedtokillthatSpotonce——hewasnogoodforanything;andI
felldownonit。Iledhimoutintothebrush，andhecamealongslowandunwilling。Heknewwhatwasgoingon。Istoppedinalikelyplace，putmyfootontherope，andpulledmybigColt’s。Andthatdogsatdownandlookedatme。Itellyouhedidn’tplead。Hejustlooked。AndIsawallkindsofincomprehensiblethingsmoving，yes，MOVING，inthoseeyesofhis。Ididn’treallyseethemmove;I
thoughtIsawthem，for，asIsaidbefore，IguessIonlysensedthem。AndIwanttotellyourightnowthatitgotbeyondme。Itwaslikekillingaman，aconscious，braveman，wholookedcalmlyintoyourgunasmuchastosay，"Who’safraid？"
Then，too，themessageseemedsonearthat，insteadofpullingthetriggerquick，IstoppedtoseeifIcouldcatchthemessage。Thereitwas，rightbeforeme，glimmeringallaroundinthoseeyesofhis。
Andthenitwastoolate。Igotscared。Iwastremblyallover，andmystomachgeneratedanervouspalpitationthatmademeseasick。I
justsatdownandlookedatthedog，andhelookedatme，tillI
thoughtIwasgoingcrazy。DoyouwanttoknowwhatIdid？IthrewdownthegunandranbacktocampwiththefearofGodinmyheart。
Stevelaughedatme。ButInoticethatSteveledSpotintothewoods，aweeklater，forthesamepurpose，andthatStevecamebackalone，andalittlelaterSpotdriftedback，too。
Atanyrate，Spotwouldn’twork。Wepaidahundredandtendollarsforhimfromthebottomofoursack，andhewouldn’twork。Hewouldn’teventightenthetraces。Stevespoketohimthefirsttimeweputhiminharness，andhesortofshivered，thatwasall。Notanounceonthetraces。Hejuststoodstillandwobbled，likesomuchjelly。Stevetouchedhimwiththewhip。Heyelped，butnotanounce。Stevetouchedhimagain，abitharder，andhehowled——theregularlongwolfhowl。ThenStevegotmadandgavehimhalfadozen，andIcameontherunfromthetent。
ItoldStevehewasbrutalwiththeanimal，andwehadsomewords——
thefirstwe’deverhad。Hethrewthewhipdowninthesnowandwalkedawaymad。Ipickeditupandwenttoit。ThatSpottrembledandwobbledandcoweredbeforeeverIswungthelash，andwiththefirstbiteofithehowledlikealostsoul。Nexthelaydowninthesnow。Istartedtherestofthedogs，andtheydraggedhimalongwhileIthrewthewhipintohim。Herolledoveronhisbackandbumpedalong，hisfourlegswavingintheair，himselfhowlingasthoughhewasgoingthroughasausagemachine。Stevecamebackandlaughedatme，andIapologizedforwhatI’dsaid。
TherewasnogettinganyworkoutofthatSpot;andtomakeupforit，hewasthebiggestpig-gluttonofadogIeversaw。Ontopofthat，hewasthecleverestthief。Therewasnocircumventinghim。
ManyabreakfastwewentwithoutourbaconbecauseSpothadbeentherefirst。AnditwasbecauseofhimthatwenearlystarvedtodeathuptheStewart。Hefiguredoutthewaytobreakintoourmeat-
cache，andwhathedidn’teat，therestoftheteamdid。Buthewasimpartial。Hestolefromeverybody。Hewasarestlessdog，alwaysverybusysnoopingaroundorgoingsomewhere。Andtherewasneveracampwithinfivemilesthathedidn’traid。Theworstofitwasthattheyalwayscamebackonustopayhisboardbill，whichwasjust，beingthelawoftheland;butitwasmightyhardonus，especiallythatfirstwinterontheChilcoot，whenwewerebusted，payingforwholehamsandsidesofbaconthatweneverate。Hecouldfight，too，thatSpot。Hecoulddoeverythingbutwork。Heneverpulledapound，buthewasthebossofthewholeteam。Thewayhemadethosedogsstandaroundwasaneducation。Hebulliedthem，andtherewasalwaysoneormoreofthemfresh-markedwithhisfangs。Buthewasmorethanabully。Hewasn’tafraidofanythingthatwalkedonfourlegs;andI’veseenhimmarch，single-handedintoastrangeteam，withoutanyprovocationwhatever，andputthekiboshonthewholeoutfit。DidIsayhecouldeat？Icaughthimeatingthewhiponce。
That’sstraight。Hestartedinatthelash，andwhenIcaughthimhewasdowntothehandle，andstillgoing。
Buthewasagoodlooker。Attheendofthefirstweekwesoldhimforseventy-fivedollarstotheMountedPolice。Theyhadexperienceddog-drivers，andweknewthatbythetimehe’dcoveredthesixhundredmilestoDawsonhe’dbeagoodsled-dog。IsayweKNEW，forwewerejustgettingacquaintedwiththatSpot。Alittlelaterwewerenotbrashenoughtoknowanythingwherehewasconcerned。A
weeklaterwewokeupinthemorningtothedangdestdog-fightwe’deverheard。ItwasthatSpotcomebackandknockingtheteamintoshape。Weateaprettydepressingbreakfast，Icantellyou;butcheereduptwohoursafterwardwhenwesoldhimtoanofficialcourier，boundintoDawsonwithgovernmentdespatches。ThatSpotwasonlythreedaysincomingback，and，asusual，celebratedhisarrivalwitharoughhouse。
Wespentthewinterandspring，afterourownoutfitwasacrossthepass，freightingotherpeople’soutfits;andwemadeafatstake。
Also，wemademoneyoutofSpot。Ifwesoldhimonce，wesoldhimtwentytimes。Healwayscameback，andnooneaskedfortheirmoney。
Wedidn’twantthemoney。We’dhavepaidhandsomelyforanyonetotakehimoffourhandsforkeeps’。Wehadtogetridofhim，andwecouldn’tgivehimaway，forthatwouldhavebeensuspicious。Buthewassuchafinelookerthatweneverhadanydifficultyinsellinghim。"Unbroke，"we’dsay，andthey’dpayanyoldpriceforhim。Wesoldhimaslowastwenty-fivedollars，andoncewegotahundredandfiftyforhim。Thatparticularpartyreturnedhiminperson，refusedtotakehismoneyback，andthewayheabuseduswassomethingawful。
Hesaiditwascheapatthepricetotelluswhathethoughtofus;
andwefelthewassojustifiedthatwenevertalkedback。ButtothisdayI’veneverquiteregainedalltheoldself-respectthatwasminebeforethatmantalkedtome。
Whentheiceclearedoutofthelakesandriver，weputouroutfitinaLakeBennettboatandstartedforDawson。Wehadagoodteamofdogs，andofcoursewepiledthemontoptheoutfit。ThatSpotwasalong——therewasnolosinghim;andadozentimes，thefirstday，heknockedoneoranotherofthedogsoverboardinthecourseoffightingwiththem。Itwasclosequarters，andhedidn’tlikebeingcrowded。
"Whatthatdogneedsisspace，"Stevesaidthesecondday。"Let’smaroonhim。"
Wedid，runningtheboatinatCaribouCrossingforhimtojumpashore。Twooftheotherdogs，gooddogs，followedhim;andwelosttwowholedaystryingtofindthem。Weneversawthosetwodogsagain;butthequietnessandreliefweenjoyedmadeusdecide，likethemanwhorefusedhishundredandfifty，thatitwascheapattheprice。ForthefirsttimeinmonthsSteveandIlaughedandwhistledandsang。Wewereashappyasclams。Thedarkdayswereover。Thenightmarehadbeenlifted。ThatSpotwasgone。
Threeweekslater，onemorning，SteveandIwerestandingontheriver-bankatDawson。AsmallboatwasjustarrivingfromLakeBennett。IsawStevegiveastart，andheardhimsaysomethingthatwasnotniceandthatwasnotunderhisbreath。ThenIlooked;andthere，inthebowoftheboat，withearsprickedup，satSpot。SteveandIsneakedimmediately，likebeatencurs，likecowards，likeabscondersfromjustice。Itwasthislastthatthelieutenantofpolicethoughtwhenhesawussneaking。Hesurmisedthattherewerelaw-officersintheboatwhowereafterus。Hedidn’twaittofindout，butkeptusinsight，andintheM。&M。saloongotusinacorner。Wehadamerrytimeexplaining，forwerefusedtogobacktotheboatandmeetSpot;andfinallyheheldusunderguardofanotherpolicemanwhilehewenttotheboat。Afterwegotclearofhim，westartedforthecabin，andwhenwearrived，therewasthatSpotsittingonthestoopwaitingforus。Nowhowdidheknowwelivedthere？TherewerefortythousandpeopleinDawsonthatsummer，andhowdidhesavveourcabinoutofallthecabins？HowdidheknowwewereinDawson，anyway？Ileaveittoyou。Butdon’tforgetwhatI
saidabouthisintelligenceandthatimmortalsomethingIhaveseenglimmeringinhiseyes。
Therewasnogettingridofhimanymore。ThereweretoomanypeopleinDawsonwhohadboughthimuponChilcoot，andthestorygotaround。HalfadozentimesweputhimonboardsteamboatsgoingdowntheYukon;buthemerelywentashoreatthefirstlandingandtrottedbackupthebank。Wecouldn’tsellhim，wecouldn’tkillhim（bothSteveandIhadtried），andnobodyelsewasabletokillhim。Heboreacharmedlife。I’veseenhimgodowninadogfightonthemainstreetwithfiftydogsontopofhim，andwhentheywereseparated，he’dappearonallhisfourlegs，unharmed，whiletwoofthedogsthathadbeenontopofhimwouldbelyingdead。
Isawhimstealachunkofmoose-meatfromMajorDinwiddie’scachesoheavythathecouldjustkeeponejumpaheadofMrs。Dinwiddie’ssquawcook，whowasafterhimwithanaxe。Ashewentupthehill，afterthesquawgaveup，MajorDinwiddiehimselfcameoutandpumpedhisWinchesterintothelandscape。Heemptiedhismagazinetwice，andnevertouchedthatSpot。Thenapolicemancamealongandarrestedhimfordischargingfirearmsinsidethecitylimits。MajorDinwiddiepaidhisfine，andSteveandIpaidhimforthemoose-meatattherateofadollarapound，bonesandall。Thatwaswhathepaidforit。Meatwashighthatyear。
IamonlytellingwhatIsawwithmyowneyes。AndnowI’lltellyousomethingalso。IsawthatSpotfallthroughawater-hole。Theicewasthreeandahalffeetthick，andthecurrentsuckedhimunderlikeastraw。Threehundredyardsbelowwasthebigwater-holeusedbythehospital。Spotcrawledoutofthehospitalwater-hole，lickedoffthewater，bitouttheicethathadformedbetweenhistoes，trottedupthebank，andwhippedabigNewfoundlandbelongingtotheGoldCommissioner。
Inthefallof1898，SteveandIpoleduptheYukononthelastwater，boundforStewartRiver。Wetookthedogsalong，allexceptSpot。Wefiguredwe’dbeenfeedinghimlongenough。He’dcostusmoretimeandtroubleandmoneyandgrubthanwe’dgotbysellinghimontheChilcoot——especiallygrub。SoSteveandItiedhimdowninthecabinandpulledourfreight。WecampedthatnightatthemouthofIndianRiver，andSteveandIwereprettyfacetiousoverhavingshakenhim。Stevewasafunnycuss，andIwasjustsittingupintheblanketsandlaughingwhenatornadohitcamp。ThewaythatSpotwalkedintothosedogsandgavethemwhat-forwashair-raising。Nowhowdidhegetloose？It’suptoyou。Ihaven’tanytheory。AndhowdidhegetacrosstheKlondikeRiver？That’sanotherfacer。Andanyway，howdidheknowwehadgoneuptheYukon？Yousee，wewentbywater，andhecouldn’tsmellourtracks。SteveandIbegantogetsuperstitiousaboutthatdog。Hegotonournerves，too;and，betweenyouandme，wewerejustamiteafraidofhim。
Thefreeze-upcameonwhenwewereatthemouthofHendersonCreek，andwetradedhimofffortwosacksofflourtoanoutfitthatwasboundupWhiteRiveraftercopper。Nowthatwholeoutfitwaslost。
Nevertracenorhidenorhairofmen，dogs，sleds，oranythingwaseverfound。Theydroppedcleanoutofsight。Itbecameoneofthemysteriesofthecountry。SteveandIpluggedawayuptheStewart，andsixweeksafterwardthatSpotcrawledintocamp。Hewasaperambulatingskeleton，andcouldjustdragalong;buthegotthere。
AndwhatIwanttoknowis，whotoldhimwewereuptheStewart？Wecouldhavegonetoathousandotherplaces。Howdidheknow？Youtellme，andI’lltellyou。
Nolosinghim。AttheMayohestartedarowwithanIndiandog。ThebuckwhoownedthedogtookaswingatSpotwithanaxe，missedhim，andkilledhisowndog。Talkaboutmagicandturningbulletsaside——
I，forone，consideritablamedsighthardertoturnanaxeasidewithabigbuckattheotherendofit。AndIsawhimdoitwithmyowneyes。Thatbuckdidn’twanttokillhisowndog。You’vegottoshowme。
ItoldyouaboutSpotbreakingintoourmeatcache。Itwasnearlythedeathofus。Therewasn’tanymoremeattobekilled，andmeatwasallwehadtoliveon。ThemoosehadgonebackseveralhundredmilesandtheIndianswiththem。Therewewere。Springwason，andwehadtowaitfortherivertobreak。Wegotprettythinbeforewedecidedtoeatthedogs，andwedecidedtoeatSpotfirst。Doyouknowwhatthatdogdid？Hesneaked。Nowhowdidheknowourmindsweremadeuptoeathim？Wesatupnightslayingforhim，buthenevercameback，andweatetheotherdogs。Weatethewholeteam。
Andnowforthesequel。Youknowwhatitiswhenabigriverbreaksupandafewbilliontonsoficegoout，jammingandmillingandgrinding。Justinthethickofit，whentheStewartwentout，rumblingandroaring，wesightedSpotoutinthemiddle。He’dgotcaughtashewastryingtocrossupabovesomewhere。SteveandI
yelledandshoutedandranupanddownthebank，tossingourhatsintheair。Sometimeswe’dstopandhugeachother，wewerethatboisterous，forwesawSpot’sfinish。Hedidn’thaveachanceinamillion。Hedidn’thaveanychanceatall。Aftertheice-run，wegotintoacanoeandpaddleddowntotheYukon，anddowntheYukontoDawson，stoppingtofeedupforaweekatthecabinsatthemouthofHendersonCreek。AndaswecameintothebankatDawson，theresatthatSpot，waitingforus，hisearsprickedup，histailwagging，hismouthsmiling，extendingaheartywelcometous。Nowhowdidhegetoutofthatice？HowdidheknowwewerecomingtoDawson，totheveryhourandminute，tobeoutthereonthebankwaitingforus？
ThemoreIthinkofthatSpot，themoreIamconvincedthattherearethingsinthisworldthatgobeyondscience。OnnoscientificgroundscanthatSpotbeexplained。It’spsychicphenomena，ormysticism，orsomethingofthatsort，Iguess，withalotofTheosophythrownin。TheKlondikeisagoodcountry。Imighthavebeenthereyet，andbecomeamillionaire，ifithadn’tbeenforSpot。
Hegotonmynerves。Istoodhimfortwoyearsaltogether，andthenIguessmystaminabroke。Itwasthesummerof1899whenIpulledout。Ididn’tsayanythingtoSteve。Ijustsneaked。ButIfixeditupallright。IwroteSteveanote，andenclosedapackageof"rough-on-rats，"tellinghimwhattodowithit。IwasworndowntoskinandbonebythatSpot，andIwasthatnervousthatI’djumpandlookaroundwhentherewasn’tanybodywithinhailingdistance。ButitwasastonishingthewayIrecuperatedwhenIgotquitofhim。I
gotbacktwentypoundsbeforeIarrivedinSanFrancisco，andbythetimeI’dcrossedtheferrytoOaklandIwasmyoldselfagain，sothatevenmywifelookedinvainforanychangeinme。
Stevewrotetomeonce，andhisletterseemedirritated。HetookitkindofhardbecauseI’dlefthimwithSpot。Also，hesaidhe’dusedthe"rough-on-rats，"perdirections，andthattherewasnothingdoing。Ayearwentby。Iwasbackintheofficeandprosperinginallways——evengettingabitfat。AndthenStevearrived。Hedidn’tlookmeup。Ireadhisnameinthesteamerlist，andwonderedwhy。
ButIdidn’twonderlong。IgotuponemorningandfoundthatSpotchainedtothegate-postandholdingupthemilkman。StevewentnorthtoSeattle，Ilearned，thatverymorning。Ididn’tputonanymoreweight。Mywifemademebuyhimacollarandtag，andwithinanhourheshowedhisgratitudebykillingherpetPersiancat。ThereisnogettingridofthatSpot。HewillbewithmeuntilIdie，forhe’llneverdie。Myappetiteisnotsogoodsincehearrived，andmywifesaysIamlookingpeaked。LastnightthatSpotgotintoMr。
Harvey’shen-house（Harveyismynext-doorneighbour）andkillednineteenofhisfancy-bredchickens。Ishallhavetopayforthem。
Myneighboursontheothersidequarrelledwithmywifeandthenmovedout。Spotwasthecauseofit。AndthatiswhyIamdisappointedinStephenMackaye。Ihadnoideahewassomeanaman。
FLUSHOFGOLD
LonMcFanewasabitgrumpy，whatoflosinghistobaccopouch，orelsehemighthavetoldme，beforewegottoit，somethingaboutthecabinatSurpriseLake。Allday，turnandturnabout，wehadspelledeachotheratgoingtotheforeandbreakingtrailforthedogs。Itwasheavysnowshoework，anddidnottendtomakeamanvoluble，yetLonMcFanemighthavefoundbreathenoughatnoon，whenwestoppedtoboilcoffee，withwhichtotellme。Buthedidn’t。SurpriseLake？
itwasSurpriseCabintome。Ihadneverheardofitbefore。I
confessIwasabittired。IhadbeenlookingforLontostopandmakecampanytimeforanhour;butIhadtoomuchpridetosuggestmakingcamportoaskhimhisintentions;andyethewasmyman，luredatahandsomewagetomushmydogsformeandtoobeymycommands。IguessIwasabitgrumpymyself。Hesaidnothing，andI
wasresolvedtoasknothing，evenifwetrampedonallnight。
Wecameuponthecabinabruptly。Foraweekoftrailwehadmetnoone，and，inmymind，therehadbeenlittlelikelihoodofmeetinganyoneforaweektocome。Andyetthereitwas，rightbeforemyeyes，acabin，withadimlightinthewindowandsmokecurlingupfromthechimney。
"Whydidn’tyoutellme——"Ibegan，butwasinterruptedbyLon，whomuttered——
"SurpriseLake——itliesupasmallfeederhalfamileon。It’sonlyapond。"
"Yes，butthecabin——wholivesinit？"
"Awoman，"wastheanswer，andthenextmomentLonhadrappedonthedoor，andawoman’svoicebadehimenter。
"HaveyouseenDaverecently？"sheasked。