ronts the Pack Alone and

st. It would drop fast. In his punt, in summer weather, wondering all the while at the acceleration of this last descent, Teddy Br

the last foot or tw

caught no light from the feeble sun. Presently everywhere it would be dark. It had turned colder too. The wind from the north was still blowing

Before long the snow would rise higher and envelop him. And he thought that when Billy reached the little pan, and stood exposed

he boy-not on Billy. The boy had been in a panic; yet he was not now even afraid. Duty occupied him. He had no time for reflection. The hazard of the quarter of an hour t

h the pan-should Billy go down mi

new that. He had heard Billy tell of it. Billy could

is fear was Billy's orders to duty. Obedience to a skipper was laid on all men. It must be instant and unfailing in an

risk's terror yielde

dogs were uneasy. When he went into the water they were alarmed. They withdrew. Cracker and Smoke ran to the water's edge and stared at Billy-keeping half an eye on t

racker and Smok

eamed

racker! Back,

under his left arm and club swinging in his right hand. He taunted the dogs by name-Cracker and Smoke and Tucker. This bewildered the dogs. They were inf

ept the dogs at a distance-by exciting their surprise and suspicion. It sufficed for a space. The dogs were curious. They were entertain

d proving innocuous, began to fail of effect. Something else-something out of the way and unexpected-must be done to distract and employ the

e form. It was as though they were conspiring together. He was fully aware of what impended. They were com

was tentative and

screams. The dogs paused again. They crouched then. Cracker was in the

st forward. His c