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Shorty was the first to call a halt。
〃We ben hittin' the trail for over twelve hours；〃 he said。 〃Smoke； I'm
plum willin' to say I'm good an' tired。 An' so are you。 An' I'm free to
shout that I can sure hang on to this here pascar like a starvin' Indian to a
hunk of bear…meat。 But this poor girl here can't keep her legs no time if
she don't get something in her stomach。 Here's where we build a fire。
What d'ye say？〃
So quickly； so deftly and methodically； did they go about making a
temporary camp； that Joy； watching with jealous eyes； admitted to herself
that the old…timers could not do it better。 Spruce boughs； with a spread
blanket on top； gave a foundation for rest and cooking operations。 But
they kept away from the heat of the fire until noses and cheeks had been
rubbed cruelly。
Smoke spat in the air； and the resultant crackle was so immediate and
loud that he shook his head。
〃I give it up；〃 he said。 〃I've never seen cold like this。〃
〃One winter on the Koyokuk it went to eighty…six below；〃 Joy
answered。 〃It's at least seventy or seventy…five right now； and I know
I've frosted my cheeks。 They're burning like fire。〃
On the steep slope of the divide there was no ice； while snow； as fine
and hard and crystalline as granulated sugar； was poured into the gold…pan
by the bushel until enough water was melted for the coffee。 Smoke fried
bacon and thawed biscuits。 Shorty kept the fuel supplied and tended the
fire； and Joy set the simple table composed of two plates； two cups； two
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spoons； a tin of mixed salt and pepper； and a tin of sugar。 When it came
to eating； she and Smoke shared one set between them。 They ate out of
the same plate and drank from the same cup。
It was nearly two in the afternoon when they cleared the crest of the
divide and began dropping down a feeder of Squaw Creek。 Earlier in the
winter some moose…hunter had made a trail up the canyonthat is； in
going up and down he had stepped always in his previous tracks。 As a
result； in the midst of soft snow； and veiled under later snow falls； was a
line of irregular hummocks。 If one's foot missed a hummock； he plunged
down through unpacked snow and usually to a fall。 Also； the moose…
hunter had been an exceptionally long… legged individual。 Joy； who was
eager now that the two men should stake； and fearing that they were
slackening pace on account of her evident weariness； insisted on taking the
lead。 The speed and manner in which she negotiated the precarious
footing； called out Shorty's unqualified approval。
〃Look at her！〃 he cried。 〃She's the real goods an' the red meat。 Look
at them moccasins swing along。 No high…heels there。 She uses the legs
God gave her。 She's the right squaw for any bear…hunter。〃
She flashed back a smile of acknowledgment that included Smoke。
He caught a feeling of chumminess； though at the same time he was
bitingly aware that it was very much of a woman who embraced him in
that comradely smile。
Looking back； as they came to the bank of Squaw Creek； they could
see the stampede； strung out irregularly； struggling along the descent of
the divide。
They slipped down the bank to the creek bed。 The stream； frozen
solidly to bottom； was from twenty to thirty feet wide and ran between six…
and eight…foot earth banks of alluvial wash。 No recent feet had disturbed
the snow that lay upon its ice； and they knew they were above the
Discovery claim and the last stakes of the Sea Lion stampeders。
〃Look out for springs；〃 Joy warned； as Smoke led the way down the
creek。 〃At seventy below you'll lose your feet if you break through。〃
These springs； common to most Klondike streams； never ceased at the
lowest temperatures。 The water flowed out from the banks and lay in
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pools which were cuddled from the cold by later surface…freezings and
snow falls。 Thus； a man； stepping on dry snow； might break through half
an inch of ice…skin and find himself up to the knees in water。 In five
minutes； unless able to remove the wet gear； the loss of one's foot was the
penalty。
Though only three in the afternoon； the long grey twilight of the Arctic
had settled down。 They watched for a blazed tree on either bank； which
would show the centre…stake of the last claim located。 Joy； impulsively
eager； was the first to find it。 She darted ahead of Smoke； crying：
〃Somebody's been here！ See the snow！ Look for the blaze！ There it
is！ See that spruce！〃
She sank suddenly to her waist in the snow。
〃Now I've done it；〃 she said woefully。 Then she cried： 〃Don't come
near me！ I'll wade out。〃
Step by step； each time breaking through the thin skin of ice concealed
under the dry snow； she forced her way to solid footing。 Smoke did not
wait； but sprang to the bank； where dry and seasoned twigs and sticks；
lodged amongst the brush by spring freshets； waited the match。 By the
time she reached his side； the first flames and flickers of an assured fire
were rising。
〃Sit down！〃 he commanded。
She obediently sat down in the snow。 He slipped his pack from his
back； and spread a blanket for her feet。
From above came the voices of the stampeders who followed them。
〃Let Shorty stake；〃 she urged
〃Go on； Shorty；〃 Smoke said； as he attacked her moccasins； already
stiff with ice。 〃Pace off a thousand feet and place the two centre… stakes。
We can fix the corner…stakes afterwards。〃
With his knife Smoke cut away the lacings and leather of the
moccasins。 So stiff were they with ice that they snapped and crackled
under the hacking and sawing。 The Siwash socks and heavy woollen
stockings were sheaths of ice。 It was as if her feet and calves were
encased in corrugated iron。