And the "slush" snows meant spring--and the emptying of the wilderness of human life.

Kazan and his mates soon began to scent the presence and the movement of this life.
They were now within thirty miles of the post.

For a hundred miles on all sides of them the trappers were moving in with their late winter's catch of furs.

From east and west, south and north, all trails led to the post.

The pack was caught in the mesh of them.