The posts were there, but the wire was gone.

A whole length of it had been removed.

They were cut off from civilization by one hundred and forty miles of untrodden snow.
Steinmetz clambered back into the sleigh and drew up the fur apron.

He gave a strange little laugh that had a ring of boyish excitement in it.
This man had not always been stout and placid.

He too had had his day, and those who knew him said that it had been a stirring one.
"That settles one question," he said.
"Which question ?" asked Paul.
He was driving as hard as the horses could lay hoof to ground, taken with a sudden misgiving and a great desire to reach Osterno before dark.
"The question of the ladies," replied Steinmetz.