Hello, are you going to start so soon ?" "Right away, M'seur," said Croisset, who was stirring up the dogs.

"Will you walk and run, or ride ?" "Walk and run, with your permission." "You have it, M'seur, but if you attempt to escape I must shoot you.

Run on the right of the dogs--even with me.

I will take this side." Until Croisset stopped again in the middle of the afternoon Howland watched the backward trail for the appearance of the second sledge, but there was no sign of it.

Once he ventured to bring up the subject to Croisset, who did no more than reply with a hunch of his shoulders and a quick look which warned the engineer to keep his silence.