"They have been gone not less than two or three hours, perhaps since morning.

See this white glistening surface over the first trail, M'seur, like a billion needle-points growing out of it?
That is the work of three or four days' cold.

The first sledge passed that long ago." Howland turned and picked up Croisset's rifle.

The Frenchman watched him as he slipped a clip full of cartridges into the breech.
"If there's a snack of cold stuff in the pack dig it out," he commanded.
"We'll eat on the run, if you've got anything to eat.

If you haven't, we'll go hungry.