Listen to that!" This time, from still nearer, came the shout of a man, and then of another, followed by the huskies' sharp yelping as they started afresh on the trail.

The flush of excitement that had come into Howland's face paled until he stood as white as the Frenchman.

But it was not the whiteness of fear.

His eyes were like blue steel flashing in the sunlight.
"There is nothing to do but fight," he repeated, even more calmly than before.

"If we were a mile or two back there it could all happen as I planned it.