But let us get along as fast as we can, or Nellie will be in a fine state of anxiety about us," Katherine replied.

Then, gathering the lines of the sledge round her arms, as her father had taught her, she set out at a good pace, followed by Miles and the dogs.
For a time little was to be heard save the creaking of the babiche lacing of the snowshoes, for the dogs were running silently, and Miles, saving his breath for the work of getting along, was controlling them merely by dumb show, flourishing the whip to hold them back when they took on a spurt, or beckoning them along when they showed signs of lagging.

They were less than a mile from home, and going well, when suddenly a hideous uproar broke out near at hand--the long-drawn howling of wolves, human shouts and cries, and the crack of a revolver..