The sleet and hail thickened.

In spite of the blanket and the deerskin tunic it made its way along his neck and then down his shoulders and chest, the chill that went downward meeting the chill that came upward from his feet, now almost frozen.

He could not recall ever before having been so miserable of both mind and body.

He did not know it just then, but the lack of nourishment made him peculiarly susceptible to mental and physical depression.

The fires of youth were not burning in his veins, and his vitality had been reduced at least one half.
Now, that terrible hunger, although he had striven to fight it, assailed him once more, and his will weakened slowly.