For twenty-four hours the Chinook wind blew, and in that twenty-four hours the snow was diminished fully a foot in depth.

In the late afternoons the melting snow froze again, so that its surface became ice capable of supporting a man's weight.

Tiny white snow-birds appeared from the south, lingered a day, and resumed their journey into the north.

Once, high in the air, looking for open water and ahead of the season, a wedged squadron of wild geese honked northwards.

And down by the river bank a clump of dwarf willows burst into bud.