His face was scratched and bleeding, and his whole appearance showed that he was nearing complete exhaustion.

For a few moments he ran through the snow, then halted to a staggering walk.
His breath came in painful gasps.

The club slipped from his nerveless fingers, and conscious of the deathly weakness that was overcoming him he did not attempt to regain it.

Foot by foot he struggled on, until suddenly his knees gave way under him and he sank down into the snow.
From the edge of the spruce forest a young Indian now ran out upon the surface of the lake.

His breath was coming quickly, but with excitement rather than fatigue.