The day was a repetition of the days that had gone before.
The men toiled without speech across the face of the frozen world.

The silence was unbroken save by the cries of their pursuers, that, unseen, hung upon their rear.

With the coming of night in the mid-afternoon, the cries sounded closer as the pursuers drew in according to their custom; and the dogs grew excited and frightened, and were guilty of panics that tangled the traces and further depressed the two men.
"There, that'll fix you fool critters," Bill said with satisfaction that night, standing erect at completion of his task.
Henry left the cooking to come and see.

Not only had his partner tied the dogs up, but he had tied them, after the Indian fashion, with sticks.
About the neck of each dog he had fastened a leather thong.

To this, and so close to the neck that the dog could not get his teeth to it, he had tied a stout stick four or five feet in length.