Still he had tunneled far enough to escape the frost when winter began, and the snow that stopped all surface work made transport easier.

One could travel straight across divides and frozen lakes, and the sledges ran smoothly on the ice.

When the trail south was broken he built shacks at the camping places and kept a gang of half-breeds felling trees and improving the road.
After some months, he found it necessary to visit the railroad settlement, and reaching it one evening, tired and numbed by cold, followed his sledge to the hotel in a thoughtful mood.

For one thing, he must write to Strange, whose last letter had hinted that he was anxious, and it would be hard to send an encouraging report.

The ore was good, but the vein was thin and expensive to work.