His flesh crept as he wondered whether, they were on his trail.

On the whole, it did not seem likely, though they might get scent of him.

Rising to his feet, he felt that the rifle magazine was full before he set off at his highest speed.
The snow was loose, however, and his shoes packed and sank; his breath got shorter, and he began to feel distressed.

There was no sound behind him; but that somehow increased his uneasiness, and now and then he anxiously turned his head.

Nothing moved on the sweep of blue-gray shadow; and he pressed on, knowing how poor his speed was compared with that the wolves were capable of making.