Everything was tinted with blue and white, and the deathly cold coloring was depressing.
Blake began to consider their position, which was serious.

They were worn out and half-fed; their furs were ragged; and shortage of money and the difficulty of transport had forced them to cut down their camp equipment.

Indeed, looking back on the long march, Blake was surprised that they had escaped crippling frostbite; although both Benson and Harding were somewhat lame from the strain which the use of snowshoes puts on the muscles of the leg.

There was, moreover, a risk of this becoming dangerous; and it was probably two hundred miles to the Hudson Bay post.

The chances of their reaching it seemed very slight.
Just then a howl rang, harsh and ominous, through the frosty air.