Thesunearlyretreatedbehindawallofcloud，andthewindmoanedandwailedlikealivingcreatureinanguish。Atlasttheyapproachedthecreekwheretheyhadplannedtocampforthenight。Therewasnothingtobeseenbutafewstuntedwillowshalfburiedinthedrifts，butthebanksofthelittlestreamaffordedsomepro—
tectionfromthewind。
\"Whoa！\"shoutedtheleader，andthedogsallstopped，sittingdownontheirhaunches。
\"Come，Mack！\"（withawaveofthehand），\"leadyourfellowsdowntothecreek！\"
Theolddogstarteddownattheword，andalltherestfollowed。Aspacewasquicklyclearedofsnow，whileonemanscouredthethicketsinsearchofbrushforfuel。Inafewminutesthetentwasupandafirekindledinthecenter，whilethefloorwasthicklystrewnwithtwigsofwillow，overwhichbuffalorobeswerespread。ThreeStarsattendedtosupper，andsooninthemidstofthesnappingwillowfireakettlewasboiling。Allpartookofstrongtea，driedmeatofbuffalo，andpemmican，amix—