ance he had carried
the weapon in an outer pocket where the frost had stiffened the
grease. Had it been warmed next his body, the fatal check would not
have occurred. Even so, he pulled again and it exploded sharp and
deafening in the rarefied morning air. In that instant's pause,
however, Captain had whirled so that the bullet tore through the
loose fur beneath his arm. He struck, simultaneously with the
report, and the gun flew outward, disappearing in the snow.

They grappled and fell, rolling in a tangle of rope, Klusky fighting
with rat-like fury, whining odd, broken curses. The larger man
crushed him in silence, beating him into the snow, bent on killing
him with his hands.

[Illustration: They grappled and fell, rolling in a tangle of rope.]

As the other's struggles diminished, he came to himself, however, and
desisted.

"I can't kill him," he thought in panic. "I can't go on alone."

"Get up!" He kicked the bleeding figure till it arose lamely. "Why
did you do that?" His desire to strangle the life from him was
over-powering.

The man gave no answer, muttering only unintelligible jargon, his
eyes ablaze with hatred.

"Tell me." He shook him by the throat but received no reply. Nor
could he, try as he pleased; only a stubborn silence. At last,
disgusted and baffled, he bade him resume the rope. It was necessary
to use force for this, but eventually they took up the journey,
differing now only in their order of precedence.

"If you make a move I'll knife you," he cautioned grimly. "That goes
for the whole trip, too."

At evening he searched the grub kit, breaking knives and forks, and
those articles which might be used as means of offence, throwing the
pieces into the snow.

"Don't stir during the night, or I might kill you. I wake easy, and
hereafter we'll sleep together." Placing the weapons within his
shirt, he bound the other's wrists and rolled up beside him.

Along the coast, their going became difficult from the rough ice and
soft snow, and with despair Captain felt the days going by. Klusky
maintained his muteness and, moreover, to the anger of his captor,
began to shirk. It became necessary to beat him. This Captain did
relentlessly, deriving a certain satisfaction from it, yet marvelling
the while at his own cruelty. The Jew feigned weariness, and began
to limp as though foot-sore.

Captain halted him at last.

"Don't try that game," he said. "It don't go. I spar