drowned each other. Massy floes shocked
and smashed, and tore apart upon the ledges with a noise like the
ripping of woven fabric. Others, lifted out of the water, ground across
those that stuck fast, and some crashed against the rocky bank, throwing
huge blocks among the pines.
This lasted for a time, and then the uproar got bearable and gradually
sank. There were intervals when one could hear the turmoil of the
liberated flood as it rolled by in swollen fury. The intervals
lengthened, and by and by Thirlwell got on his feet with a sigh of
relief.
"You never get used to hearing the ice break up. It's tremendous!" he
said. "This is a very stern country. Sometimes it frightens one--"
He stopped abruptly and listened. The uproar was sinking fast and in a
lull he heard footsteps outside. Then the door was pushed open and a man
staggered in. His fur-coat was torn and muddy, his feet came through his
pulp moccasins, and the water that drained from him made a pool on the
floor. Three others followed and stood, dripping, in the light, while
Scott and Thirlwell gazed at them. Then the first dropped into a chair
and leaned his arms on the table as if overcome by fatigue. His face was
gaunt and his eyes were half shut.
"The boss is pretty well used up," said one of the others and Scott
crossed the floor.
"Stormont," he said, "you look as if you had been up against it hard."
Stormont lifted his head and Thirlwell thought his eyes got like a
wolf's.
"I'm starving! No food the last two days."
"Not much before!" one of the rest remarked.
"Been on mighty short rations since we hit the backtrail. Had a tough
job to make it; had to leave our blankets and truck."
"We can give you a meal and a place to sleep. But where have you been?"
"Up north," another answered vaguely, and Scott, recognizing his
caution, smiled as he turned to the last of the party, who stood near
the door.
"You look fresher than the others, Steve. However, you're used to the
country and I expect you brought your partners down."
"That's so," Driscoll growled. "Didn't think they'd make it. They're a
tender-footed crowd!"
In the meantime, Thirlwell studied the fellow. Driscoll was wet and
ragged; his face was thin, but inscrutably sullen. Unlike the rest, he
did not look overcome by fatigue. When Scott spoke he gave him a dull
glance and then fixed his eyes on the floor. Thirlwell had noted
something unusual in his comrade's manner. Scott
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