yes that looked on, and a tantalizing one, but
they dared not draw near, for the fire threatened them, and, besides,
they possessed a keen instinct of caution.

After supper the men rested in spells, one always sitting up by the fire
whilst the other slept in the comfort of his fur-lined "Arctic bag." And
presently the blackness about lightened, and the dark shadows prowling
became visible to the eyes of the sentry. The moon had risen, but was
still hidden somewhere behind the great mountains. Its light had effect,
that was all. And as the night wore on the shadows grew bolder and their
presence kept the sentry ever on the alert. For the most part he sat
still, swathed to the eyes in his furs; he huddled down over the fire
smoking, every now and then pausing to thaw the nicotine in the stem of
his pipe. But his eyes seemed to be watching in every direction at once.
Nor was the vaguest shadow lost to their quick flashing glances.

The dogs, sleeping in their snow-burrows, rested their muscles, dreaming
peacefully of happy hunting-grounds. Their safety was assured under the
watchful eyes of their masters; the forest world had no terrors for
them.

Towards dawn Nick was on the watch. The aspect of the night had quite
changed. The moon, large, full, brilliant, was directly overhead, and
the stars, like magnificent dewdrops, hung richly in the sky. Away to
the north, just clear of a stretch of heaven-high peaks, the
scintillating shafts of the northern lights shuddered convulsively, like
skeleton arms outstretched to grasp the rich gems which hung just beyond
their reach. The moving shadows had changed to material forms. Lank,
gaunt, hungry-looking beasts crowded just beyond the fire-lit circle;
shaggy-coated creatures, with manes a-bristle and baleful eyes which
gazed angrily upon the camp.

Nick saw all these; could have counted them, so watchful was he. The
wolves were of small account, but there were other creatures which
needed his most vigilant attention. Twice in the night he had seen two
green-glowing eyes staring down upon him from among the branches of one
of the trees on the edge of the forest. He knew those eyes, as who of
his calling would not; a puma was crouching along the wide-spreading
bough.

He stealthily drew his gun towards him. He was in the act of raising it
to his shoulder when the eyes were abruptly withdrawn. The time passed
on. He knew that the puma had not departed, and he waited, ready. The