d the dog team
northward, in the hope that he might find the trading post and the old
familiar trail.

The weather was keen, the air was filled with floating rime, which
shimmered and sparkled in the sunshine, and Jimmy's garments were
covered with it, but, plodding disconsolately on and on, his heart heavy
with the tragedy and his thoughts filled with Bobby and the happy years
of comradeship that were ended, he did not feel or heed the cold or
dazzling glitter of the snow, until in mid-afternoon his eyes began to
trouble him, and he realized that snow-blindness was threatening.

Presently, however, the long, wolf-like howl of dogs came down to him
over the ice, and rounding a point of land he discovered, directly ahead
of him, and nestling at the foot of a great barren hill, the white
buildings of the fort. His dogs immediately broke into a run, and a few
moments later he was safe at the post.

The factor and the people were very hospitable and kind to Jimmy, after
the manner of the Coast. They agreed that he had left nothing undone
that he could have done. The tragedy was, after all, an incident of
life, and all in a day's work, and to some extent they reconciled him
with himself, but they could not ease his sorrow.

They would not permit Jimmy to proceed further that night, though at
first he protested that he must, that he might so much the sooner ease
Skipper Ed's anxiety, so far as his own safety was concerned. But the
preceding twenty-four hours had tried his physical powers, and when he
entered the heated post kitchen his eyes became so inflamed that he
consented to stay.

The dogs, which had not received their daily portion the previous
evening, were ravenous, and when they were fed Jimmy stretched his
sleeping bag upon the floor in the kitchen and slipped into it, and
almost immediately fell into deep slumber.

A mild attack of snow blindness held Jimmy prisoner all the next day.
This was exceedingly disappointing. Bright and early the following
morning, however, wearing a pair of smoked goggles to protect his eyes
from the daily increasing sun glare, he set out for home, and only
halted for a little at the cabin of Abraham Moses, the nearest neighbor
of Skipper Ed and Abel Zachariah, where he must needs stop for tea and
bread, else Abraham would feel offended.

It was near sunset when he arrived again at Abel Zachariah's. They met
him as they had met Skipper Ed, and welcomed him warmly, and when they