chill of impending death, the bright light of reason, and
the intense desire to live, roused the half-stunned adventurer to
action.

Die? Like that? No!--when salvation was offered to him in this way.

It was horrible, but it was for life. There, close by him, slightly
powdered with snow, was the unfortunate's sledge, and in an instant he
was tearing at the rope which bound its load to the framework.

He could hardly believe his good fortune, for as the rope fell from the
packages the first thing he set free was a fur-lined coat, possibly one
which the dead man was too much exhausted to assume.

Suffering keenly from the cold, this was put on at once; and then,
continuing the search, it was to find that a rifle was bound along one
side, balanced by tools on the other. Then there were blankets and
stores similar, as far as he could judge, to those with which his own
sledge had been laden.

The warmth afforded by the thick garment and the exertion increased the
thrill of returning energy. For he was no longer helpless to continue
his journey. It could be no act of injustice to the dead to take
possession of the means of saving his own life; and now all thought of
giving up without making a desperate struggle was completely gone.

Soon after a fresh thrill of returning energy swept through him, and,
turning quickly back to where the dead were lying, he knelt there,
hesitating for a few moments before, with his determination increasing,
he softly thrust the dog aside, and felt about the dead man's waist.

He shuddered as his hands came in contact with the icy feeling of cold,
but it was for life, and a feeling of joy shot through him, for it was
as he had hoped. In a few minutes he had unfastened a buckle, turned
the body over slightly, and that which he sought to obtain yielded to
the steady pull he gave.

He had drawn free the dead man's belt, bringing with it his revolver in
its little holster and the pouchful of cartridges.

That seemed to give new life to him as he buckled the belt about his
waist. Then, taking out the pistol, he felt it in the dark, to find
that it was loaded in every chamber, and that the lock worked easily and
well.

The pistol replaced in the belt, the young man remained thinking, with
all his energy seeming to have returned. What was he to do next? There
was food of some kind on the sledge, and he must eat. There were
blankets, and with them and the sledge for shelter he must