,,*APT] ,,IV ,ON ! RIV]1 ": 0 A PACK$ TRAIL & ": SN[%OES 7 UNNEC1 ! DOGS AV]AG$ SIX MILES AN H\R4 ,6KEEP UP ) !M1 ! TWO M5 7 -PELL$ 6RUN4 ,"DLILY AT ! GEE-POLE1 = "H 0 ! H>D "W ( /E]+ ! FLY+ SL$ &( KEEP+ 9 ADV.E ( X4 ,! MAN RELIEV$ DROPP$ 2H ! SL$1 O3A.N,Y L1P+ ^U X & RE/+4 ,X 0 SEV]E "W1 B (! SORT T 0 EXHIL>AT+4 ,!Y 7 FLY+1 GETT+ OV] ! GR.D1 MAK+ ! MO/ (! PACK$ TRAIL4 ,LAT] ON !Y WD -E 6! UNBROK5 TRAIL1 ": ?REE MILES AN H\R WD 3/ITUTE GD GO+4 ,!N "! WD 2 NO RID+ & RE/+1 & NO RUNN+4 ,!N ! GEE-POLE WD 2 ! EASI] TASK1 &A MAN WD -E BACK 6X 6RE/ AF HAV+ -PLET$ 8 SPELL 6! =E1 BR1K+ TRAIL )! SN[%OES =! DOGS4 ,S* "W 0 F> F EXHIL>AT+ AL1 !Y M/ EXPECT PLACES ": = MILES AT A "T !Y M/ TOIL OV] *AOTIC ICE- JAMS1 ": !Y WD 2 =TUNATE IF !Y MADE TWO MILES AN H\R4 ,& "! WD 2 ! 9EVITA# BAD JAMS1 %ORT "OS1 X 0 TRUE1 B S BAD T A MILE AN H\R WD REQUIRE T]RIFIC EF=T4 ,KAMA & ,"DLIE 9T]VALS1 :5 NEC1 !Y A4RESS$ EA* O!R 9 MONOSYLLA#S1 ,KAMA1 =! MO/ "P1 3T5T+ HMF ) GRUNTS4 ,O3A.N,Y A DOG :9$ OR SN>L$1 B 9 ! MA9 ! T1M KEPT SIL5T4 ,ONLY CD 2 HE>D ! %>P1 J>R+ GRATE (! /EEL RUNN]S OV] ! H>D SURFACE &! CR1K (! /RA9+ SL$4 ,Z IF "? A WALL1 ,"DLI (! ,TIVOLI 96ANO!R _W--A _W ( SIL;E & IMMOBIL;Y4 ,NO?+ /IRR$4 ,! ,YUKON SLEPT "U A COAT ( ICE ?REE FEET ?ICK4 ,NO BR1? ( W9D BLEW4 ,NOR DID ! SAP MOVE 9 ! HE>TS (! SPRUCE TREES T =E/$ ! RIV] BANKS ON EI H&4 ,! TREES1 BURD5$ )! LA/ 9F9ITESIMAL P5NYWEI% *URN ( XS RUNN]S B EMPHASIZ$ ! SIL;E "? : X MOV$4 ,X 0 A D1D _W1 & FUR!RMORE1 A GRAY _W4 ,! W1!R 0 %>P & CLE>2 "! 0 NO MOI/URE 9 ! ATMOSPH]E1 NO FOG NOR HAZE2 YET ! SKY 0 A GRAY PALL4 ,! R1SON = ? 0 T1 ?\< "! 0 NO CL\D 9 ! SKY 6DIM ! B"R;S ( "D1 "! 0 NO SUN 6GIVE B"R;S4 ,F> 6! S\? ! SUN CLIMB$ /1DILY 6M]IDIAN1 B 2T X &! FROZ5 ,YUKON 9T]V5$ ! BULGE (! E>?4 ,! ,YUKON LAY 9 A NIT] 2F TWELVE1 ": A WIDE B5D (! RIV] GAVE A L;G VI/A S\?1 ! SUN %[$ XS UPP] RIM ABV ! SKY- L9E4 ,B X DID N RISE P]P5DICUL>LY4 ,9/1D1 X ROSE ON A SLANT1 S T 0HI< NOON X _H B>ELY LIFT$ XS L[] RIM CLE> (! HORIZON4 ,X 0 A DIM1 WAN SUN4 ,"! 0 NO H1T 6XS RAYS1 &A MAN CD GAZE SQU>ELY 96! FULL ORB ( X )\T HURT 6HIS EYES4 ,NO SOON] _H X R1*$ M]IDIAN ?AN X 2GAN XS SLANT BACK 2N ! HORIZON1 & AT QU>T] PA/ TWELVE ! E>? ?REW XS %AD[ AG OV] ! L&4 ,! M5 & DOGS RAC$ ON4 ,"DLI Z _! /OMA*S 7 3C]N$4 ,!Y CD EAT IRREGUL>LY 9 "T & QUANT;Y1 GORG+ HUGELY ON O3A.N1 & ON O3A.N GO+ L;G /RET*ES )\T EAT+ AT ALL4 ,Z =! DOGS1 !Y ATE B ONCE A "D1 & !N R>ELY DID !Y RCV M ?AN A P.D EA* ( DRI$ FI%4 ,!Y 7 RAV5\SLY HUNGRY & AT ! SAME "T SPL5DIDLY 9 3DI;N4 ,L ! WOLVES1 _! =EBE>S1 _! NUTRITIVE PROCESSES 7 RIGIDLY ECONOMICAL & P]FECT4 ,"! 0 NO WA/E4 ,! LA/ L1/ "PICLE ( :AT !Y 3SUM$ 0 TRANS=M$ 965]GY4 ,& ,KAMA & ,"DLIE T KEPT ,KAMA & ,"DLIS CAME \1 V NE> & %>P & B"R1 & 0_! LI\SE1 X SEEM$ 6H LEFT NO E6ECT4 ,= ? "! 7 TWO EXPLAN,NS F/1 8 REM>KA# VITAL;Y2 & NEXT1 ! FACT T S* NIE 9 8 EXP]I;E4 ,AG 5T]S ! MAN AT ! DESK1 ^: PHYSICAL E6ICI5CY WD 2 M HURT 0A CUP ( C(FEE AT B$"T ?AN CD ,"DLIGELY E/IMAT+ X 0SUBCONSCI\S PROCESSES4 ,0:AT HE 3SID]$ M/ 2 SIX O'C1 HE 2GAN LOOK+ =A CAMP+- PLACE4 ,! TRAIL1 AT A B5D1 PLUNG$ \ ACR ! RIV]4 ,N HAV+ F.D A LIKELY SPOT1 !Y HELD ON =! OPPOSITE BANK A MILE AWAY4 ,B MIDWAY !Y 5C.T]$ AN ICE-JAM : TOOK AN H\R ( H1VY "W 6CROSS4 ,AT LA/ ,"DLI$ AWAY ! TWO FEET ( SN[ ABV ! ,YUKON ICE & *OPP$ A SUPPLY ( ICE = COOK+ PURPOSES4 ,A PIECE ( DRY BIR* B>K />T$ ! FIRE1 & ,"DLI-BAGS1 3TA9+ DRY SOCKS & "UWE> & _! SLEEP+-ROBES4 ,KAMA1 H["E1 _H TWO ROBES ( RA2IT SK9 6,"DLI;S4 8,I T'9K DAT ,SKOOKUM & ,BOOGA MAKE UM PL5TY FIK$1 Z !Y SAT D[N 6EAT4 8,KEEP AN EYE ON !M10 0 ,"DLI;S-M5D+4 ,"DLIY ANIMALS 7 CURL$ 9 ! SN[1 EA* ) 8 FEET & NOSE BUN*$ TGR & COV]$ 0HIS WOLF'S BRU% (A TAIL4 ,KAMA SPR1D 8 SLEEP+-FURS & LIETTE1 &! SECOND 3V]S,N (! EV5+ TOOK PLACE4 8,I ?9K WE -E NE> SIXTY MILES10 SD ,"DLIKAS,7#E7' !Y _H WORN ALL "D4 ,SWIFTLY1 ALM ON ! 9/ANT !Y CLOS$ _! EYES1 !Y 7 ASLEEP4 ,! />S L1P$ & D.ED 9 ! FRO/Y AIR1 & OV]H1D ! COLOR$ B>S (! AURORA BOR1LIS 7 %OOT+ L GRT SE>*LIKA3 A LI;T MADE ( COTTON DRILL4 ,9 ! D>K;S ,"DLIM$-OV] FLAPJACKS1 W>M$-OV] B1NS1 FRI$ BACON1 & C(FEE -POS$ ! BR1KFA/4 ,! DOGS GOT NO?+1 ?\< !Y WAT*$ ) WI/;L MI5 F A 4T.E1 SITT+ UP 9 ! SN[1 _! TAILS CURL$ >.D _! PAWS4 ,O3A.N,Y !Y LIFT$ "O =E PAW OR ! O!R1 )A RE/.S MOVE;T1 Z IF ! FRO/ T+L$ 9 _! FEET4 ,X 0 BITT] COLD1 AT L1/ SIXTY-FIVE 2L Z]O1 & :5 ,KAMA H>;S$ ! DOGS ) NAK$ H&S HE 0 -PELL$ S"EAL "TS 6G OV] 6! FIRE & W>M ! NUMB+ F+]-TIPS4 ,TGR ! TWO M5 LOAD$ & LA%$ ! SL$4 ,!Y W>M$ _! H&S =! LA/ "T1 PULL$ ON _! MITT5S1 & MU%$ ! DOGS OV] ! BANK & D[N 6! RIV]- TRAIL4 ,AC 6,"DLI.D SEV5 O'C2 B ! />S D.ED J Z BRILLIANTLY1 & FA9T1 LUM9\S /R1KS ( GRE5I% AURORA / PULS$ OV]H1D4 ,TWO H\RS LAT] X 2CAME SU45LY D>K--S D>K T !Y KEPT 6! TRAIL L>GELY 09/9CT2 & ,"DLIK;S 2F DAWN1 N"E ANY": M 3SPICU\S ?AN ON ! ,ALASKAN W9T]-TRAIL4 ,SL[LY ! GRAY LI BANK LOOM$ =A MO;T & 0 G"O1 LOOM$ A SECOND "T & REMA9$4 ,9 A FEW M9UTES ! F> BANK1 A MILE AWAY1 UNOBTRUSIVELY CAME 96VIEW1 & AH1D & 2H1 ! :OLE FROZ5 RIV] CD 2 SE51 ) (F 6! LEFT A WIDE-EXT5D+ RANGE ( %>P- CUT1 SN[-COV]$ M.TA9S4 ,& T 0 ALL4 ,NO SUN >OSE4 ,! GRAY LIS1 & SW]V$ ASIDE 9 PURSUIT4 ,"DLID- PACK$ TRAIL AG4 ,! LYNX 0 ! ONLY SIGN ( LIFE !Y _H SE5 9 TWO "DS1 & X1 L1P+ VELVET-FOOT$ & VANI%+1 _H BE5 M L AN APP>I;N4 ,AT TWELVE O'C1 :5 ! SUN PEEP$ OV] ! E>?-BULGE1 !Y /OPP$ & BUILT A SMALL FIRE ON ! ICE4 ,"DLIM$ 9 ! FRY+-PAN1 3/ITUT$ _! M1L4 ,!Y _H NO C(FEE4 ,HE DID N 2LIEVE 9 ! BURN+ ( "DLIT1 HE 0 HMF =EDOOM$ 6DEF1T4 ,N T HE SLACK5$ 8 EF=T OR WILL+;S 0! SLIRI$ 9 8 M9D4 ,8 ATTITUDE T[>D ,"DLINAT$ 9 8 :ITE -PANION4 ,"H 0 "O T EXCELL$ 9 ! ?+S WOR? EXCELL+ IN1 A MAN-GOD R1DY 6H&1 & ,KAMA CD N B WOR%IP--)AL HE GAVE NO SIGNS ( X4 ,NO WOND] ! RACE ( :ITE M5 3QU]$1 0 8 ?"\1 :5 X BR$ M5 L ? MAN4 ,:AT *.E _H ! ,9DIAN AG/ S* A DO7$1 5DUR+ BRE$8 ,EV5 ! ,9DIANS DID N TRAVEL AT S* L[ TEMP]ATURES1 & _!S 0 ! WISDOM ( ?\S&S ( G5],NS2 YET "H 0 ? ,"DLID] ?AN !Y1 LAU<+ AT _! FE>S1 & SW++ AL;G ! TRAIL T5 & TWELVE H\RS A "D4 ,& ? ,"DLIK & D>K & "? ! D>K4 ,KAMA FROZE ! SK9 ON 8 *EEK-B"OS1 DESPITE FREQU5T RU2+S1 &! FLE% TURN$ BLACK & SORE4 ,AL HE SLIMLY "U 8 SIX P.DS ( RA2IT SK9S Z ! O!R DID "U TWELVE P.DS4 ,ON ! SECOND NIY 2T ,ALASKA &! ,NOR?WE/ ,T]RITORY4 ,! RE/ (! J\RNEY1 SAVE ! LA/ %ORT /RET* 6,DYEA1 WD 2 TRAVELL$ ON ,CANADIAN T]RITORY4 ,)! H>D TRAIL1 & 9 ! ABS;E ( FRE% SN[1 ,"DLI (F2 = ON ! ,YUKON X M/ GET W>M 9 ORD] 6SN[4 ,AL1 ON ? "D1 !Y 5C.T]$ T5 MILES ( *AOTIC ICE-JAMS1 ":1 A ?\S& "TS1 !Y LIFT$ ! LOAD$ SL$ OV] ! HUGE CAKES 0! /R5G? ( _! >MS & L[]$ X D[N AG4 ,"H ! DOGS 7 WELL-NI< USE.S1 & BO? !Y &! M5 7 TRI$ EXCESSIVELY 0! R\<;S (! WAY4 ,AN H\R'S EXTRA RUNN+ T NID GO+4 ,! SL$ RUNN]S WD N SLIDE OV] X S WELL1 :ILE "O (! M5 M/ G 9 ADV.E (! DOGS & PACK X D[N ) SN[%OES S T !Y %D N WALL[4 ,Q DI6]5T 0 X F ! ORD9>Y SN[ "KN 6^? (! ,S\?L&4 ,X 0 H>D1 & F9E1 & DRY4 ,X 0 M L SUG>4 ,KICK X1 & X FLEW )A HISS+ NOISE L S&4 ,"! 0 NO COHE.N AM;G ! "PICLES1 & X CD N 2 M\LD$ 96SN[-BALLS4 ,X 0 N -POS$ ( FLAKES1 B ( CRY/ALS--T9Y1 GEOMETRICAL FRO/-CRY/ALS4 ,9 TRU?1 X 0 N SN[1 B FRO/4 ,! W1!R 0 W>M1 Z WELL1 B>ELY TW5TY 2L Z]O1 &! TWO M51 ) RAIS$ E>-FLAPS & DANGL+ MITT5S1 SW1T$ Z !Y TOIL$4 ,!Y FAIL$ 6MAKE ,=TY ,MILE T NID 6MEET+ M54 ,BO? 7 ISOLAT$ TRAD+-PO/S1 ,SIXTY ,MILE & ,=T ,SELKIRK4 ,9 ! SUMM]-"T ,9DIANS MIT & ,:ITE RIV]S1 AT ! ,BIG & ,LL ,SALMONS1 & ON ,LAKE ,LE ,B>GE2 B 9 ! W9T]1 Z HE WELL KNEW1 !Y WD 2 ON ! TRAIL (! MOOSE- H]DS1 FOLL[+ !M BACK 96! M.TA9S4 ,T NIK$ T HE FELT 8 8HUN*0 "W+4 ,Z X WAS1 HE TI$ ON 8 SN[%OES1 LEFT ! DOGS CURL$ 9 ! SN[ & ,KAMA BR1?+ H1VILY "U 8 RA2IT SK9S1 & CLIMB$ UP 6! BIG FLAT ABV ! HI< E>?-BANK4 ,B ! SPRUCE TREES 7 TOO ?ICK = AN \TLOOK1 & HE ?R1D$ 8 WAY ACR ! FLAT & UP ! F/ /EEP SLOPES (! M.TA9 AT ! BACK4 ,"H1 FL[+ 9 F ! EA/ AT "R ANGLES1 HE CD SEE ! ,KLONDIKE1 &1 B5D+ GR&LY F ! S\?1 ! ,YUKON4 ,6! LEFT1 & D[N/R1M1 T[>D ,MOOSEHIDE ,M.TA91 ! HUGE SPLA% ( :ITE1 F : X TOOK XS "N1 %[+ CLE>LY 9 ! />LIS 6! PAN'LL D X1 & X'D 2 ! ALL-FIR$E/ /AMP$E ,ALASKA "E SE54 ,& IF X DON'T -E "H1 X'LL -E "S": "HABS4 ,X'S A SURE GD IDEA 6KEEP AN EYE \ = T[N SITES ALL ! WAY UP40 ,HE /OOD A :ILE L;G]1 GAZ+ \ OV] ! L"OLY FLAT & VI.N+ ) 3/RUCTIVE IMAG9,N ! SC5E IF ! /AMP$E DID -E4 ,9 FANCY1 HE PLAC$ ! SAWMILLS1 ! BIG TRAD+ /ORES1 ! SALOONS1 & D.E-HALLS1 &! L;G /REETS ( M9]S' CAB9S4 ,& AL;G ^? /REETS HE SAW ?\S&S ( M5 PASS+ UP & D[N1 :ILE 2F ! /ORES 7 ! H1VY FREID ! IMAG9$ "S": ": ! DI7+S M/ 2 LOCAT$4 ,HE LAU<$ & %OOK ! VI.N F 8 EYES1 DESC5D$ 6! LEVEL1 & CROSS$ ! FLAT 6CAMP4 ,FIVE M9UTES AF HE _H ROLL$ UP 9 8 ROBE1 HE OP5$ 8 EYES & SAT UP1 AMAZ$ T HE 0 N ALR ASLEEP4 ,HE GL.ED AT ! ,9DIAN SLEEP+ 2S HM1 AT ! EMB]S (! DY+ FIRE1 AT ! FIVE DOGS 2Y1 ) _! WOLF'S BRU%ES CURL$ OV] _! NOSES1 & AT ! F\R SN[%OES /&+ UP"R 9 ! SN[4 8,X'S SURE HELL ! WAY T HUN* "WS ON ME0 HE MURMUR$4 ,8 M9D REV]T$ 6! POK] GAME4 8,F\R K+S60 ,HE GR9N$ REM9ISC5TLY4 8,T ,,0 A HUN*60 ,HE LAY D[N AG1 PULL$ ! $GE (! ROBE >.D 8 NECK & OV] 8 E>-FLAPS1 CLOS$ 8 EYES1 & ? "T FELL ASLEEP4