,,*APT] ;,V
  ,AT ,SIXTY ,MILE !Y RE/OCK$ PROVI.NS1
A4$ A FEW P.DS ( LRS 6_! LOAD1 & HELD
/1DILY ON4 ,F ,=TY ,MILE !Y _H _H
UNBROK5 TRAIL1 & !Y CD LOOK =W>D ONLY
6UNBROK5 TRAIL CLE> 6,DYEA4 ,"DLI<T /OOD
X MAGNIFIC5TLY1 B ! KILL+ PACE 0 2G9N+
6TELL ON ,KAMA4 ,8 PRIDE KEPT 8 M\? %UT1
B ! RESULT (! *ILL+ ( 8 LUNGS 9 ! COLD
SNAP CD N 2 3C1L$4 ,MICROSCOPIC,Y SMALL
_H BE5 ! $GES (! LUNG-TISSUE T\*$ 0!
FRO/1 B !Y N[ 2GAN 6SL\< (F1 GIV+ RISE
6A DRY1 HACK+ C\<4 ,ANY UNUSU,Y SEV]E
EX];N PRECIPITAT$ SPELLS ( C\<+1 DUR+ :
HE 0 ALM L A MAN 9 A FIT4 ,! BLOOD 3GE/$
9 8 EYES TILL !Y BULG$1 :ILE ! TE>S RAN
D[N 8 *EEKS4 ,A :IFF (! SMOKE F FRY+
BACON WD />T HM (F =A HALF-H\R'S
P>OXYSM1 & HE KEPT C>E;LLY 6W9DW>D :5
,"DLI<T 0 COOK+4
  ,!Y PLO4$ "DS ^U "DS & )\T 5D OV] !
S(T1 UNPACK$ SN[4 ,X 0 H>D1 MONOTON\S
"W1 ) N"O (! JOY & BLOOD-/IR T W5T )
FLY+ OV] H>D SURFACE4 ,N[ "O MAN 6! =E 9
! SN[%OES1 & N[ ! O!R1 X 0 A CASE (
/U2ORN1 UNMITIGAT$ PLOD4 ,A Y>D ( P[D]Y
SN[ _H 6BE PRESS$ D[N1 &! WIDE-WE2$ %OE1
"U A MAN'S WEI<T1 SANK A FULL DOZ5 9*ES
96! S(T SURFACE4 ,SN[%OE "W1 "U S*
3DI;NS1 CALL$ =! USE ( MUSCLES O!R ?AN
^? US$ 9 ORD9>Y WALK+4 ,F /EP 6/EP !
RIS+ FOOT CD N -E UP & =W>D ON A SLANT4
,X _H 6BE RAIS$ P]P5DICUL>LY4 ,:5 !
SN[%OE 0 PRESS$ 96! SN[1 XS NOSE 0
3FRONT$ 0A V]TICAL WALL ( SN[ TWELVE
9*ES HI<4 ,IF ! FOOT1 9 RIS+1 SLANT$
=W>D ! SLI<TE/ BIT1 ! NOSE (! %OE
P5ETRAT$ ! OB/RUCT+ WALL & TIPP$ D[NW>D
TILL ! HEEL (! %OE /RUCK ! MAN'S LEG 2H4
,?US UP1 /RAI<T UP1 TWELVE 9*ES1 EA*
FOOT M/ 2 RAIS$ E "T & ALL ! "T1 ]E !
=W>D SW+ F ! KNEE CD 2G94
  ,ON ? "PI,Y PACK$ SURFACE FOLL[$ !
DOGS1 ! MAN AT ! GEE-POLE1 &! SL$4 ,AT !
BE/1 TOIL+ Z ONLY PICK$ M5 CD TOIL1 !Y
MADE NO M ?AN ?REE MILES AN H\R4 ,? M1NT
L;G] H\RS ( TRAVEL1 & ,"DLI<T1 = GD
M1SURE &=A M>G9 AG/ A3ID5TS1 HIT ! TRAIL
= TWELVE H\RS A "D4 ,S9CE ?REE H\RS 7
3SUM$ 0MAK+ CAMP AT NI<T & COOK+ B1NS1
0GETT+ BR1KFA/ 9 ! MORN+ & BR1K+ CAMP1 &
0?AW+ B1NS AT ! MID"D HALT1 N9E H\RS 7
LEFT = SLEEP & RECUP],N1 & NEI M5 NOR
DOGS WA/$ _M M9UTES ( ^? N9E H\RS4
  ,AT ,SELKIRK1 ! TRAD+ PO/ NE> ,PELLY
,RIV]1 ,"DLI<T SU7E/$ T ,KAMA LAY OV]1
REJO9+ HM ON ! BACK TRIP F ,DYEA4 ,A
/RAY$ ,9DIAN F ,LAKE ,LE ,B>GE 0 WILL+
6TAKE 8 PLACE2 B ,KAMA 0 OBDURATE4 ,HE
GRUNT$ )A SLI<T 9TON,N ( RES5T;T1 & T 0
ALL4 ,! DOGS1 H["E1 ,"DLI<T *ANG$1 L1V+
8 [N EXHAU/$ T1M 6RE/ UP AG/ 8 RETURN1
:ILE HE W5T ON ) SIX FRE% DOGS4
  ,!Y TRAVELL$ TILL T5 O'C ! NI<T !Y
R1*$ ,SELKIRK1 & AT SIX NEXT MORN+ !Y
PLUNG$ AH1D 96! NEXT /RET* ( WILD];S (
NE>LY FIVE HUNDR$ MILES T LAY 2T
,SELKIRK & ,DYEA4 ,A SECOND COLD SNAP
CAME ON1 B COLD OR W>M X 0 ALL ! SAME1
AN UNBROK5 TRAIL4 ,:5 ! !RMOMET] W5T D[N
6FIFTY 2L1 X 0 EV5 H>D] 6TRAVEL1 = AT T
L[ TEMP]ATURE ! H>D FRO/-CRY/ALS 7 M L
S&-GRA9S 9 ! RESI/.E !Y (F]$ 6! SL$
RUNN]S4 ,! DOGS _H 6PULL H>D] ?AN OV] !
SAME SN[ AT TW5TY OR ?IRTY 2L Z]O4
,"DLI<T 9CR1S$ ! "D'S TRAVEL 6?IRTE5
H\RS4 ,HE J1L\SLY GU>D$ ! M>G9 HE _H
GA9$1 = HE KNEW "! 7 DI6ICULT /RET*ES
6-E4
  ,X 0 N YET Q MIDW9T]1 &! TURBUL5T
,FIFTY ,MILE ,RIV] V9DICAT$ 8 JUDG;T4 ,9
_M PLACES X RAN WIDE OP51 ) PREC>I\S
RIM-ICE FR++ X ON EI SIDE4 ,9 NUM]\S
PLACES1 ": ! WAT] DA%$ AG/ ! /EEP-SID$
BLU6S1 RIM-ICE 0 UNA# 6=M4 ,!Y TURN$ &
TWI/$1 N[ CROSS+ ! RIV]1 N[ -+ BACK AG1
"S"TS MAK+ HALF A DOZ5 ATTEMPTS 2F !Y
F.D A WAY OV] A "PICUL>LY BAD /RET*4 ,X
0 SL[ "W4 ,! ICE-BRIDGES _H 6BE TE/$1 &
EI ,"DLI<T OR ,KAMA W5T 9 ADV.E1 SN[%OES
ON _! FEET1 & L;G POLES C>RI$ CROSSWISE
9 _! H&S4 ,?US1 IF !Y BROKE "?1 !Y CD
CL+ 6! POLE T BRIDG$ ! HOLE MADE 0_!
BODIES4 ,S"EAL S* A3ID5TS 7 ! %>E ( EA*4
,AT FIFTY 2L Z]O1 A MAN WET 6! WAI/ _C
TRAVEL )\T FREEZ+2 S EA* DUCK+ M1NT
DELAY4 ,Z SOON Z RESCU$1 ! WET MAN RAN
UP & D[N 6KEEP UP 8 CIRCUL,N1 :ILE 8 DRY
-PANION BUILT A FIRE4 ,?US PROTECT$1 A
*ANGE ( G>;TS CD 2 MADE &! WET "OS DRI$
AG/ ! NEXT MISADV5TURE4
  ,6MAKE MATT]S WORSE1 ? DANG]\S RIV]
TRAVEL CD N 2 D"O 9 ! D>K1 & _! "W+ "D 0
REDUC$ 6! SIX H\RS ( TWILI<T4 ,E MO;T 0
PRECI\S1 & !Y /ROVE N"E 6LOSE "O4 ,?US1
2F ! F/ H9T (! -+ ( GRAY "D1 CAMP 0
BROK51 SL$ LOAD$1 DOGS H>;S$1 &! TWO M5
CR\*$ WAIT+ OV] ! FIRE4 ,NOR DID !Y MAKE
! MID"D HALT 6EAT4 ,Z X WAS1 !Y 7 RUNN+
F> 2H _! S*$ULE1 EA* "D EAT+ 96! M>G9 !Y
_H RUN UP4 ,"! 7 "DS :5 !Y MADE FIFTE5
MILES1 & "DS :5 !Y MADE A DOZ54 ,& "! 0
"O BAD /RET* ": 9 TWO "DS !Y COV]$ N9E
MILES1 2+ -PELL$ 6TURN _! BACKS ?REE "TS
ON ! RIV] & 6PORTAGE SL$ & \TFIT OV] !
M.TA9S4
  ,AT LA/ !Y CLE>$ ! DR1D ,FIFTY ,MILE
,RIV] & CAME \ ON ,LAKE ,LE ,B>GE4 ,"H 0
NO OP5 WAT] NOR JAMM$ ICE4 ,= ?IRTY
MILES OR M ! SN[ LAY LEVEL Z A TA#2 )AL
X LAY ?REE FEET DEEP & 0 S(T Z FL\R4
,?REE MILES AN H\R 0 ! BE/ !Y CD MAKE1 B
,"DLI<T CELEBRAT$ ! PASS+ (! ,FIFTY
,MILE 0TRAVEL+ LATE4 ,AT ELEV5 9 ! MORN+
!Y EM]G$ AT ! FOOT (! LAKE4 ,AT ?REE 9 !
AFN1 Z ! ,>CTIC NI<T CLOS$ D[N1 HE CAU<T
8 F/ SI<T (! H1D (! LAKE1 &)! F/ />S
TOOK 8 BE>+S4 ,AT EI<T 9 ! EV5+ !Y LEFT
! LAKE 2H & 5T]$ ! M\? (! ,LEWES ,RIV]4
,"H A HALT ( HALF AN H\R 0 MADE1 :ILE
*UNKS ( FROZ5 BOIL$ B1NS 7 ?AW$ &! DOGS
7 GIV5 AN EXTRA R,N ( FI%4 ,!N !Y PULL$
ON UP ! RIV] TILL "O 9 ! MORN+1 :5 !Y
MADE _! REGUL> CAMP4
  ,!Y _H HIT ! TRAIL SIXTE5 H\RS ON 5D T
"D1 ! DOGS _H -E 9 TOO TIR$ 6FI<T AM;G
!MVS OR EV5 SN>L1 & ,KAMA _H P]CEPTIBLY
LIMP$ ! LA/ S"EAL MILES2 YET ,"DLI<T 0
ON TRAIL NEXT MORN+ AT SIX O'C4 ,0ELEV5
HE 0 AT ! FOOT ( ,:ITE ,HORSE1 & T NI<T
SAW HM CAMP$ 2Y ! ,BOX ,CANON1 ! LA/ BAD
RIV]-/RET* 2H HM1 ! /R+ ( LAKES 2F HM4
  ,"! 0 NO LET UP 9 8 PACE4 ,TWELVE H\RS
A "D1 SIX 9 ! TWILI<T1 & SIX 9 ! D>K1 !Y
TOIL$ ON ! TRAIL4 ,?REE H\RS 7 3SUM$ 9
COOK+1 REPAIR+ H>;SES1 & MAK+ & BR1K+
CAMP1 &! REMA9+ N9E H\RS DOGS & M5 SLEPT
Z IF D1D4 ,! IRON /R5G? ( ,KAMA BROKE4
,"D 0"D ! T]RIFIC TOIL SAPP$ HM4 ,"D 0"D
HE 3SUM$ M ( 8 RES]VES ( /R5G?4 ,HE
2CAME SL[] ( MOVE;T1 ! RESILI5CY W5T \ (
8 MUSCLES1 & 8 LIMP 2CAME P]MAN5T4 ,YET
HE LABOR$ /OIC,Y ON1 N"E %IRK+1 N"E
GRUNT+ A H9T ( -PLA9T4 ,"DLI<T 0 ?9-FAC$
& TIR$4
  ,HE LOOK$ TIR$2 YET "SH[1 ) T M>VEL\S
ME*ANISM (A BODY T 0 HIS1 HE DROVE ON1
"E ON1 REMORSE.SLY ON4 ,N"E 0 HE M A GOD
9 ,KAMA'S M9D ?AN 9 ! LA/ "DS (! S\?-B.D
TRAV]SE1 Z ! FAIL+ ,9DIAN WAT*$ HM1 "E
6! =E1 PRESS+ ONW>D ) URG5CY ( 5DUR.E S*
Z ,KAMA _H N"E SE5 NOR DR1M$ CD ?RIVE 9
HUMAN =M4
  ,! "T CAME :5 ,KAMA 0 UNA# 6G 9 ! L1D
& BR1K TRAIL1 & X 0 A PRO( T HE 0 F> G"O
:5 HE P]MITT$ ,"DLI<T 6TOIL ALL "D AT !
H1VY SN[%OE "W4 ,LAKE 0LAKE !Y CROSS$ !
/R+ ( LAKES F ,M>% 6,L9D]MAN1 & 2GAN !
ASC5T ( ,*ILCOOT4 ,0ALL "RS1 ,"DLI<T %D
H CAMP$ 2L ! LA/ PIT* (! PASS AT ! DIM
5D ( "D2 B HE KEPT ON & OV] & D[N 6,%EEP
,CAMP1 :ILE 2H HM RAG$ A SN[-/ORM T WD H
DELAY$ HM TW5TY-F\R H\RS4
  ,? LA/ EXCESSIVE /RA9 BROKE ,KAMA
-PLETELY4 ,9 ! MORN+ HE CD N TRAVEL4 ,AT
FIVE1 :5 CALL$1 HE SAT UP AF A /RU7LE1
GROAN$1 & SANK BACK AG4 ,"DLI<T DID !
CAMP "W ( BO?1 H>;S$ ! DOGS1 &1 :5 R1DY
=! />T1 ROLL$ ! HELP.S ,9DIAN 9 ALL ?REE
SLEEP+ ROBES & LA%$ HM ON TOP (! SL$4 ,!
GO+ 0 GD2 !Y 7 ON ! LA/ LAP2 & HE RAC$ !
DOGS D[N "? ,DYEA ,CANON & AL;G ! H>D-
PACK$ TRAIL T L$ 6,DYEA ,PO/4 ,& RUNN+
/1 ,KAMA GROAN+ ON TOP ! LOAD1 & ,"DLI<T
L1P+ AT ! GEE-POLE 6AVOID GO+ "U !
RUNN]S (! FLY+ SL$1 !Y >RIV$ AT ,DYEA 0!
SEA4
  ,TRUE 6HIS PROMISE1 ,"DLI<T DID N /OP4
,AN H\R'S "T SAW ! SL$ LOAD$ )! 9GO+
MAIL & GRUB1 FRE% DOGS H>;S$1 &A FRE%
,9DIAN 5GAG$4 ,KAMA N"E SPOKE F ! "T ( 8
>RIVAL TILL ! MO;T ,"DLI<T1 R1DY 6DE"P1
/OOD 2S HM 6SAY GD-BY4 ,!Y %OOK H&S4
  8,Y KILL UM DAT DAMN ,9DIAN10 ,KAMA
SD4 8,SAWEE1 ,"DLI<T8 ,Y KILL UM40
  8,HE'LL SURE LA/ Z F> Z ,PELLY10
,"DLI<T GR9N$4
  ,KAMA %OOK 8 H1D D\BT;LLY1 & ROLL$ OV]
ON 8 SIDE1 TURN+ 8 BACK 9 TOK5 (
F>EWELL4
  ,"DLI<T WON ACR ,*ILCOOT T SAME "D1
DROPP+ D[N FIVE HUNDR$ FEET 9 ! D>K;S &!
FLURRY+ SN[ 6,CRAT] ,LAKE1 ": HE CAMP$4
,X 0 A ,8COLD0' CAMP1 F> ABV ! TIMB]-
L9E1 & HE _H N BURD5$ 8 SL$ ) FIREWOOD4
,T NI<T ?REE FEET ( SN[ COV]$ !M1 & 9 !
BLACK MORN+1 :5 !Y DUG !MVS \1 ! ,9DIAN
TRI$ 6DES]T4 ,HE _H _H 5 ( TRAVEL+ ) :AT
HE 3SID]$ A MADMAN4 ,B ,"DLI<T P]SUAD$
HM 9 GRIM WAYS 6/AY 0! \TFIT1 & !Y PULL$
ON ACR ,DEEP ,LAKE & ,L;G ,LAKE & DROPP$
D[N 6! LEVEL-GO+ ( ,LAKE ,L9D]MAN4 ,X 0
! SAME KILL+ PACE GO+ 9 Z -+ \1 &!
,9DIAN DID N /& X Z WELL Z ,KAMA4 ,HE1
TOO1 N"E -PLA9$4 ,NOR DID HE TRY AG
6DES]T4 ,HE TOIL$ ON & DID 8 BE/1 :ILE
HE RENEW$ 8 RESOLVE 6/E] CLE> ( ,"DLI<T
9 ! FUTURE4 ,! "DS SLIPP$ 96"DS1 NI<TS &
TWILI<T'S ALT]NAT+1 COLD SNAPS GAVE WAY
6SN[-FALLS1 & COLD SNAPS CAME ON AG1 &
ALL ! :ILE1 "? ! L;G H\RS1 ! MILES PIL$
UP 2H !M4
  ,B ON ! ,FIFTY ,MILE A3ID5T 2FELL !M4
,CROSS+ AN ICE-BRIDGE1 ! DOGS BROKE "? &
7 SWEPT "U !
D[N-/R1M ICE4 ,! TRACES T 3NECT$ ! T1M
)! :EEL-DOG "P$1 &! T1M 0 N"E SE5 AG4
,ONLY ! "O :EEL-DOG REMA9$1 & ,"DLI<T
H>;S$ ! ,9DIAN & HMF 6! SL$4 ,B A MAN _C
TAKE ! PLACE (A DOG AT S* "W1 &! TWO M5
7 ATTEMPT+ 6D ! "W ( FIVE DOGS4 ,AT ! 5D
(! F/ H\R1 ,"DLI<T LI<T5$ UP4 ,DOG-FOOD1
EXTRA GE>1 &! SP>E AX 7 ?R[N AWAY4 ,"U !
EXTRAORD9>Y EX];N ! DOG SNAPP$ A T5DON !
FOLL[+ "D1 & 0 HOPE.SLY 4A#D4 ,"DLI<T
%OT X1 & AB&ON$ ! SL$4 ,ON 8 BACK HE
TOOK "O HUNDR$ & SIXTY P.DS ( MAIL &
GRUB1 & ON ! ,9DIAN'S PUT "O HUNDR$ &
TW5TY-FIVE P.DS4 ,! /RIPP+ ( GE> 0
REMORSE.S4 ,! ,9DIAN 0 APPALL$ :5 HE SAW
E P.D ( WOR?.S MAIL MATT] RETA9$1 :ILE
B1NS1 CUPS1 PAILS1 PLATES1 & EXTRA CLO?+
7 ?R[N 0! BO>D4 ,"O ROBE EA* 0 KEPT1 "O
AX1 "O T9 PAIL1 &A SCANT SUPPLY ( BACON
& FL\R4 ,BACON CD 2 EAT5 RAW ON A P9*1 &
FL\R1 /IRR$ 9 HOT WAT]1 CD KEEP M5 GO+4
,EV5 ! RIFLE &! SCORE ( R.DS ( AMMUNI;N
7 LEFT 2H4
  ,& 9 ? FA%ION !Y COV]$ ! TWO HUNDR$
MILES 6,SELKIRK4 ,"DLI<T TRAVELL$ LATE &
E>LY1 ! H\RS =M]LY US$ 0CAMP-MAK+ & DOG-
T5D+ 2+ N[ DEVOT$ 6! TRAIL4 ,AT NI<T !Y
CR\*$ OV] A SMALL FIRE1 WRAPP$ 9 _!
ROBES1 DR9K+ FL\R BRO? & ?AW+ BACON ON !
5DS ( /ICKS2 & 9 ! MORN+ D>K;S1 )\T A
^W1 !Y >OSE1 SLIPP$ ON _! PACKS1 ADJU/$
H1D-/RAPS1 & HIT ! TRAIL4 ,! LA/ MILES
96,SELKIRK1 ,"DLI<T DROVE ! ,9DIAN 2F
HM1 A HOLL[-*EEK$1 GAUNT-EY$ WRAI? (A
MAN :O ELSE WD H LA9 D[N & SLEPT OR
AB&ON$ 8 BURD5 ( MAIL4
  ,AT ,SELKIRK1 ! OLD T1M ( DOGS1 FRE% &
9 3DI;N1 7 H>;S$1 &! SAME "D SAW ,"DLI<T
PLO4+ ON1 ALT]NAT+ PLACES AT ! GEE-POLE1
Z A MATT] ( C\RSE1 )! ,LE ,B>GE ,9DIAN
:O _H VOLUNTE]$ ON ! WAY \4 ,"DLI<T 0
TWO "DS 2H 8 S*$ULE1 & FALL+ SN[ &
UNPACK$ TRAIL KEPT HM TWO "DS 2H ALL !
WAY 6,=TY ,MILE4 ,& "H ! W1!R FAVOR$4 ,X
0 "T =A BIG COLD SNAP1 & HE GAM#D ON X1
CUTT+ D[N ! WEI<T ( GRUB = DOGS & M54 ,!
M5 ( ,=TY ,MILE %OOK _! H1DS OM9\SLY1 &
DEM&$ 6"K :AT HE WD D IF ! SN[ / FELL4
  8,T COLD SNAP'S SURE GOT 6-E10 HE
LAU<$1 & MU%$ \ ON ! TRAIL4
  ,A NUMB] ( SL$S _H PASS$ BACK & =? ALR
T W9T] 2T ,=TY ,MILE & ,CIRCLE ,C;Y1 &!
TRAIL 0 WELL PACK$4 ,&! COLD SNAP CAME &
REMA9$1 & ,CIRCLE ,C;Y 0 ONLY TWO HUNDR$
MILES AWAY4 ,! ,LE ,B>GE ,9DIAN 0 A "Y
MAN1 UNLE>N$ YET 9 8 [N LIMIT,NS1 &
FILL$ ) PRIDE4
  ,HE TOOK ,"DLI<T'S PACE ) JOY1 & EV5
DR1M$1 AT F/1 T HE WD PLAY ! :ITE MAN \4
,! F/ HUNDR$ MILES HE LOOK$ = SIGNS (
W1K5+1 & M>VEL$ T HE SAW !M N4
  ,"?\T ! SECOND HUNDR$ MILES HE OBS]V$
SIGNS 9 HMF1 & GRITT$ 8 TEE? & KEPT UP4
,& "E ,"DLI<T FLEW ON & ON1 RUNN+ AT !
GEE-POLE OR RE/+ 8 SPELL ON TOP ! FLY+
SL$4 ,! LA/ "D1 CLE>] & COLD] ?AN "E1
GAVE P]FECT GO+1 & !Y COV]$ SEV5TY
MILES4 ,X 0 T5 AT NI<T :5 !Y PULL$ UP !
E>?-BANK & FLEW AL;G ! MA9 /REET (
,CIRCLE ,C;Y2 &! "Y ,9DIAN1 ?\< X 0 8
SPELL 6RIDE1 L1P$ (F & RAN 2H ! SL$4 ,X
0 HONORA# BRA7ADOCIO1 & DESPITE ! FACT T
HE _H F.D 8 LIMIT,NS & 0 PRESS+
DESP]ATELY AG/ !M1 HE RAN GAMELY ON4