On the central tablelands of British Columbia winter is severe, but near the coast and in valleys open to the West the mitigating warmth of the Pacific is often felt.

He had imagined that when his work upon the track was hindered the snow would help him to bring down lumber ready for use when a thaw set in.

Now, however, wages were mounting up and little work was being done.

He began to wonder what would happen if a change did not come.
One morning he knelt in a hole below the track, holding a drill.

He wore mittens, but the back of one was split and showed a raw bruise on his skin.