One night there was a heavy snowfall, and in the morning Pike, the malingerer, did not appear.

He was securely hidden in his nest under a foot of snow.
Francois called him and sought him in vain.

Spitz was wild with wrath.
He raged through the camp, smelling and digging in every likely place, snarling so frightfully that Pike heard and shivered in his hiding-place.
But when he was at last unearthed, and Spitz flew at him to punish him, Buck flew, with equal rage, in between.

So unexpected was it, and so shrewdly managed, that Spitz was hurled backward and off his feet.

Pike, who had been trembling abjectly, took heart at this open mutiny, and sprang upon his overthrown leader.