He was the only passenger.
"There ain't even a hand-car gone up ahead of us," informed the brakeman in response to his inquiry.

"This is the only train in five days." After all, it was to be a tame affair, in spite of the inspector's uneasiness and warnings, thought Philip.

The woman was not ahead of him.

Two days before she had been in MacGregor's office, and under the circumstances it was impossible for her to be at Le Pas or at Wekusko, unless she had traveled steadily on dog sledge.

Philip swore softly to himself in his disappointment, ate breakfast with the train gang, went to sleep, and awoke when they plowed their way into the snow-smothered outpost on the Saskatchewan.
The brakeman handed him a letter.
"This came on the Le Pas mail," he explained.