Jolly Roger felt the weight of him as he staggered in the wind, fighting to keep his feet, and he knew he was ready to drop down in the snow and die.
"It's only a step," he shouted.

"Can you make it ?" His words reached the ears of the others.

The girl swayed through the darkness and gripped his arm.

The two men began to tug at the sledge, and Jolly Roger seized the rope between them, wondering why there were no dogs, and faced the driving of the storm.

It seemed an interminable time before he saw the faint glow of the alcohol lamp.