That night the big loneliness returned to Muskwa.

Bruce and Metoosin were so tired after their hard climb over the range that they went to bed early, and Langdon followed them, leaving Pipoonaskoos where Bruce had first thrown him.
Scarcely a move had Muskwa made after the discovery that had set his heart beating a little faster.

He did not know what death was, or what it meant, and as Pipoonaskoos was so warm and soft he was sure that he would move after a little.

He had no inclination to fight him now.
Again it grew very, very still, and the stars filled the sky, and the fire burned low.

But Pipoonaskoos did not move.