The days slipped into days, nights and twilight's alternating, cold snaps gave way to snow-falls, and cold snaps came on again, and all the while, through the long hours, the miles piled up behind them.
But on the Fifty Mile accident befell them.

Crossing an ice-bridge, the dogs broke through and were swept under the down-stream ice.

The traces that connected the team with the wheel-dog parted, and the team was never seen again.

Only the one wheel-dog remained, and Daylight harnessed the Indian and himself to the sled.

But a man cannot take the place of a dog at such work, and the two men were attempting to do the work of five dogs.