He knew it as though it had taken place before his eyes.

Once, he roused with a start and hastily got the axe out from underneath the lashings.

But for some time longer he sat and brooded, the two remaining dogs crouching and trembling at his feet.
At last he arose in a weary manner, as though all the resilience had gone out of his body, and proceeded to fasten the dogs to the sled.

He passed a rope over his shoulder, a man-trace, and pulled with the dogs.

He did not go far.