He was not going farther but offered to lend me the dogs, if I would leave them with some friends of his who were trapping to the south." "But can you drive dogs ?" Thirlwell asked, knowing that skill is required to manage the snarling, fighting teams.
"Not well, but I have driven dogs, and was anxious to reach the mine before my foot got worse.

I thought I might find somebody at the Indians' camp who would go on with me.

For a day or two we made good progress, though I had trouble to harness the leader in the morning; he was a stubborn, bad tempered animal, and missed his master's firm control.

Then, one evening, we came to a creek.

The stream had kept the channel open here and there, and I thought the ice thin, but it was open, rocky country round about, and I saw a clump of pines in the distance where we could camp.