Then the wind had suddenly shifted, the sky had grown leaden, and in a queer dank chill the advance-guard of winter had appeared--that winter which to men with hundreds of pathless miles between them and their homes was like a venture into an uncharted continent.
One of the three hunters slipped from his buffalo robe and dived into the laurel thicket to replenish the fire from the stock of dry fuel.

His figure revealed itself fitfully in the firelight, a tall slim man with a curious lightness of movement like a cat's.

When he had done his work he snuggled down in his skins in the glow, and his two companions shifted their positions to be near him.

The fire-tender was the leader of the little party The light showed a face very dark with weather.

He had the appearance of wearing an untidy perruque, which was a tight-fitting skin-cap with the pelt hanging behind.