The men cursed.

The patient horses drooped sadly, and shivered in the lee of the improvised tent.

Jones kicked the inch-thick casing of ice from his saddle.

Kentuck, his racer, had been spared on the whole trip for this day's work.

The thoroughbred was cold, but as Jones threw the saddle over him, he showed that he knew the chase ahead, and was eager to be off.