Wabi, who was on the sledge, was the first to notice it, and he
shouted back his discovery to the white youth.

"The forest! We're across!"

The tired dogs seemed to leap into new life at his words, and the
leader replied with a whining joyous cry as the odors of balsam and
fir came to him. The sharp pinnacles of the forest, reaching up into
the night's white glow, grew more and more distinct as the sledge sped
on, and five minutes later the team drew up in a huddled, panting
bunch on the shore. That day the men and dogs from Wabinosh House had
traveled sixty miles.

"We'll camp here!" declared Wabi, as he dropped on the sledge. "We'll
camp here--unless you leave me behind!"

Mukoki, tireless to the last, had already found an ax.

"No rest now," he warned, "Too tired! You rest now--build no camp.
Build camp--then rest!"

"You're right, Muky," cried Wabi, jumping to his feet with forced
enthusiasm. "If I sit down for five minutes I'll fall asleep. Rod, you
build a fire. Muky and I will make the shelter."

In less than half an hour the balsam bough shelter was complete, and
in front of it roared a fire that sent its light and heat for twenty
paces round. From farther back in the forest the three dragged several
small logs, and no sooner had they been added to the flames than both
Mukoki and Wabigoon wrapped themselves in their furs and burrowed deep