"Fine as possible."
"Did they give you a good supper?"
"I'm so full that I can't draw a long breath with all this stuff I've got on me. I certainly sha'n't feel cold."
"In your right pocket you'll find a thermos bottle of hot coffee; in the other, chocolate."
"Splendid."
"Do you want a gun?"
"What should I do with it? In case of alarm I'll keep sounding 'ta-pum' like this morning."
"Then you understand. You must keep a lookout down there all the time, there where the white of the snow meets the black of the sky. If you see anything white on black or black on white which moves give the alarm; if not, keep still. Take good care not to fall asleep, because if I should go the rounds and find you asleep I should be compelled to kill you at your post."
"In that case wake me up ... five minutes beforehand."