“And then?”
“We must resolutely fight off sleep through the night.”
“How?”
“By running and walking and keeping the blood in circulation. Boys, I have read of people situated just as we are who were almost comfortable living in the cold region for years. Our case is not hopeless. With daybreak we will build an ice hut. We can surely find something to eat—fish or animal, and we may be found by Esquimaux.”
Will’s words encouraged his companions considerably.
“But do not droop an eyelid. To sleep means death!” he concluded, impressively.
Will piled all the pieces of wood on the fire. They burned briskly, but he was amazed to find how little heat they imparted.
He saw that in a few minutes the dying cinders would fade out, leaving them even without a light.
He had not noticed his companions huddled together amid the smoke, except to suppose they, like himself, were trying to gather all the warmth while the fire lasted.
To his amazement and dread, as he approached them and called their names there was no response.