“Sure, get out some of that meat Charley keeps in that big tin can up front.”
The dogs seemed overjoyed to see Sandy. They leaped about him, wagging their tails furiously and barking and whining.
“I bet you guys are hungry,” Sandy spoke to them. “Keep calm. Your dinner’s coming right up.”
When he knelt beside Black Titan to remove his harness, the big lead dog jockeyed obediently into the proper position. As soon as he was free, he nuzzled affectionately against the boy’s cheek. “Hey!” Sandy laughed. “That is the coldest nose I ever felt in my life.” He ruffled up the thick fur around the husky’s throat with his fingers, and was surprised to feel the soothing warmth deep down in the animal’s undercoat. “Boy, I wish I had your fur, Titan. No wonder you can sleep in a snow foxhole.” He pressed both hands against Titan’s body gratefully. “That feels good, old boy.”
Jerry came up behind him with the can of dog meat. “And look what else I found.” He held out a bulky .45 Colt automatic. “It’s fully loaded, too.”
The sight of the lethal-looking pistol was reassuring. “Dad must have given it to Charley before we left,” Sandy reasoned. “He asked me if I wanted to take a gun along, but I knew Charley had his rifle, so I didn’t bother. It’s a good thing we have it. Now maybe we can signal to Charley. Fire a few shots in the air to let him know where we are.”
“Good idea,” Jerry agreed. “And I’ve got an even better one.”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s send old Titan out to find his buddy. Bet you he can do it.”
Sandy was pessimistic. “I don’t know if he could pick up Charley’s trail in a storm like this, but we can give it a try.”