Asthedayworeon,hecameintoavalleywheregamewasmoreplentiful.Aherdoftwentycariboupassedbywithinriflerange.Hefeltlikerunningafterthem,butheknewsuchaneffortwouldbesenseless.Oncehesawafoxwithabirdinitsmouth.Hecalledloudly,hopingtofrightenthefoxintodroppingthebird;butthefox,leapingawayinfright,didnotdropthebird.
Hewaswearyandoftenwishedtorest—toliedownandsleep,buthewasdrivenonbyhishunger.Hesearchedlittlepondsforfrogsandduguptheearthwithhisfingernailsforworms,thoughheknewthatneitherfrogsnorwormslivedthatfarnorth.
Inoneareahewalkedalongacreek,lookingforfish.Inapoolhefoundasmallone.Hedippedhisarmintothewateruptohisshoulder,butthefishgotaway.Thenhereachedforitwithbothhands,stirringupthemudatthebottom.Inhisexcitementhefellin,wettinghimselftothewaist.Sincehecouldnolongerseethefish,hehadtowaituntilthewatercleared.
Whenhetriedagain,thewaterbecamemuddy.Thenhetookhistinpailandbegantobailthepool.Hebailedwildlyatfirst,andsomeofthewaterranbackintothepool.Thenheworkedmorecarefully,thoughhisheartwaspoundinginhischestandhishandswereshaking.Attheendofhalfanhourthepoolwasnearlydry.Buttherewasnofish.Ithadescapedbetweentherocksintoalargerpool.
Defeatedinhiseffort,themansatdownuponthewetearth.Atfirsthecriedsoftlytohimself.Thenhecriedloudlyinhishopelesscondition.
Hebuiltafireandwarmedhimselfanddranksomehotwater.Hisblanketswerewetandcold,andhisanklewasstillpainful,buthisworstsufferingcamefromhishunger.Hetriedtosleep,buthedreamedoffoodandmanygoodthingstoeat.
Heawokecoldandsick.Therewasnosun.Theairabouthimgrewwhitewhilehemadeafireandboiledsomewater.Itwaswetsnow,halfrain,andtheflakesmeltedquicklyandputouthisfire.
Bythistimehehadbecomehunger-mad.Hefeltthroughthesnowandpulledupsomegrassroots.Hechewedtherootsbuttheyweretastelessorbitter.
Hehadnofirethatnightbecausehecouldn』tfindanydrywood,sohecrawledunderhisblankettosleepthebrokensleepofhunger.Thesnowturnedintoacoldrain.Hefeltitonhisfaceduringthenight.
Latethenextmorningthesunbrokethroughthegraymist.Thenthemanrealizedhewaslost.Heturnednorthwardtocorrecthiscourse,hopingtofindtheriverandthecanoe.ThenhewonderedwhathadhappenedtoBill.
Thoughhishungerpainswerenoworse,herealizedhewasgettingweaker.Hehadtostopfrequentlytorest.Histonguefeltdryandlarge,andhismouthhadabittertaste.Hisheartgavehimagreatdealoftrouble.Hecouldfeelitsthump,thump,thump;andthepainfulbeatschokedhimandmadehimfeelfaint.
Inthemiddleofthedayhecaughttwosmallfishinapoolbyusinghispail.Heatethefishraw,butthehungerpainwasnowdullandlifeless.Hisstomachhadgonetosleep.
Inthemorninghecaughtthreemoresmallfish,eatingtwoofthemandsavingoneforhisbreakfast.Anothernightpassed.Inthemorninghetiedmorestripsoftheblanketaroundhisfeet,andthenheuntiedthestringofthemoose-hidepouch.Fromitsopenmouthpouredayellowstreamofcoarsegolddustandnuggets.Heknewhemustlightenhisload.Hehardlyhadthestrengthtocarrythelastremainingblanket.Heroughlydividedthegoldintohalves.Hepouredhalfofthegoldintoapieceofblanketandrolleditintoasmallpackage,whichhehidinarockledge.
Thenhewalkedon,barelyabletoplaceonefootaheadoftheother.
Hefacedanotherdayofcoldfog.Halfofhislastblankethadgonetowraphisfeet.Hewasnowtooweaktocarryhissmallpack.Againhedividedthegold,thistimebyspillinghalfofitontheground.Intheafternoonhethrewtherestofitaway.Thereremainedonlythehalfblanket,thetinpail,hisknife,andtherifle.
Hepushedonforanhourbeforehefellintoafaint.Arousedbyanoise,hecouldnotbelievehiseyes.Beforehimstoodahorse.Ahorse!Rubbinghiseyes,hesuddenlyrealizedhewaslookingatagreatbrownbear.
Themanbroughthisgunhalfwaytohisshoulderbeforeheremembereditwasnotloaded.Helowereditanddrewhishuntingknife,wonderingifthebearwouldattack.Themandrewhimselfuptohisfullheight,staredatthebearandwaited.Thebearadvancedafewstepsandthenstopped.Themanknewifheran,thebearwouldrunafterhim.Withallhismightthemanswungtheknifeandgrowledlikeananimal.Thebeardidnotunderstandthemysteriouscreatureandwalkedaway.