noon
And always the feathery , clogging snow , -- offering slight resistance , it is true , but opposing that slight resistance continuously , so that at last it amounted to a great deal . A step taken meant no advance toward easier steps . The treadmill of forest travel , changed only in outward form , again claimed their dogged patience . At noon they paused in the shelter of the woods . The dogs were anchored by the simple expedient of turning the sledge on its side . A little fire of dried spruce and pine branches speedily melted snow in the kettle , and that as speedily boiled tea . Caribou steak , thawed , then cooked over the blaze , completed the meal .