midday
He cut their traces and went forward , dragging the sled himself . They followed him a few paces behind , slinking through the darkness with their heads down and their tails between their legs . They reminded him of the timber-wolf on the Forbidden River ; there were times when , catching a partial glimpse of them , he could have sworn that they had been joined by a third . By midday the wind died down , the atmosphere began to clear and the snow to settle . Returning to the river he sought in vain for Spurling 's tracks ; either he had passed him in the blackness or they had been obliterated . He would know the truth in the next six hours for , if he were still ahead , he would come to his abandoned camp . Towards sunset he halted and lit a fire ; he intended to travel through the night and was in need of rest .