nearly noon
They were following the snow-covered bed of a fair-sized river which Connie hoped would prove to be the head-waters of the Gravel , which empties into the Mackenzie some forty-five miles above Fort Norman . They had left the highest mountains behind , and patches of timber appeared at frequent intervals along the banks of the stream . As the storm thickened they camped , setting up their tent in the shelter of a thicket , and in the morning they pushed on despite the storm . It was nearly noon when Connie called to ` Merican Joe , and when the Indian made his way back , the boy pointed to Leloo . The great wolf-dog had halted in the traces and stood with nose up sniffing the air , while the huge ruff seemed to swell to twice its size , and the hair along its spine bristled menacingly . They had stopped opposite a patch of timber taller than any they had passed , the tops of the trees being visible between the gusts of whirling snow . `` Moose or a bear in there , '' ventured Connie .