noon
The storm was diminishing , but still they could see only a few yards distant from the tractor . `` Guess I 'll warm up chopping some wood , '' said Joe , as he took an axe and left the others still dressing . In half an hour he had brought in enough to cook the breakfast and last half the day , and while Slim acted as cook , Jerry started out to fell more saplings . Before noon the clouds broke , the sun came out , and its reflection from the pure white glistening snow was almost blinding . `` A snowball fight , '' suggested Jerry , and the others took up the idea as a boon to dispel the monotony of their isolation . With the lieutenant `` umpiring '' from the little wireless room of the tractor , Joe and Frank `` stood '' Jerry and Slim , and from a distance of a hundred feet apart the battle began . One of Frank 's well-aimed missiles caught Slim squarely in the mouth , just as he was calling out some challenging remark , and from the window of his post Lieutenant Mackinson laughingly shouted : `` Strike one ! ''