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about to enter--a man, the man on the hill; a woman, the woman in the
snow; and the little girl whom he was carrying in his arms.
He was exhausted by fatigue and hunger, yet advanced more resolutely
than ever, with less strength and an added burden. He was now almost
naked. The few rags which remained to him, hardened by the frost, were
sharp as glass, and cut his skin. He became colder, but the infant was
warmer. That which he lost was not thrown away, but was gained by her.
He found out that the poor infant enjoyed the comfort which was to her
the renewal of life. He continued to advance.
From time to time, still holding her securely, he bent down, and taking
a handful of snow he rubbed his feet with it, to prevent their being
frost-bitten. At other times, his throat feeling as if it were on fire,
he put a little snow in his mouth and sucked it; this for a moment
assuaged his thirst, but changed it into fever--a relief which was an
aggravation.
The storm had become shapeless from its violence. Deluges of snow are
possible. This was one. The paroxysm scourged the shore at the same time
that it uptore the depths of ocean. This was, perhaps, the moment when
the distracted hooker was going to pieces in the battle of the breakers.
He travelled under this north wind, still towards the east, over wide
surfaces of snow. He knew not how the hours had passed. For a long time
he had ceased to see the smoke. Such indications are soon effaced in the
night; besides, it was past the hour when fires are put out. Or he had,
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