"Where did you come from in this storm?" he asked, hardly believing
his eyes that men could travel in that drift and gale.
"We comes from Cape Norman, sir, to fetch you," answered one of the
men.
"Fetch me!" exclaimed the Doctor. "Do you believe dogs can travel
against this gale?"
"No, sir, they never could stem it, not 'till the wind shifts,
whatever," said the man. "Us comes with un drivin' from behind. The
gale blows us here."
That was literally true. Ten miles of their journey had been over
partially protected land, but for twenty miles it lay over
unobstructed sea ice where the gale blew with all its force. Only the
deep snow prevented them being carried at a pace that would have
wrecked their sledge, in which case they would certainly have
perished.
"When did you leave Cape Norman?" asked the Doctor.
"Eight o'clock last evenin', sir," said the man.
All night these brave men, with no thought of reward, had been
enduring that terrible storm to bring assistance to a neighbor! After
the manner of the Newfoundlanders they had already fed and cared for
the comfort of their wearied dogs, before giving thought to
themselves, staggering with fatigue as they were.
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