MY FROZEN NOSE 



Johannes was a man of resource. I used to enjoy 

 watching him find water. He seemed to know 

 exactly where every stream ought to be, for he never 

 hesitated. He took a snow knife, and plunged it 

 into the snow up to the hilt. Then he drew it out 

 swiftly, and looked at the blade. It was wet ! He 

 had found water, and soon had dug a hole and was 

 ladling out mugfuls for everybody's benefit. He 

 did not always strike water at the first plunge, but 

 never seemed to need more than two or three. 



I had an example of his resourcefulness when my 

 nose froze. It was a cold, dull day, and we were 

 running against the wind. Suddenly Johannes 

 stooped and gathered a handful of snow. He plumped 

 down beside me on the sledge, seized me round the 

 neck, and rubbed my nose vigorously with his snow- 

 ball. I remember that I spluttered considerably, and 

 Julius looked round with a grin. Johannes's face 

 was all solicitude. " Your nose is frozen," he said, 

 " your nose is frozen ; " and he rubbed and rubbed 

 until he was satisfied that the life had come back into 

 it and so Johannes saved my nose. 



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