The men were traumatized by the wolves. In this desperation what attempts they took for their own and their dogs safety?

The men build fires, tie up the dogs, club the she-wolf (a temporary fix), and eventually dump their load (the coffin). Later, they use guns and all their ammunition and Bill is killed. Henry ends up alone with two dogs and no way to protect himsleld. Exhausted, he goes to sleep and wakes up surrounded by the pack. Without thinking he throws himself into the fire, scooping and throwing coal and embers in all directions. He extends the fire in a circle around his body and continues to ward off his attackers until dawn.

Unable to overcome the effects of numerous sleepless nights, he dozes off, resigned to a near certain death. The end of Part I is abrupt as Henry is awakened, not to the sound of wolves, but rather the sound of human voices asking "Where is Lord Alfred?" As the men and their dog sleds surround him, he falls to sleep and begins to snore.