Chapter 1 Summary

A group of 12 nevados are climbing up the mountain. It is April, and an unusual heavy snow has fallen late in the spring. The snowline is 40 feet lower than it usually is this time of year, and the nevados have to dig out the snow-house and treading platform where the man make snow blocks to sell in the town in the summer. The men begin dancing on the treading floor, packing down the snow until it is ready to cut into blocks. The work warms them, and they sing loudly as they dance on the snow.

The nevados soon see a young man dressed like a shepherd coming down the mountain. The shepherd tells them that something is stealing their sheep, and the shepherds need help. The shepherds don't know what it is, although they are sure it is not a wolf.

The...