When the blood's running hot there's things on the trail
get right into it. Maybe it's because of the things they set into a
man when he first stubbed his toes kicking against this old earth; when
they told him he'd need to git busy fixing himself a stone club a size
bigger than the other feller's; and that if he didn't use it quicker,
and harder, he'd likely get his head dinged so his brain box wouldn't
work right and he wouldn't be able to rec'nize the coyotes when they
came along to pick his bones clean. You can't explain a thing of the
craziness in men's blood when they come up with the Nature they belong
to. It's the thing that sets lambs skipping foolish on legs that don't
ever look like getting sense. It's the same sets a kiddie dancing
along a sidewalk coming out of the schoolhouse, and falling into dumps
and getting its bow-tie mussed. It's the same sets a boy actin'
foolish when a gal's sorrel top turns his way, even when she's all legs
and sass. It's the same sets folks crazy to risk their lives on
hilltops that a chamois 'ud hate to inspect. Guess it's a sort o'
thanks offerin' to Providence it didn't see fit setting us crawling
around without feet or hands, same as slugs and things that worry
folks' cabbige patches. I allow I can't figger it else."

"You needn't to," Jessie declared, with a happy laugh. "Guess I know
it all--now." Then her eyes sobered. "But I--I wish you'd cut Bell
River right out."

"Just don't you worry a thing, little Jessie," Kars said, with prompt
earnestness. He had no wish to distress her. "Bell River can't hand
me anything I don't know. Anyway I'd need to thank it if it could.
And when I get back maybe you won't need to lie awake o' nights
guessing a coyote's howl is the whoop of a neche yearning for your
scalp. Hello!"

Their wanderings had brought them to a break in the willows where the
broad flow of the river came into full view, and the overhang of
glacial ice thrust out on the top of the precipitous bank beyond. But
it was none of this that had elicited the man's ejaculation, or had
caused his abrupt halt, and sobered the smile in his keen eyes.

It was a pair of canoes moored close in to the bank. Two powerful
canoes, which were larger and better built than those of trading
Indians. Then there were two neches squatting on the bank crouching
over a small fire smoking their red clay pipes in silent contemplation.

Jessie recognized the neches at a glan