e from her blankets.
Her expression had changed, and while the men went to their humble
couches she moved about with feverish haste, attentive to the least
sound, but always hurried, and with a look of deep anxiety in her alert
eyes.

No word was spoken as the men rolled into their blankets. The thick wall
shut out all sound from within the hut. The night was intensely still
and silent. Not even was there a single wolf-howl to awaken the echoes
of the towering hills. It was as though all nature was at rest.

Nick was soon asleep. Not even the agitation of mind caused by a first
love could keep him long awake when the hour for sleep came around. With
Ralph it was different. His nature was intenser. His disposition was
capable of greater disturbance than was that of the more impetuous Nick.
He remained awake; awake and alert. He smoked in the darkness more from
habit than enjoyment. Although he could see nothing his eyes constantly
wandered in the direction of the man beside him, and he listened for the
heavy breathing which should tell him of the slumber which would endure
till the first streak of dawn shot athwart the sky. Soon it came; and
Nick snored heavily.

Then, without sound, Ralph sat up in his blankets. He bent his head
towards the sleeper, and, satisfied, rose softly to his feet. Opening
the door he looked out. All was profoundly quiet and black. Not a star
shone in the sky, nor was there a sign of the dancing northern lights.
And while he stood he heard for the first time that night the cry of
some distant forest creature; but the timber-wolves kept silent in the
depths below the hut. He drew the door to behind him and moved out into
the night.

Cold as it was he was consumed by a perfect fever of agitation. His
thoughts were in a state of chaos, but the one dominant note which rang
out with clarion-like distinctness was that which drew him towards
Aim-sa's door. And thither he stole softly, silently, with the tiptoeing
of a thief, and with the nervous quakings of a wrong-doer. His face was
wrought with fear, with hope, with the eagerness of expectancy.

He passed from the deeper shadows in which the lean-to was bathed, and
stood at the angle of the house. He paused, and a flurrying of the snow
at his feet warned him that he had stepped close to the burrow of one of
Nick's huskies. He moved quickly aside, and the movement brought him
beyond the angle. Then he stood stock-still, held motionless as he saw