answer came in a hoarse whisper.

"Her?"

"Yes, I spoke to her, I guess."

"Spoke to her?"

And the whites of the elder man's eyes had become bloodshot as he stood
up from his crouching attitude over the fire.

His stolid face was unmoved, only his eyes gave expression to that which
passed behind them. There was a dangerous look in their sunken depths
which the depressed brows accentuated. He looked into his brother's
face, and, for awhile, the supper was forgotten.

"Yes, spoke to her," said Nick, emphatically. "She ain't gone from us.
She ain't left this valley. She's scairt o' the Moosefoots. That
all-fired 'Hood.' She said as they were riled that she'd stopped in the
white man's lodge. Said they'd made med'cine an' found out where she'd
gone. Say, that 'Hood' is the very devil, I'm thinkin'. She's scairt to
death o' him."

But though Ralph listened to his brother's words he seemed to pay little
heed. The blow had fallen on him with stunning force. Nick had seen
Aim-sa; he had been with her that day, perhaps all day. And at the
thought he broke out in a sweat. Something seemed to rise up in his
throat and choke him.

"You look that glad. Maybe you've had a good time."

Ralph's words came as though he were thinking aloud.

The devil stirred in Nick's heart.

"Glad, man? Glad? Ay, I am that, surely. She said as she'd been on the
watch fer me ever since the storm quit. She said as she wanted to hunt
wi' me."

"You?"

"An' why not? I ain't lyin', I guess. I 'lows she ain't like to say they
things fer passin' time. She was allus easy an' free wi' me. Mebbe
you're kind o' quiet. Wimmin mostly likes them as ken talk."

Ralph's eyes darkened. His set face became more rigid. Then suddenly a
harsh laugh broke from his unmoving lips.

"Guess you're crazed, Nick. That woman's foolin' ye."

Then he swung about as the sound of a violent struggle came from among
the dogs. It was the saving interruption. Another moment and the
brooding hate of the two men would have broken loose. Nick turned, too.
And he was just in time; for one of the huskies was down and the rest of
the train were upon him, bent on tearing out the savage life. Nick
clubbed them right and left, nor did he desist till the torn beast was
upon his feet again, ready to face his antagonists with undiminished
courage. The husky knows no other termination to a quarrel than the
fight to the death.

It took Nick some minutes to restore peace among hi