swift. And he
had no desire to try to find his way in that trackless country in the
darkness.

"I'll leave before dawn--as soon as it gets gray," he told Virginia as
he bade her good night. "I'll come back the next day, with a backload
of supplies. And with the little we have left, we will have enough to
go on. We can start for Bradleyburg the day after that."

Virginia took no pleasure in bidding him good-by. She had already
learned that this winter forest was a bleak and fearful place when her
woodsman was away. Curiously, she could find little consolation in the
thought that she and Harold could have a full day together, alone. And
before the night was half over, it seemed to her, she heard his stealing
feet on the cabin floor outside her curtain.

He seemed to be moving quietly, almost stealthily. She heard the stove
door open, and the subdued crack of a match scratched gently. A warm
glow flooded her being when she understood.

For all the arduous day's toil that waited him, Bill hadn't forgotten to
build her fire. The cabin would still be warm for her to dress. She
didn't know that her eyes were shining in the gloom. She drew aside the
curtain.

"I'm awake, Bill. I want to tell you good-by again," she said.

"I don't see what makes me so clumsy," Bill returned impatiently. "I
thought I could get this fire going without waking you up. But I'm glad
enough to have another good-by."

"And you'll be--awfully careful?" Her voice did not hold quite
steadily. "So many--many things can happen in those awful
woods--when you are alone. I never realized before how they're always
waiting, always holding a sword over your head, ready to cut you down.
I'm afraid to have you go----"

He laughed gently, but the deathless delight he felt at her words
rippled through the laugh like flowing water. "There's nothing to be
afraid of, Virginia. You'll see me back to-morrow night. I've wandered
these woods by myself a thousand times----"

"And the thousandth and first time you might fall into their trap! But
why can't we take some of that grizzly meat----"

"Virginia, you'd break your pretty teeth on it. Of course we could in a
pinch--but this is no march, to-day. Good-by."

"Good-by." Her voice sank almost to a whisper, and her tones were sober
and earnest. "I'll pray for you, Bill--the kind of prayers you told
me about--entreating prayer to a God that can hear--and understand--and
help. A real G