across the bed, and covered
him. Then he grimly looked at the light in the next cabin. "Why doesna
she go to bed?" he said. He summoned courage, and crossing the space
between the two buildings, he tapped on the window. "It's me, Mary," he
called. "The skins are only half done, and Jimmy is going to help me
finish. He will come over in the morning. Ye go to bed. Ye needna be
afraid. We will hear ye if ye even snore." There was no answer, but by
a movement in the cabin Dannie knew that Mary was still dressed and
waiting. He started back, but for an instant, heedless of the scurrying
snow and biting cold, he faced the sky.

"I wonder if ye have na found a glib tongue and light feet the least
part o' matrimony," he said. "Why in God's name couldna ye have married
me? I'd like to know why."

As he closed the door, the cold air roused Jimmy.

"Dannie," he said, "donsh forget the milk pail. All 'niciate good now."

Chapter III

THE FIFTY COONS OF THE CANOPER

Near noon of the next day, Jimmy opened his eyes and stretched himself
on Dannie's bed. It did not occur to him that he was sprawled across it
in such a fashion that if Dannie had any sleep that night, he had taken
it on chairs before the fireplace. At first Jimmy decided that he had a
head on him, and would turn over and go back where he came from. Then
he thought of the coon hunt, and sitting on the edge of the bed he
laughed, as he looked about for his boots.

"I am glad ye are feeling so fine," said Dannie at the door, in a
relieved voice. "I had a notion that ye wad be crosser than a badger
when ye came to."

Jimmy laughed on.

"What's the fun?" inquired Dannie.

Jimmy thought hard a minute. Here was one instance where the truth
would serve better than any invention, so he virtuously told Dannie all
about it. Dannie thought of the lonely little woman next door, and
rebelled.

"But, Jimmy!" he cried, "ye canna be gone all nicht again. It's too
lonely fra Mary, and there's always a chance I might sleep sound and
wadna hear if she should be sick or need ye."

"Then she can just yell louder, or come after you, or get well, for I
am going, see? He was a thrid peddler in a dinky little pleated coat,
Dannie. He laid up against the counter with his feet crossed at a
dancing-girl angle. But I will say for him that he was running at the
mouth with the finest flow of language I iver heard. I learned a lot of
it, and Cap knows the stuff, and I'm goin' to hav