ing more than two hours when he gave voice to a sudden command
that stopped the pack, and at a second command--a staccato of shrill
Eskimo accompanied by the lash of his whip--the panting wolves sank
upon their bellies in the snow.

Philip jumped from the sledge, and Bram went immediately to the gun. He
did not touch it, but dropped on his knees and examined it closely.
Then he rose to his feet and looked at Philip, and there was no sign of
madness in his heavy face as he said,

"You no touch ze gun, m'sieu. Why you no shoot when I am there--at head
of pack?"

The calmness and directness with which Bram put the question after his
long and unaccountable silence surprised Philip.

"For the same reason you didn't kill me when I was asleep, I guess," he
said. Suddenly he reached out and caught Bram's arm. "Why the devil
don't you come across!" he demanded. "Why don't you talk? I'm not after
you--now. The Police think you are dead, and I don't believe I'd tip
them off even if I had a chance. Why not be human? Where are we going?
And what in thunder--"

He did not finish. To his amazement Bram flung back his head, opened
his great mouth, and laughed. It was not a taunting laugh. There was no
humor in it. The thing seemed beyond the control of even Bram himself,
and Philip stood like one paralyzed as his companion turned quickly to
the sledge and returned in a moment with the gun. Under Philip's eyes
he opened the breech. The chamber was empty. Bram had placed in his way
a temptation--to test him!

There was saneness in that stratagem--and yet as Philip looked at the
man now his last doubt was gone. Bram Johnson was hovering on the
borderland of madness.

Replacing the gun on the sledge, Bram began hacking off chunks of the
caribou flesh with a big knife. Evidently he had decided that it was
time for himself and his pack to breakfast. To each of the wolves he
gave a portion, after which he seated himself on the sledge and began
devouring a slice of the raw meat. He had left the blade of his knife
buried in the carcass--an invitation for Philip to help himself. Philip
seated himself near Bram and opened his pack. Purposely he began
placing his food between them, so that the other might help himself if
he so desired. Bram's jaws ceased their crunching. For a moment Philip
did not look up. When he did he was startled. Bram's eyes were blazing
with a red fire. He was staring at the cooked food. Never had Philip
seen such