as
wafted back to England on the wings of dreams.

It was broad daylight and warmer when he awakened. Outside the fire
crackled noisily, and the great pines rose spires of sombre green
against a field of white. Alton was also awake, and smiled at him,
while Tom, who stood behind him, made a sign.

"It has got to be done right now before the frost comes back, but we're
not going to hurt you, Harry," he said. "You'll walk down to the river
and fill that kettle up, Charley."

Seaforth wondered a little, because the snow lay a foot deep in the
bush and he could have filled the kettle beside the fire, but he
floundered down to the river and felt a little more prepared to face
what must be done when he returned. When he did so he found that Tom
had rolled back Alton's jean trousers to the knee, and saw a red smear
that broadened across the brawny limb. It pulsed over the swell of the
corded muscles that showed through the clear, smooth skin, and then
Seaforth shivered and turned his eyes away as they fell upon the
welling depression with the discoloured edges. Alton noticed the
movement, and glanced at him with a twinkle in his eyes. "It isn't
pretty, but I don't think Tom will keep us long," he said.

Seaforth felt the blood surge into his face, for it seemed most
unfitting that the wounded man should sympathize with him, but finding
nothing apposite to say he kept silent, and Okanagan shook his head at
them.

"Get hold of his hands, and keep hold. The quieter you are, Harry, the
quicker I'll be," he said.

Alton smiled a little. "I don't think it's necessary," he said.
"Still, if it will please you, Tom."

Seaforth clutched the fingers held out to him, and felt suddenly
chilly. He would have touched his lips with his tongue, for the blood
seemed to have gone out of them, but that he felt Alton's eyes were
upon him. Accordingly he turned his face, which he fancied was growing
a trifle colourless, aside, and for a moment or two watched Okanagan,
who was kneeling with one hand pressed upon the smeared whiteness of
the uncovered limb. Seaforth could hear his own heart beating and the
thud of snow shaken off a swinging branch upon the tent, and see the
light the whiteness outside flung in glint upon the slender knife. He
saw it move a little, and sternly repressed a shiver when the lean,
hard fingers closed suddenly upon his own. A tremor ran through them,
and then the pressure increased, until Seaforth wa