nd deep in her soul she knew
that the gleanings in his heart left by that white woman were hers.
Maybe they were only gleanings, but she asked no more. She was content.
She knew no distinction between mistress and wife. The natural laws were
sufficient. He was the joy of her savage heart, and she was the only
woman in his life. It was as she would have it.

He came up to her and stood gazing down at the long, thin hands
outspread to the warmth. Then with an unaccustomed display of feeling he
thrust one arm through hers, and his strong hand clasped itself over
both of hers.

"Say, An-ina, I'm going a hell of a long trail. It's so long we just
can't figure the end. It's a winter trail northward, and I don't need to
tell you a thing of what that means. I'd say anyone but you and Marcel
would guess I'm crazy. Well, I'm not. But it's a mighty desperate chance
we're taking. If we win through, and get what we're chasing, it means
the end of this country for all of us. Maybe you'll be glad. I don't
know. If we fail--well, I can't just figure on failure. I never have and
I don't reckon to start that way now. But I got to hand you 'good-bye'
this time. It's not that way with us usually. But this time I sort of
feel I want to. You're just a great woman, and you've been mostly the
whole meaning of things to me since--since--Anyway, I've done the best
I know to hand you all the happiness lying around in a territory there's
nothing much to in that way. But all that's nothing to what you've been
to me. Well, my dear, I don't guess it's our way talking these things,
but I got that inside me makes me want to say a whole heap about how I
feel and what I think. Guess I'm not going to try though. It wouldn't
amount to anything if I talked a day through. I wouldn't have said half
I needed to. You and Marcel are all I've got, and you two dear folk'll
be the last thought I have in life. You'll help him, my dear, won't
you? You're just Marcel's mother, and if I don't get back you'll need to
be his father, too. Good-bye."

An-ina made no reply. She had listened to him with a heart that was
overflowing. As he said "good-bye" she turned her head, and the
speechlessness of their farewell was deep with simple human passion.

A moment later they had moved apart. It was Steve's initiative.

"Now? You go--now?"

An-ina's voice was heroic in its steadiness. There was not a sign of
tears in her shining eyes. She followed him to the door as though