bout Collins and Dunn!"

"They got me out," said I, and explained about them. But there was no
particular surprise on Paulette's face. She never made an earthly
comment, either, when I told her they'd always known all about her and
Hutton, except, "I never thought they were dead; I told you that. I'd an
idea, too, that Charliet didn't think so either."

I had one arm round her by that time, feeding her with my other hand
like a child, with bits of bread soaked in black coffee. If I had any
thoughts they were only fear that she might move from me as soon as she
really came to herself. But Charliet's name brought me back from what
was next door to heaven. "Charliet," said I blankly; "where in the
world is he? D'ye mean he hadn't told you about Collins and Dunn? Why,
he was to bring you to them--here--hours ago!"

"Charliet was? But----" Suddenly, beyond belief, my dream girl turned
and clung to me. God knows I knelt like a statue. I was afraid to stir.
It was Dudley she loved: I was only a man who was trusted and a friend.
"Oh, Nicky, you don't know," she cried, "you don't know! You and I ran
straight _into_ some of Dick Hutton's men when we raced out of the
shack. And you threw me--just picked me up like a puppy and threw
me--out of their way, into the deep snow. I heard them get you, but I
was half smothered; I couldn't either see or speak. But I heard Dick
shout from somewhere to 'chuck Stretton into Thompson's old stope!' I
thought it meant they'd killed you; that it was another man I'd let--be
murdered!"

She caught her breath as if something stabbed her, and I know it stabbed
me to think I was just "another man" to her. But I knelt steady. I had
been a fool to think it was I she cared for, personally, and whether she
did or not she needed my arm. "Well?" I asked. "Next?"

"I was scrambling out of the snow," I felt her shiver against me, "only
before I could stand up Charliet raced up from somewhere and shoved me
straight down in the drift again. He said Dick was looking for me, and
to lie still, while he got him away; then to race for the shack and hide
just outside the front door, till he came for me--but before he could
finish Dick ran down on the two of us, with a lantern. He'd have fallen
over me, if Charliet hadn't stopped him by yelling that I'd run for the
bush. I think he grabbed the lantern--but anyhow, they both tore off. I
got to the shack, but----Oh, Nicky, I couldn't wait there. I----"

"Well?" It