she knew, how she
had been driven to desperation by circumstances which crushed her; how
she had gone sleepless, living on her nerves. He had held her weak and
worthless and without spirit or character. And now he could only see her
standing up before him, white but valiant, defying him, unafraid,
welcoming death rather than yield to him. He would have given ten years
off the span of his life to have the deed of one mad moment wiped clean.

It was a long time before consecutive thought returned to him. And it
brought him only increased bitterness. Gloria had said that she would
die here rather than have him lead her to safety. Well, he did not blame
her for that. Rather, he told himself grimly, he honoured her for it.
And yet, now more than ever, his and his alone was the responsibility of
seeing that she went clear of this wretched existence into which he had
stubbornly led her. He could not take her away against her will; he
could not pick her up in his arms and carry her over a two or three
days' journey! Nor could he entrust her to the only other human beings
who were near enough for her to go to. What could he do? She would
perish without help; hence he must help her. But how?

There was but one possible answer, and in due course of time he came to
see it clearly. He must leave her, get back the shortest, quickest way
to civilization, and send other men, trustworthy men, in for her. It
could be done even though the storm continued. He could get a dog-team,
Alaskan huskies, to be had in Truckee; he could load sledges with
provisions; he could put the right man in charge and then lead the way.
That would mean several days alone for Gloria; but what else was there?

And even that solution depended upon the consideration which by now was
the elemental, all-essential thing; first he must find some sort of
provisions with which to eke out their small supply. There was not
enough in camp to sustain him while he battled with the storm for a way
out and to sustain strength in her while she waited. He must first
replenish the larder; otherwise they died. He must get fish in plenty or
a bear or a deer. He looked at the grey, ominous sky, at the piling
snow, and the chill of the wilderness struck to his heart. But at last
his eyes grew hard again with determination.

In a distressed mental condition in which the only solid ground beneath
him was his determination to do to the uttermost that lay within him for
Gloria, he br