ollars to throw
away. And the end of it would be that the girl would leave and the man
would be dead and all the dreams of marriage first and of a revenge
following had turned into this thing, which was a nightmare.

She reached her home half frozen, in spite of the robes, and could not
eat her food. Her mother had a few mild words to say about long
excursions out in the back country, in this sort of weather. Then the
girl left the table suddenly, and slammed the door of her room shut,
in a towering rage. A little later, after she had lain down, came
tears, for it seemed to her at this time that she had never truly
loved Ennis until she heard that he was dying, and now he was lost to
her forever.

CHAPTER XII

Help Comes

Stefan had watched the departure of those people grimly, until he felt
sure that they would not return. Madge had stood near him. In her
desolation it was splendid to have him there with her, to be no longer
obliged to stare at the sick man's face in lonely terror, to feel that
if there was any help needed he would be at hand, with all his immense
strength and courage.

"I tank dey don't mean much badness," the man explained to her. "Mebbe
ye knows peoples in dis countree ain't much to do in dis vintertime
and dey gets fonny iteas about foolin' araount. Dey goes home all
qviet now, you bet, and don't talk to nobotty vhat tam fools dey bin,
eh!"

They both entered the shack again and the big fellow went up to the
bunk upon which lay his friend. For a very long time he looked at him,
finally touching a hand with infinite care and gentleness. After this
he turned to Madge a face expressive of deepest pain.

"Leetle leddy," he said, gently, "vos it true as you shot him?
Papineau he telt me so. A accident, he said it vos."

The girl looked at him imploringly, with elbows bent but hands
stretched towards him, as if she were suing for forgiveness. The man
was seated on a stool, waiting for her answer.

"Yes, it was an accident--a terrible accident," sobbed Madge, whose
strength and courage seemed to leave her suddenly. "You--you believe
me, don't you?"

It is hard to say whether it was weakness or the excess of her emotion
that forced her down to her knees. She grasped one of the huge hands
the man had extended towards her. He laid the other upon her bent
back, very softly.

"In course I do, you poor leetle leddy. Yes, I sure beliefe you. Dere
vosn't anybotty vould hurt Hugo, unless de