e had carried her
like a child in his strong arms. She understood something of what that
meant, and she had pleaded with him to leave her and save himself. But
he had laughed at her, saying that she was not nearly as heavy as his
pack and musket which he had thrown aside. But he could not deceive
her, for she knew by his hard breathing, and the way he at times
staggered from side to side how great was the strain upon his almost
giant strength. She thought of all this as she lay there. But the bed
was comfortable, the roar of the wind among the trees most lulling, and
ere long she was fast asleep.

And while the two tired ones slept Old Dennis kept faithful watch. He
sat before the fire smoking his black stub of a pipe, and listening
intently for the return of the mast-cutters. He had no doubt about the
defeat of the slashers, and a smile overspread his furrowed face as he
thought of the surprise in store for them.

During the night the storm beat itself out, the wind fell, and a great
peace rested upon the snow-enshrouded forest. As the dawn of a new day
stole gently over the land the mast-cutters returned, bringing with
them the rebel prisoners. The noise of their arrival awoke Dane, who
sprang from his bunk greatly refreshed after his sound sleep. Then
from the leader of the mast-cutters he learned the story of the
round-up of the slashers. They were taken in a narrow valley, and
after several had fallen, the rest surrendered.

"They were fools to try to shoot." the man said. "But if they had kept
it up any longer, we wouldn't have left one alive. It was mighty cold
waiting there in that valley hour after hour for the devils to arrive,
and my men were in no mood for any nonsense. But I guess this night's
work'll settle the rebels, all right."

"What are you going to do with them?" Dane asked.

"Put them to work, of course," the leader replied, as he sat down to
the breakfast Old Dennis had prepared, and helped himself to a piece of
meat.

"Do they know how to work?"

"If they don't they'll learn before I'm through with them."

"Where are they now?"

"Oh, scattered around among the cabins getting something to eat.
They're the most dejected gang I ever saw."

Jean heard all this, for she was wide awake, lying quietly in the bunk.
She preferred to remain there for a while, as she felt embarrassed with
so many men in the room. But when they had eaten their breakfast and
had gone outside, she go