cial dignity that had been conferred. This woman,
Bunker Hill, had been knighted by their queen. She had been picked out,
and set apart and over and above all the other fallen women of the
Forks.

Even Limber Tim, who stood there on one leg, with his back screwed tight
up against the palings, began to like her overmuch, and to wonder why
she also would not make some honest man an honest wife. In fact, many
men that night recalled many noble acts on the part of this poor woman,
and they almost began to feel ashamed that they had sometimes laughed at
her plainness, and promised in their hearts to never do so again.

CHAPTER XVII.

CAPTAIN TOMMY.

There was a gray streak of dawn just breaking through the black
tree-tops that tossed above the high, far, deep snow, on the mountain
that lifted to the east, as the door opened, and Bunker Hill came forth
alone. There were ugly clouds rolling overhead, mixing, marching, and
counter-marching, as if preparing for a great battle of the elements. On
the west wall of the mountain a wolf howled dolefully to his mate on the
opposite crest of the canon. The water tumbled and thundered through the
gorge below, and sent up echoes and sounds that were sad and lonesome as
the march to the home of the dead.

She came out into the gray day, slowly and thoughtfully, her head was
down, and when Limber Tim helped her over the fence she was shy and
modest, as if she herself had been the Widow.

He tried to ask about the Widow, but that awful respect for the other
sex that seems born with the American of the Far West, kept him silent;
and as Bunker Hill led on rapidly towards town and did not say one word
about the sufferer, he followed, as ignorant as any man in camp.

On the way the woman slipped on the wet and icy trail and fell, for she
was in terrible haste and terribly excited. Perhaps she cut her arm or
hand on the sharp stone as she fell, for as she hastily arose and again
hurried on, she kept rubbing and holding her right arm with her left.

She led straight to the Howling Wilderness, lifted the latch and
entered. She looked all around, but did not speak. She was in a great
hurry, and was evidently looking for some one she wished to find at
once. No man spoke to her now. The few found there at this hour were the
wildest and most reckless in the camp, but they were respectful, as if
in the presence of a lady born and bred a lady.

There was something beautiful in this sil