you calling, Bob--days and days and days I heard
you, and I answered. But my voice was too weak, and you couldn't hear.

"We've been in hell, Bob! In hell! The devils chased us, Bob--chased
us for months and months and months. They looked like wolves,
Bob--hungry, ugly wolves. I shot one! Yes, shot it! We ate it, and it
was good! Ate the devil, Bob! and Ed! and Dick! Are you angels from
heaven, or really you?"

"A bit o' tea's what he needs first thing," suggested Ed, in a shaky
voice, as Shad paused in his ramblings. "Dick, you cut some wood, now,
an' I'll be fillin' th' kettle with ice an' get un over. Bob better be
stayin' right here."

"Bob!" Shad continued, as Dick and Ed passed out of the lodge. "Is it
really you, Bob?"

His voice was now more rational, though very weak.

"Yes, Shad, 'tis me."

"How is Manikawan, Bob? Look after her, won't you? I'm all right now.
I've tried to keep her out of the deep sleeps she falls into. I've
been afraid she'd die. But I was very tired, and I think I must have
been very sound asleep myself--and slept for hours. Leave me, Bob, and
wake her up. I'm all right."

Bob obediently passed over to Manikawan, leaving Shad sitting and
anxiously watching him.

It seemed for a time that he was not to succeed in rousing Manikawan
from the coma-like sleep into which she had passed. But when Dick
placed wood upon the fire, and the lodge began to warm, she displayed
symptoms of waking; and Bob lifted her head to his shoulder, chafed
her temples, and spoke her name over and over again. At last she
opened her eyes, and with almost instant recognition smiled:

"White Brother of the Snow--Manikawan is glad you have come. It
has--been--long--but Manikawan knew--White Brother of the Snow--would
come at last--she did not--leave his friend."

Then she paused, exhausted, but presently continued:

"Manikawan told--White Brother of the Snow--she would--stay until he
came--for his friend."

"Manikawan has done well. She has been very brave. She is a Ne-ne-not
(Nascaupee), and brave." Bob could trust himself to say no more, for
his voice was thick.

Manikawan's eyes lighted at these words of praise, and, never taking
them from Bob's face, she lay silent upon his shoulder until the food
was ready.

Ed Matheson gave some tea and a small portion of broiled ptarmigan and
bread to Shad, while Bob held the cup for Manikawan, then fed her some
morsels of the meat as one would have fed a child. I