elly swellin' too fast."

"Ed," said Shad, "after what I've been through, I think there's
nothing would alarm me much. It doesn't disturb me in the least to
have my legs swell. I'm rather proud of them. They contrast
beautifully with the rest of me, and give me a certain sense of
stability that otherwise I should not have, for they're the only part
of me that looks in the least natural. Do you hear my bones rattle
when I move? I have a presentment that, unless I'm pretty careful, my
skeleton will fall apart before I get flesh enough to hold it
together."

"Now that's th' way I likes t' see folk!" exclaimed Ed. "Not growlin'
like a bear because they looks summat like a dead man, an' because
they has a bit o' ache in their insides every time they eats. You'm do
look as though you'm just rize from th' grave. But you'm a wonderful
live corpse yet, Shad. A man may's well be happy even if he do feel
like all creation turned inside out, 'specially when he knows he ain't
goin' t' keep feelin' that way. A man is just as happy as he's
thinkin' he is, an' no happier, an' as miserable as he's thinkin' he
is an' no miserabler. I finds bein' happy an' content wi' things is
just a matter o' th' way o' lookin' at un."

"Yes, Ed, I think you're right," agreed Shad. "I'm finding no fault.
I'm thankful to be alive and in the beautiful world, and I'm very much
contented with my lot. I would be very happy, too, but for the thought
of that poor little Indian girl."

The earth, frozen to adamantine hardness, precluded the possibility of
digging a grave during the winter season. Therefore, after the manner
of her people, a platform of poles, high raised above the snow, was
built among the spruce trees to receive Manikawan's body.

It was late in the afternoon when the platform was completed and the
four weatherbeaten men again entered the silent lodge, where they were
to conduct a simple, primitive funeral service, and give Manikawan the
rites of Christian burial before raising her body to the platform.

Bob, who never was separated from the little Testament his mother had
given him years before, drew the book from his pocket when they had
seated themselves in the lodge, and opening to John xv, passed it to
Shad, who, accepting it, read the chapter aloud in a low but clear
voice, while the others reverently listened.

[Transcriber's note: John XV:12-13--"This is my commandment: love one
another as I love you. No one has greater love th