and a fair supply of provisions, so he and his daughter
will be quite comfortable."

Pete ran his fingers through his hair in an abstracted manner. "I'd
take'm, laddie, an' be glad of the job, but I ain't got no team. An'
besides, is the "Colonel" able to stand the jant?"

"In two weeks I think it might be tried. You see, Miss Radhurst is a
trained nurse, and she can look after his arm very well. As for a
team, you need not worry about that, for I'll send an Indian back with
my own dogs. I know it will mean a risk to move the patient so far,
but if he stays here I am afraid he will die."

Pete stretched out his rough hand toward the missionary. "Put it thar,
laddie," he said, in a voice that trembled with emotion, "ye're all
gold."

Thus in the silence of the little cabin these two hardy frontiersmen
clasped hands. Outside, the world lay cold and dismal, but in their
honest hearts reigned a great peace--"the peace of God which passeth
understanding."

CHAPTER XI

THE SHOT IN THE NIGHT

Pleasant though it was at Siwash Creek, Keith was anxious to return to
Klassan as soon as possible. He was uneasy about the state of his
dusky flock, and especially Yukon Jennie. Amos he knew could be
trusted to do all in his power to keep the girl from her terrible
design. But she was shrewd and hard to manage, so it was uncertain to
tell what she would do. The desire to return, however, was tinged with
apprehension. He knew that Pritchen and Perdue, with their followers,
would use every effort in their power to hound him out of Klassan.
There were others, he felt sure, who were more honourable. If the
confidence of these could be won, he might be able to overcome the
opposition.

Before starting, Keith visited his patient. He found the arm doing as
well as could be expected, but the racking cough still continued the
same.

"Miss Radhurst," he said, as he bent over her father. "I leave for
Klassan this morning."

Constance looked up in surprise. "What! going away so soon?" she
queried.

"Yes, duty calls me back to my flock. They are in danger from the
miners down there, and I have been absent too long already."

"We shall miss you very much, Mr. Steadman. You have been the means of
brightening us up, and helping my poor father. Life to me here is
almost unbearable, and I wonder how you can stay in the North year
after year. How lonely you must find it."

Keith turned and looked into her eyes.