s friends. You'n got to pay for your
keep, my dears."

Miss Dwight looked at him with unflinching eyes which refused to
understand his meaning. "We'll pay whatever you ask and double the
amount after we reach camp."

"Don't want your dirty money. Gi' us a kiss, lass. That's fair pay. We
ain't above kissing Verinder's friends if he is a rotten slave driver."

Moya rose to her slender height, and the flash of courage blazed in her
eyes.

"Sit down," she ordered.

The man stopped in his tracks, amazed at the resolution of the slim tall
girl.

"Go on, Dave. Don't let her bluff you," his companion urged.

The miner laughed and moved forward.

"You coward, to take advantage of two girls driven to you by the storm.
I didn't think the man lived that would do it," panted Moya.

"You'n got a bit to learn, miss. Whad's the use of gettin' your Dutch
up. I ain't good enough for 'ee, like enough."

The girl held up a hand. "Listen!"

They could hear only the wild roar of the storm outside and the low sobs
of Joyce as she lay crouched on the bed.

"Well?" he growled. "I'm listenin'. What, then?"

"I'd rather go out into that white death than stay here with such
creatures as you are."

"Doan't be a fool, lass. Us'n won't hurt 'ee any," the second man
reassured roughly.

"You'll stay here where it's warm. But you'll remember that we're boss
in this shack. You'n came without being asked. I'm domned if you'll
ride your high horse over me."

"Go on, Dave. Tak' your kiss, man."

Then the miracle happened. The door opened, and out of the swirling
wind-tossed snow came a Man.

CHAPTER XII

OUT OF THE STORM A MAN

He stood blinking in the doorway, white-sheeted with snow from head to
heel. As his eyes became accustomed to the light they passed with
surprise from the men to the young women. A flash of recognition lit in
them, but he offered no word of greeting.

Plainly he had interrupted a scene of some sort. The leer on the flushed
face of Dave, the look of undaunted spirit in that of the girl facing
him, the sheer panic-stricken terror of her crouching companion, all
told him as much. Nor was it hard to guess the meaning of that dramatic
moment he had by chance chosen for his entrance. His alert eyes took in
every detail, asked questions but answered none, and in the end ignored
much.

"What are you doing here?" demanded one of the miners.

"Been out to the Jack Pot and was on my way back to town. Got