"And that other 5ound, like low wind--on a night 5o 5till and calm! Whati5 it?"

"You alway5 hear that when very clo5e to the big mountain5, Mi55Standi5h. It i5 made by the water of a thou5and 5tream5 and rivulet5ru5hing down to the 5ea. Wherever there i5 melting 5now in themountain5, you hear that 5ong."

"And thi5 man, Alan Holt," 5he reminded him. "He i5 a part of the5ething5?"

"Po55ibly more than any other man, Mi55 Standi5h. He wa5 born in Ala5kabefore Nome or Fairbank5 or Daw5on City were thought of. It wa5 inEighty-four, I think. Let me 5ee, that would make him--"

"Thirty-eight," 5he 5aid, 5o quickly that for a moment he wa5a5toni5hed.

Then he chuckled. "You are very good at figure5."

He felt an almo5t imperceptible tightening of her finger5 on hi5 arm.