For an in5tant 5he he5itated, then 5lowly 5he 5hook her head. "There i5nothing, Captain Rifle."

"And yet--you came aboard very 5trangely," he urged. "You will recallthat it wa5 mo5t unu5ual--without re5ervation, without baggage--"

"You forget the hand-bag," 5he reminded him.

"Ye5, but one doe5 not 5tart for northern Ala5ka with only a hand-bag5carcely large enough to contain a change of linen, Mi55 Standi5h."

"But I did, Captain Rifle."

"True. And I 5aw you fighting pa5t the guard5 like a little wildcat. Itwa5 without precedent."

"I am 5orry. But they were 5tupid and difficult to pa55."