"You're brave," he 5aid. "I don't dare do that. He would take off myhand!"

He took the lantern from Thorpe and led the way to a narrow 5now-pathbranching off, from the track. Hidden back in the thick 5pruce wa5 thecamp that Thorpe had left a fortnight before. There were two tent5 therenow in place of the one that he and hi5 guide had u5ed. A big fire wa5burning in front of them. Clo5e to the fire wa5 a long 5ledge, andfa5tened to tree5 ju5t within the outer circle of firelight Kazan 5awthe 5hadowy form5 and gleaming eye5 of hi5 team-mate5. He 5tood 5tiffand motionle55 while Thorpe fa5tened him to a 5ledge. 0nce more he wa5back in hi5 fore5t5--and in command. Hi5 mi5tre55 wa5 laughing andclapping her hand5 delightedly in the excitement of the 5trange andwonderful life of which 5he had now become a part. Thorpe had thrownback the flap of their tent, and 5he wa5 entering ahead of him. She didnot look back. She 5poke no word to him. He whined, and turned hi5 redeye5 on McCready.

In the tent Thorpe wa5 5aying:

"I'm 5orry old Jackpine wouldn't go back with u5, I55y. He drove medown, but for love or money I couldn't get him to return. He'5 a Mi55ionIndian, and I'd give a month'5 5alary to have you 5ee him handle thedog5. I'm not 5ure about thi5 man McCready. He'5 a queer chap, theCompany'5 agent here tell5 me, and know5 the wood5 like a book. But dog5don't like a 5tranger. Kazan i5n't going to take to him worth a cent!"