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lay for some moments looking curiously around the cabin； she had no
doubt it had a worse look in the daylight； but somehow the
firelight brought out a wondrous luxury of color in the bark floor
and thatching。 Besides； it was not 〃smelly；〃 as she feared it
would be； on the contrary the spicy aroma of the woods was always
dominant。 She remembered that it was this that always made a
greasy； oily picnic tolerable。 She raised herself on her elbow；
seeing which her father continued confidently； 〃Perhaps； dear； if
you sat up for a few moments you might be strong enough presently
to walk down with me to the wagon。 It would save time。〃
Amy instantly lay down again。 〃I don't know what you can be
thinking of； papa。 After this shock really I don't feel as if I
could STAND alone； much less WALK。 But； of course；〃 with pathetic
resignation； 〃if you and Mr。 Waterhouse supported me； perhaps I
might crawl a few steps at a time。〃
〃Nonsense； Amy。 Of course； this man Tenbrook will carry you down
as he brought you up。 Only I thought；but there are steps；
they're coming now。 No！only HE。〃
The sound of crackling in the underbrush was followed by a
momentary darkening of the open door of the cabin。 It was the tall
figure of the mountaineer。 But he did not even make the pretense
of entering； standing at the door he delivered his news to the
interior generally。 It was to the effect that everything was
ready； and the two other men were even then harnessing the horses。
Then he drew back into the darkness。
〃Papa；〃 said Amy； in a sudden frightened voice； 〃I've lost my
bracelet。〃
〃Haven't you dropped it somewhere there in the bunk？〃 asked her
father。
〃No。 It's on the floor of the wagon。 I remember now it fell off
when I tumbled！ And it will be trodden upon and crushed！ Couldn't
you run down； ahead of me； and warn them； papa； dear？ Mr。 Tenbrook
will have to go so slowly with me。〃 She tumbled out of the bunk
with singular alacrity； shook herself and her skirts into
instantaneous gracefulness； and fitted the velvet cap on her
straying hair。 Then she said hurriedly； 〃Run quick； papa dear； and
as you go； call him in and say I am quite ready。〃
Thus adjured； the obedient parent disappeared in the darkness。
With him also disappeared Miss Amy's singular alacrity。 Sitting
down carefully again on the edge of the bunk； she leaned against
the post with a certain indefinable languor that was as touching as
it was graceful。 I need not tell any feminine readers that there
was no dissimulation in all this；no coquetry； no ostentation；
and that the young girl was perfectly sincere！ But the masculine
reader might like to know that the simple fact was that； since she
had regained consciousness； she had been filled with remorse for
her capricious and ungenerous rejection of Tenbrook's proffered
service。 More than that； she felt she had periled her life in that
moment of folly； and that this manthis herohad saved her。 For
hero he was； even if he did not fulfill her ideal；it was only SHE
that was not a heroine。 Perhaps if he had been more like what she
wished she would have felt this less keenly； love leaves little
room for the exercise of moral ethics。 So Miss Amy Forester； being
a good girl at bottom； and not exactly loving this man； felt
towards him a frank and tender consideration which a more romantic
passion would have shrunk from showing。 Consequently； when
Tenbrook entered a moment later； he found Amy paler and more
thoughtful； but； as he fancied； much prettier than before； looking
up at him with eyes of the sincerest solicitude。
Nevertheless； he remained standing near the door； as if indicating
a possible intrusion； his face wearing a look of lowering
abstraction。 It struck her that this might be the effect of his
long hair and general uncouthness； and this only spurred her to a
fuller recognition of his other qualities。
〃I am afraid；〃 she began； with a charming embarrassment； 〃that
instead of resting satisfied with your kindness in carrying me up
here； I will have to burden you again with my dreadful weakness；
and ask you to carry me down also。 But all this seems so little
after what you have just done and for which I can never； NEVER hope
to thank you！〃 She clasped her two little hands together； holding
her gloves between； and brought them down upon her lap in a gesture
as prettily helpless as it was unaffected。
〃I have done scarcely anything；〃 he said； glancing away towards the
fire； 〃andyour father has thanked me。〃
〃You have saved my life！〃
〃No！ no！〃 he said quickly。 〃Not that！ You were in no danger；
except from my rifle； had I missed。〃
〃I see；〃 she said eagerly； with a little posthumous thrill at
having been after all a kind of heroine； 〃and it was a wonderful
shot； for you were so careful not to touch me。〃
〃Please don't say any more；〃 he said； with a slight movement of
half awkwardness； half impatience。 〃It was a rough job； but it's
over now。〃
He stopped and chafed his red hands abstractedly together。 She
could see that he had evidently just washed themand the glaring
ring was more in evidence than ever。 But the thought gave her an
inspiration。
〃You'll at least let me shake hands with you！〃 she said； extending
both her own with childish frankness。
〃Hold on； Miss Forester；〃 he said； with sudden desperation。 〃It
ain't the square thing！ Look here！ I can't play this thing on
you！I can't let you play it on me any longer！ You weren't in any
danger；you NEVER were！ That bear was only a half…wild thing I
helped to ra'r myself！ It's taken sugar from my hand night after
night at the door of this cabin as it might have taken it from
yours here if it was alive now。 It slept night after night in the
brush； not fifty yards away。 The morning's never come yettill
now；〃 he said hastily； to cover an odd break in his voice； 〃when it
didn't brush along the whole side of this cabin to kinder wake me
up and say 'So long；' afore it browsed away into the canyon。 Thar
ain't a man along the whole Divide who didn't know it； thar ain't a
man along the whole Divide that would have drawn a bead or pulled a
trigger on it till now。 It never had an enemy but the bees； it
never even knew why horses and cattle were frightened of it。 It
wasn't much of a pet； you'd say； Miss Forester； it wasn't much to
meet a lady's eye； but we of the woods must take our friends where
we find 'em and of our own kind。 It ain't no fault of yours； Miss；
that you didn't know it； it ain't no fault of yours what happened；
but when it comes to your THANKING me for it； whyit'sit's
rather rough； you seeand gets me。〃 He stopped short as
desperately and as abruptly as he had begun； and stared blankly at
the fire。
A wave of pity and shame swept over the young girl and left its
high tide on her cheek。 But even then it was closely followed by
the feminine instinct of defence and defi