him, too. He ain't got a chance. He plugged two bucks that'll get around
all right. An' he croaked one square through the chest."

"Yes, I know," Smoke answered. "I just met the widow."

"Old Snass'll be wantin' to see you," McCan added. "Them's his orders.
Soon as you come in you was to go to his fire. I ain't squealed. You
don't know nothing. Keep that in mind. Shorty went off on his own along
with me."

At Snass's fire Smoke found Labiskwee. She met him with eyes that shone
with such softness and tenderness as to frighten him.

"I'm glad you did not try to run away," she said. "You see, I--"
She hesitated, but her eyes didn't drop. They swam with a light
unmistakable. "I lighted my fire, and of course it was for you. It has
happened. I like you better than everybody else in the world. Better
than my father. Better than a thousand Libashes and Mahkooks. I love.
It is very strange. I love as Francesca loved, as Iseult loved. Old Four
Eyes spoke true. Indians do not love this way. But my eyes are blue, and
I am white. We are white, you and I."

Smoke had never been proposed to in his life, and he was unable to meet
the situation. Worse, it was not even a proposal. His acceptance was
taken for granted. So thoroughly was it all arranged in Labiskwee's
mind, so warm was the light in her eyes, that he was amazed that she did
not throw her arms around him and rest her head on his shoulder. Then he
realized, despite her candor of love, that she did not know the pretty
ways of love. Among the primitive savages such ways did not obtain. She
had had no chance to learn.

She prattled on, chanting the happy burden of her love, while he strove
to grip himself in the effort, somehow, to wound her with the truth.
This, at the very first, was the golden opportunity.

"But, Labiskwee, listen," he began. "Are you sure you learned from Four
Eyes all the story of the love of Paolo and Francesca?"

She clasped her hands and laughed with an immense certitude of gladness.
"Oh! There is more! I knew there must be more and more of love! I have
thought much since I lighted my fire. I have--"

And then Snass strode in to the fire through the falling snowflakes, and
Smoke's opportunity was lost.

"Good evening," Snass burred gruffly. "Your partner has made a mess of
it. I am glad you had better sense."

"You might tell me what's happened," Smoke urged.

The flash of white teeth through the stained beard was not pleasant.
"Certainly,