ace came nearer; it was pressed
against his own, soft arms crept about him, softer lips kissed his mouth
and eyes, and sobbing whispers came with their love, and he knew the end
of the race had come, and he had won.

This was the fifth day after the fight in the kloof; and on the sixth he
sat up in his bed, bolstered with pillows, and Stampede came to see him,
and then Keok and Nawadlook and Tatpan and Topkok and Wegaruk, his old
housekeeper, and only for a few minutes at a time was Mary away from
him. But Tautuk and Amuk Toolik did not come, and he saw the strange
change in Keok, and knew that they were dead. Yet he dreaded to ask the
question, for more than any others of his people did he love these two
missing comrades of the tundras.

It was Stampede who first told him in detail what had happened--but he
would say little of the fight on the ledge, and it was Mary who told
him of that.

"Graham had over thirty men with him, and only ten got away," he said.
"We have buried sixteen and are caring for seven wounded at the corrals.
Now that Graham is dead, they're frightened stiff--afraid we're going to
hand them over to the law. And without Graham or Rossland to fight for
them, they know they're lost."

"And our men--my people?" asked Alan faintly.

"Fought like devils."

"Yes, I know. But--"

"They didn't rest an hour in coming from the mountains."

"You know what I mean, Stampede."

"Not many, Alan. Seven were killed, including Sokwenna," and he counted
over the names of the slain. Tautuk and Amuk Toolik were not among them.

"And Tautuk?"

"He is wounded. Missed death by an inch, and it has almost killed Keok.
She is with him night and day, and as jealous as a little cat if anyone
else attempts to do anything for him."

"Then--I am glad Tautuk was hit," smiled Alan. And he asked, "Where is
Amuk Toolik?"

Stampede hung his head and blushed like a boy.

"You'll have to ask _her_, Alan."

And a little later Alan put the question to Mary.

She, too, blushed, and in her eyes was a mysterious radiance that
puzzled him.

"You must wait," she said.

Beyond that she would say no word, though he pulled her head down, and
with his hands in her soft, smooth hair threatened to hold her until she
told him the secret. Her answer was a satisfied little sigh, and she
nestled her pink face against his neck, and whispered that she was
content to accept the punishment. So where Amuk Toolik had gone, and
what he