gle's treasure-chamber.
And at its side she found something which at this moment was a thousand
times more precious in her staring eyes than if it had been so much
solid gold. It was a great hunk of fresh meat. Instantly she knew how it
had come here. King had killed his bear! That was why he had returned
to-night. He had brought it here; had missed her; had dropped it here.
And then? She understood now, too, how he had come so unexpectedly into
the lowest cave. He had gone down through this hole and had known a
passage-way which led on down. She stood by the hole, bending over it,
listening, wondering if any man stirred down there. But that was but for
a moment. She caught up the bear meat, carrying it in both arms, and
hurried back to her fire.

Though she knew little more of cookery than of nursing, she set about
the very sensible task of making a strong broth. The proper nourishment
that had seemed so impossible a moment ago was now ready at hand.

"God is good," she whispered, a sudden new gush of love and reverence in
her heart. "He will help me now."

For herself, since her own strength must be kept up, she cooked a strip
of the meat on the coals. Then she went to King and for a long time sat
at his side, her eyes upon his white face, her hand clasping his. Again
and again she stooped and laid her cheek against the strong but now lax
fingers; once she put her lips to his forehead; when she sat back her
eyes were wet and the slow tears welled up and trickled unnoticed down
her cheeks. But they were tears which left the heart sweetened, tears of
tenderness, of gratitude, of sympathy and love.

As the night wore on, since she was determined that King should not be
chilled, her fire consumed a great part of the wood. More wood must be
brought; to-night or in the morning. She went to the canvas flap and
looked out. There were clouds, but also there were wide rifts through
which the stars blazed in all of that glorious crystalline beauty of the
stars of the winter Sierra. While she stood looking out the moon, almost
at the full, gilded a cloud edge, and after a moment broke through like
an augury of joy. Stars and moon made the wilderness over into a land of
fairy; at ten million points the snow caught the light, flashing it back
as though the white robe spread over the solitudes were sewn with gems.
Never had the world looked so white as now with a rare light shining
upon its smooth purity; it was clean and fresh,