. A look of
unutterable scorn distorted her face. Then she looked up at the White
Chief shaking her head in quick negation.

At her rebellion Kilbuck's voice shot out stingingly like the lash of a
whip. With a hurt, stunned expression the girl shrank back. Her shawl
shivered into a vivid heap about her feet. The basket of berries
slipped unheeded to the sand, their wild fragrance scenting the air
about her.

While he was still speaking she started forward, her wide, idolatrous
eyes raised to his, her little berry-stained hands held out
beseechingly.

"No--no, Paul!" Anguish and pleading were in her broken English. "No,
no! I can not do! Too mooch, too mooch I loof you, Paul!" Brimming
tears overflowed and rolled slowly down her cheeks.

Kayak Bill rose hastily and stalked across the platform into the store.
The White Chief turned away with tightening lips, but there was no
softening in his smoke-colored eyes. It would be to his interest to
have his bookkeeper a squaw-man. The old Hudson Bay Company factors
had proved the advantage of having their employees take Indian women.
For his own health's sake he must get rid of Naleenah. The tubercular
girl would live longer in the house of a white man than with her own
people, where he would soon be forced to send her. He was, therefore,
doing her a kindness in turning her over to Harlan.

He lighted a cigarette, inhaled a deep draught, and tossing the
scarcely burned weed away, crossed deliberately to the huddled figure
of Gregg Harlan. He shook him by the shoulder.

"Wake up!" he ordered, "and go to your bunk."

From Kayak Bill's cabin doorway several men drifted curiously toward
the store steps. The natives gathered closer.

The bookkeeper raised his head and passed a slow hand over bewildered
eyes.

"Beg--pardon, Chief," he said quickly, as he rose on unsteady legs,
"making sleeping porch--of your--steps. . . . Awf-lly tired. . ."
Wavering, he clung for support to the flag-pole.

With a peremptory gesture Kilbuck motioned to Naleenah.

"Take this man to his cabin," he snapped, "and--" he paused
significantly, "remember what I have told you."

The girl came forward with drooping head and listless arms. She paused
dully beside the flag-pole. The trader placed the arm of the stupefied
young man across her slim shoulders. Obediently she led her charge
away in the direction of the small cabins across the courtyard.

Though the eyes of the sp