le the
dusk crept in, and now that Ellen had, to some extent, modified her
opinions regarding Harlan, there was nothing to hinder the growing of a
delightful, outdoor companionship that made the hours pass with
miraculous rapidity for the two young fire tenders. Past hardships and
hunger were forgotten up there on the Lookout. The evenings became
hours of confidences when they discussed their plans, their dreams,
their budding philosophies of life. They came to know each other's
moods and each other's thoughts and that magic of shared adventures
which can be more binding than love.

One night Gregg told her of his early ambition to be a mining engineer,
his year at a mid-western school of mines, where his studies were
terminated, he admitted with entire frankness, by a request to leave.
He told her also of his return home to San Francisco, and the
subsequent years of aimless drifting which ended in the final break
with his father.

"I can see now," he concluded, "that poor old dad had good reason for
disappointment. As a last resort he sent me to Katleean hoping that
I'd get some sense jolted into me--but--well, I didn't, Jean,
until . . . until the _Hoonah_ put into the bay. I've been wondering
what he is thinking now. . . . He hasn't had a word from me since
August, although, of course, he hears from Katleean--" He checked
himself, pausing a moment as if he were on the point of telling her
something else. Then: "Dad is--he's interested in the Alaska Fur
Trading Company, you know."

But Jean's mind was already intent on the young man's future.

"Now you _are_ going to wake up and do something, though," she declared
with a decisive movement of her little head. "I don't care much for
what you've told me of your past, Gregg," she admitted frankly, "but--"
she waved her hand with a gesture of dismissal--"up here it isn't
yesterday that counts, it's today and tomorrow. This is a wonderful
new land to begin in----"

"And you just watch me do it, Jean!" he interrupted her
enthusiastically. As if he already felt the need of action he rose
from the ground and thrusting his hands in his pockets, began walking
up and down before her. "I've done a lot of thinking over there in my
little Hut--a _lot_ of it, and I know this country has gotten a hold on
me, some way. It's mine from now on. There's something about it that
makes me feel alive. I want to get out and hustle like the
dev--dickens. Honestly, if it wa