the
snowy barriers between him and the world below, he would go down and
make his expiation, drinking the bitter cup to the dregs.

This happy imprisonment on the mountain top with these two refined
women and this kindly man with the friendly heart and splendid body
and brain, he deemed worth a lifetime spent more sordidly. Here and
now, he felt himself able to weigh true values, and learned that
the usual ambitions of mortals--houses and gear and places of
precedence--could become the end of existence only to those whose
desires had become distorted by the world's estimates. Now he
understood how a man might live for a woman's smile, or give his life
for the touch of her hand, and how he might hunger for the pressing
of children's lips to his own. The warm friendships of life grew to
their true proportions in the vast scheme of things, as he looked in
the big man's eyes and answered his kindly banter.

"I see. It takes a genius to be a discreet and wise liar. Amalia's
lacking there--for me, I might learn. Now pocket your blarney long
enough to tell me why you called me a Scotchman."

"How would I know the difference between a broncho and a mule? By the
earmarks, boy. I've lived in the world long enough to know men. If
there be only a drop of Scotch blood in a man, he shows it. Like the
mule he brays at the wrong time, or he settles back and stands when he
should go forward. Oh, there's many a sign to enlighten the wise."

He rose and knocked the ashes from his pipe and thrust it in his
pocket and began to look over his pack, which had not been opened. Two
good-sized sacks hung on either side of the pack mule had held most
of his purchases, all carefully tied in separate bundles. The good man
had not been sparing of his gold. Since he had so long exiled himself,
having no use for what he had accumulated, he had now reveled in
spending.

"We're to live like lords and ladies, now, Harry. I've two silver
plates, and they're for the ladies. For us, we'll eat off the tin as
before. And silver mugs for their drink. See? I would have got them
china but it's too likely to break. Now, here's a luxury I've brought,
and it was heavy to carry, too. Here's twenty-four panes of glass. I
carried them, twelve on each side of my horse, like that, slung so,
see? That's two windows of two sash each, and six panes to a sash. Oh,
they're small, but see what a luxury for the women to do their pretty
work by. And there's work for you, t