red away to
try and get some fresh buffalo meat, they said; but it was obvious that
they felt out of place and alarmed in a situation where those of their
sex could only assume an apologetic attitude and admit the blame.

The children were left to Susan's care. She drew them to the cleared
space about the fires, and as she began the preparations for supper
asked them to help. They took the request very seriously, and she
found a solace in watching them as they trotted up with useless pans,
bending down to see the smile of thanks to which they were accustomed,
and which made them feel proud and important. Once she heard Bob, in
the masterful voice of the male, tell his sister the spoon she was so
triumphantly bringing was not wanted. The baby's joy was stricken from
her, she bowed to the higher intelligence, and the spoon slid from her
limp hand to the ground, while she stood a figure of blank
disappointment. Susan had to set down her pan and call her over, and
kneeling with the soft body clasped close, and the little knees
pressing against her breast, felt some of the anger there melting away.
After that they gathered broken twigs of lupine, and standing afar
threw them at the flames. There was a moment of suspense when they
watched hopefully, and then a sad awakening when the twigs fell about
their feet. They shuffled back, staring down at the scattered leaves
in a stupor of surprise.

Sunset came and supper was ready. Daddy John loomed up above the lip
of Ash Hollow with a load of roots and branches for the night. Lucy
emerged from the tent and sat down by her cup and plate, harrassed and
silent. Glen said he wanted no supper. He had been sitting for an
hour on the pole of David's wagon, mute and round-shouldered in his
dusty homespuns. No one had offered to speak to him. It was he who
had induced the patient woman to follow him on the long journey. They
all knew this was now the matter of his thoughts. His ragged figure
and down-drooped, miserable face were dignified with the tragedy of a
useless remorse. As Lucy passed him he raised his eyes, but said
nothing. Then, as the others drew together round the circle of tin
cups and plates, a groan came suddenly from the tent. He leaped up,
made a gesture of repelling something unendurable, and ran away,
scudding across the plain not looking back. The group round the fire
were silent. But the two children did not heed. With their blond
heads touching