The younger man agreed with a gravity back of which his amusement was
apparent. The share of Selfridge in the battle had been limited to leg
work only, but this had not been good enough to keep him from being
overhauled and having his throat squeezed.

Elliot finished breakfast first and left Macdonald looking over a
long typewritten document. He had it propped against a water-bottle
and was reading as he ate. The paper was a report Selfridge had brought
in to him from a clerk in the General Land Office. The big Canadian
and the men he represented were dealing directly with the heads of the
Government departments, but they thought it the part of wisdom to keep
in their employ subordinates in the capacity of secret service agents
to spy upon the higher-ups.

CHAPTER IV

THE CREVASSE

For an hour before the Hannah reached Katma Miss O'Neill was busy
getting her little brood ready. In that last half-day she was a creature
of moods to them. They, too, like Sheba herself, were adventuring into
a new world. Somehow they represented to her the last tie that bound her
to the life she was leaving. Her heart was tender as a Madonna to these
lambs so ill-fitted to face a frigid waste. Their mother had been a good
woman. She could tell that. But she had no way of knowing what kind of
man their father might be.

Sheba gave Janet advice about where to keep her money and when to wear
rubbers and what to do for Billie's cold. She put up a lunch for them to
take on the stage. When they said their sniffling good-byes at Katma she
was suspiciously bright and merry. Soon the children were laughing again
with her.

One glance at their father, who introduced himself to Miss O'Neill
as John Husted, relieved her mind greatly. His spontaneous delight at
seeing them again and his choking gratitude to her for having looked
after them were evidence enough that this kind-eyed man meant to be both
father and mother to his recovered little folks. His emotion was too
poignant for him to talk about his wife, but Sheba understood and liked
him better for it.

Her temporary family stood on the end of the wharf and called good-byes
to the girl.

"Tum soon and see us, Aunt Sheba," Billie shouted from his seat on the
shoulder of his father.

The children waved handkerchiefs as long as she could be distinguished
by them. When they turned away she went directly to her room.

Elliot was passing forward when Miss O'Neill opened her stateroo