ningly into Philip's eyes again. "It kills quickly when
left alone. But I have medicine that will cure it. There is still time.
We must go, Philip. We must!"

Her face had paled a little. She saw the gathering lines in Philip's
forehead. He thought of Jean's words--the warning they carried. She
pressed his arm, and her mouth was firm.

"I am going, Philip," she said softly. "Will you go with me?"

"I will, if you must go," he said. "But it is not best."

"It is best for little Marie," she retorted, and left him to tell Adare
and her mother of Renault's message.

Renault stepped close to Philip. His back was to the others. He spoke
in a low voice:

"I breeng good word from Jean Croisset, M'sieur. Heem say Soomin
Renault good man lak Pierre Langlois, an' he fight lak devil when ask.
I breeng Indian an' two team. We be in forest near dog watekan, where
Pierre mak his fire an' tepee. You understand? Aha?"

"Yes--I understand," whispered Philip, "And Jean has gone on--to see
others?"

"He go lak win' to Francois over on Waterfound. Francois come in one
hour--two, t'ree, mebby."

Josephine and Adare approached them.

"Mignonne is turning nurse again," rumbled Adare, one of his great arms
thrown affectionately about her waist. "You'll have a jolly run on a
clear morning like this, Philip. But remember, if it is the smallpox I
forbid her to expose herself!"

"I shall see to that, Mon Pere. When do we start, Josephine?"

"As soon as I can get ready and Metoosin brings the dogs," replied
Josephine. "I am going to the house now. Will you come with me?"

It was an hour before Metoosin had brought the dogs up from the pit and
they were ready to start. Philip had armed himself with a rifle and his
automatic, and Josephine had packed both medicine and food in a large
basket. The new snow was soft, and Metoosin had brought a toboggan
instead of a sledge with runners. In the traces were Captain and five
of his team-mates.

"Isn't the pack going with us?" asked Philip.

"I never take them when there is very bad sickness, like this,"
explained Josephine. "There is something about the nearness of death
that makes them howl. I haven't been able to train that out of them."

Philip was disappointed, but he said nothing more. He tucked Josephine
among the furs, cracked the long whip Metoosin had given him, and they
were off, with Miriam and her husband waving their hands from the door
of Adare House. They had scarcely passe