r head her. And then: he had no further
thought.

It was past, the quick, fierce race, and the chance of death at
the leap; and he halted in a hollow to fetch his breath and to
look: did she come? had she gone?

She came.

She came with a smooth, gliding, noiseless speed, that was neither
walking nor running; her arms were folded in her furs that were
drawn tight about her body; the white lappets from her head were
wrapped and knotted closely beneath her face; her eyes were set on
a far distance. So she went till the even sway of her going was
startled to a pause by Christian.

"Fell!"

She drew a quick, sharp breath at the sound of her name thus
mutilated, and faced Sweyn's brother. Her eyes glittered; her
upper lip was lifted, and shewed the teeth. The half of her name,
impressed with an ominous sense as uttered by him, warned her of
the aspect of a deadly foe. Yet she cast loose her robes till they
trailed ample, and spoke as a mild woman.

"What would you?"

Then Christian answered with his solemn dreadful accusation:

"You kissed Rol--and Rol is dead! You kissed Trella: she is dead!
You have kissed Sweyn, my brother; but he shall not die!"

He added: "You may live till midnight."

The edge of the teeth and the glitter of the eyes stayed a moment,
and her right hand also slid down to the axe haft. Then, without a
word, she swerved from him, and sprang out and away swiftly over
the snow.

And Christian sprang out and away, and followed her swiftly over
the snow, keeping behind, but half-a-stride's length from her
side.

So they went running together, silent, towards the vast wastes of
snow, where no living thing but they two moved under the stars of
night.

Never before had Christian so rejoiced in his powers. The gift of
speed, and the training of use and endurance were priceless to him
now. Though midnight was hours away, he was confident that, go
where that Fell Thing would, hasten as she would, she could not
outstrip him nor escape from him. Then, when came the time for
transformation, when the woman's form made no longer a shield
against a man's hand, he could slay or be slain to save Sweyn. He
had struck his dear brother in dire extremity, but he could not,
though reason urged, strike a woman.

For one mile, for two miles they ran: White Fell ever foremost,
Christian ever at equal distance from her side, so near that, now
and again, her out-flying furs touched him. She spoke no word; nor