Townshead made some answer with a slight bend of his head, but Alton
appeared a trifle dubious when the girl offered him hospitality.

"I'm afraid the beasts are used up, or I wouldn't think of it," he said.

Nellie Townshead's eyes twinkled as she glanced at him. "Could you not
have put it in another way?" she said.

Alton laughed, and brushed his fingers across the top of the stove.
"Well, it doesn't sound quite right, but after all the meaning's the
great thing," he said. "This place isn't warm enough for you, Miss
Nellie."

He turned and walked to the wood-box, and after glancing into it
carefully straightened out its covering. Then he strode towards the
door, and stopped a moment before he opened it. "Excuse!" he said
simply. "No, don't you worry; I know just where the saw and lantern
are, and Charley, who comes from the old country, can talk to you for
me."

He went out in another moment, but the fact that he was very weary did
not escape the attention of the girl, who also noticed the absence of
any unnecessary questions or explanations. Alton was, she knew
already, one who did things the better because he did them silently.
Still, it was Seaforth whom, when nobody observed her, her eyes rested
most upon.

It was half an hour before the former returned with a load of scented
firewood upon his back, and, saying nothing, filled the box with it,