The whole party gathered in the cabin, and as they no longer feared
pursuit it was agreed unanimously that they must have luxury. In this
case a fire meant the greatest of all luxuries.

They gathered an abundance of fallen wood, knocked the snow from it and
heaped it on either side of the fireplace. They cut with infinite
difficulty dry shavings from the inside of the logs in the wall of the
house, and after a full hour of hard work lighted a blaze with flint and
steel. The rest was easy, and soon they had a roaring fire. They
fastened the door with the wooden bar which stood in its place and let
the windows remain shut. Although there was a lack of air, they did not
yet feel it, and gave themselves up to the luxury of the glowing heat.

They took off their clothes and held them before the fire. When they
were dry and warm they put them on again and felt like new beings.
Strips of the antelope were fried on the ends of ramrods, and they ate
plentifully. All the chill was driven from their bodies, and in its
place came a deep pervading sense of comfort. The bitter wind yet howled
without and they heard the snow driven against the door and windows.
The sound heightened their feeling of luxury. They were like a troop of
boys now, all of them--except Roylston. He sat on one of the piles of
wood and his eyes gleamed as the others talked.

"I vote that we enlarge the name of our inn," said Allen. "Since our
leader has black hair and black eyes, let's call it the Inn of the Black
Panther. All in favor of that motion say 'Aye.'"

"Aye!" they roared.