were, still farther above them stretched the wonderful barren ridges,
snow-capped and silent. As Rhoda stood waiting for the squaws to
spread her blankets the peaks were lighted suddenly by the rays of the
still unseen sun. For one unspeakable instant their snow crowns
flashed a translucent scarlet that trembled, shimmered, then melted to
a pink, then to a white so pure, so piercing that Rhoda trembled with
sudden awe. Then as she looked, the sun rolled into view, blinding her
eyes, and she turned to her waiting blankets.

She had slept for several hours when she was wakened by a soft tap on
her shoulder. She opened her eyes and would have risen but a voice
whispered:

"Hush! Don't move!"




CHAPTER VIII

A BROADENING HORIZON

Rhoda lay stiffly, her heart beating wildly. Kut-le and the squaws,
each a muffled, blanketed figure, lay sleeping some distance away. Old
Alchise stood on solitary guard at the edge of the camp with his back
to her.

"Make as if you wanted to shift your blankets toward the cat's-claw
bush behind you!" went on the whispered voice.