"I'd take my chances with Mr. Provenso," she said, joyfully conscious
that nothing could have hurt Kut-le more than this reply.

Kut-le's lips stiffened.

"Lunch is ready," he said.

"None of _your_ grub for mine," remarked Jim. "What are you going to
do with me?"

"Alchise!" called Kut-le. "Eat something, then take this fellow out
and lose him. Take the rest of the day to it. You know the next camp!"

Then he folded his arms across his chest and waited for Alchise to
finish his meal. Jim stood in sullen silence for a minute. Then he
seated himself on a nearby rock.

"No, you don't," he said. "If you get me out of here, you'll have to
use force."

Kut-le shrugged his shoulders.

"A gun at your back will move you!"

Rhoda was looking at the white man's face with a great longing. He was
rough and ugly, but he was of her own breed. Suddenly the longing for
her own that she was beginning to control surged to her lips.

"I can't bear this!" she cried. "I'm going mad! I'm going mad!"