preparation of a man about to fight. The look of it was in his
face and the stiffening of his muscles, and when he turned to his
little companion she was as white as the snow under her feet.

"We're in time," he breathed. "You--you stay here."

She understood. Her hands clutched at him as he left her. A gulp
rose in her throat. She wanted to call out. She wanted to hold him
back--or go with him. Yet she obeyed. She stood with a heart that
choked her and watched him go. For she knew, after all, that it
was the thing to do. Sobbingly she breathed his name. It was a
prayer. For she knew what would happen in the cabin.





CHAPTER XX




Philip came up behind the windowless end of the cabin. He noticed
in passing with Bram that on the opposite side was a trap-window
of saplings, and toward this he moved swiftly but with caution. It
was still closed when he came where he could see. But with his ear
close to the chinks he heard a sound--the movement of some one
inside. For an instant he looked over his shoulder. Celia was
standing where he had left her. He could almost feel the terrible
suspense that was in her eyes as she watched him.