covered it with her hands, and he could see her trembling. A bit
of a sob broke hysterically from her lips.

He knew of what she was thinking--the horrible thing she was
hiding from her eyes. It was plain enough to him now. Twenty
seconds more and they would have had him. And then--

He drew in a deep breath and gently uncovered her face. Her hands
shivered in his. And then a great throb of joy repaid him for his
venture into the jaws of death as he saw the way in which her
beautiful eyes were looking at him.

"Celie--my little mystery girl--I've discovered something," he
cried huskily, holding her hands so tightly that it must have hurt
her. "I'm almost glad you can't understand me, for I wouldn't
blame you for being afraid of a man who told you he loved you an
hour or two after he first saw you. I love you. I've never wanted
anything in all my life as I want you. And I must be careful and
not let you know it, mustn't I? If I did you'd think I was some
kind of an animal-brute--like Bram. Wouldn't you?"

Bram's voice came in a sharp rattle of Eskimo outside. Philip
could hear the snarling rebellion of the wolves as they slunk away
from the cabin, and he drew Celie back from the door. Suddenly she
freed her hands, ran to the door and slipped back the wooden bolt
as the wolf-man's hand fumbled at the latch. In a moment she was
back at his side. When Bram entered every muscle in Philip's body
was prepared for action. He was amazed at the wolf-man's
unconcern. He was mumbling and chuckling to himself, as if amused
at what he had seen. Celie's little fingers dug into Philip's arm