Shall we risk the bundle on Tara's back?"
"It is light. I will carry it."
"Then give me your hand, _Sakewawin_."
There was again in her voice the joyous thrill of freedom and of
confidence; he could hear for a moment the wild throb of her heart in
its exultation at their escape, and with her warm little hand she
gripped his fingers firmly and guided him into a sea of darkness. The
forest shut them in. Not a ray fell upon them from out of the pale sky
where the stars were beginning to glimmer faintly. Behind them he could
hear the heavy, padded footfall of the big grizzly, and he knew that
Baree was very near. After a little the Girl said, still in a whisper:
"Does your head hurt you now, _Sakewawin_?"
"A bit."
The trail was widening. It was quite smooth for a space, but black.
She pressed his fingers.
"I believe all you have told me," she said, as if making a confession.
"After you came to me in the cage--and the fight--I believed. You must
have loved me a great deal to risk all that for me."
"Yes, a great deal, my child," he answered.
Why did that dizziness persist in his head, he wondered? For a moment he
felt as if he were falling.
"A very great deal," he added, trying to walk steadily at her side, his
own voice sounding unreal and at a great distance from him.
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