TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA in 



it was that only by jumping nimbly aside was I 

 enabled to avoid the impact of the fall. 



Then to me there came that moment of reaction in 

 which, reflecting on a recent peril, we think what 

 might have happened had things turned out other- 

 wise. Such moments do not come often in a life- 

 time, and still rarer are the occasions on which men 

 owe their lives to the cool courage of a woman. As 

 a full significance of the facts broke upon my clouded 

 senses, I found Agnes smiling, and furtively regard- 

 ing both me and the fallen beast. Suddenly the 

 magnitude of my debt to her arose clear in my mind, 

 high above all other thoughts, and thereby possibly 

 awakening sentiments which hitherto I had done my 

 best to despise. 



Here, reader of mine, lest you should expect a 

 dissertation or a treatise on the gentle arts of Cupid, 

 let me preface the following remarks with a statement 

 that, according to strict compact with my collabor- 

 ator in this " work," I am excused from the recording 

 of all sentimental episodes. 



Suffice it therefore if I say that I walked to where 

 Agnes stood, and as she held her smoking rifle in 

 one hand, I took possession of the other, and look- 

 ing squarely into her brave eyes I said, " Little 

 woman, you have saved my life, and for that I pay 

 thee toll." 



What the nature of the toll was is left for you to 

 conjecture. 



