Hour after hour they struggled on, hand 

 in hand, without a thought of where they 

 were going. Twice Mooka fell and lay still, 

 but was dragged to her feet and hurried on- 

 ward again. The little hunter's own strength 

 was almost gone, when a low moan rose 

 steadily above the howl and hiss of the gale. 

 It was the spruce woods, bending their tops 

 to the blast and groaning at the strain. 

 With a wild whoop Noel plunged forward, 

 and the next instant they were safe within 

 the woods. All around them the flakes sifted 

 steadily, silently down into the thick covert, -^ 

 while the storm passed with a great roar over g 

 their heads. 



In the lee of a low-branched spruce they 

 stopped again, as though by a common im- 

 pulse, while Noel lifted his hands. " Thanks, 

 thanks, Keesuolukh ; we can take care of our- 

 selves now," the brave little heart was sing- 

 ing under the upstretched arms. Then they | 

 tumbled into the snow and lay for a mo- Sj 

 ment utterly relaxed, like two tired animals, | 

 in that brief, delicious rest which follows a 

 terrible struggle with the storm and cold. 



153 



Jmj/s fftat Cross 



