“Know!” he ejaculated. “Jumping rattlesnakes! It knocked me silly. Angela, you don’t think I—gave her reason to believe——”
“I don’t think you did. But, Jim, you are an extraordinary man.”
“I don’t get you.”
“Not to know when a woman loves you.”
He puckered his lips and shook his head in perplexity.
“How’s a chap goin’ to tell? It’s a kind of disease that takes folks different ways. Can’t rely on the symptoms. I once thought——”
She sunk her head.
“Don’t talk of that—now. Here comes 296 Devinne. Let us get the packs ready and go, while the day is yet young.”
Half an hour later they were ready for the thirty-mile journey to Dawson. They said good-bye to Devinne, and to Natalie, who appeared at the last moment, exhibiting a gayety which was obviously superficial. She kissed Angela, and clung for a moment to Jim’s hand to whisper: