They left Joe preparing for his three-day trip into the south and east, and outside the cabin McTabb insisted on Billy riding behind the dogs. They struck back for Couchée’s trail, and when they came to it McTabb laughed.
“I’ll bet they’re running like rabbits,” he said. “What in thunder did you expect to do if you caught ’em, Billy? Drag the woman back by the hair of ’er ’ead? I’m glad you tumbled where you did. You’ve got to beat a lynx to beat Couchée. He’d have perforated you from behind a snow-drift sure as your name’s Billy MacVeigh.”
Billy felt that an immense load had been lifted from him, and he was partly inclined to tell his companion more about Isobel and himself. This, however, he did not do. As McTabb strode ahead and urged on the dogs he figured on the chances of Joe and his mother returning within a week. During that time he would be alone with Isobel, and in spite of the horrible fear that never for a moment left his heart it was impossible for him not to feel a thrill of pleasure at the thought. Those would be days of agony for himself as well as for her, and yet he would be near, always near, the woman he loved. And little Isobel would be safe in Rookie’s cabin. If anything happened—
His hands gripped the edges of the sledge at the thought that leaped into his brain. It was Pelliter’s thought. If anything happened to Isobel the little girl would be his own, forever and forever. He thrust the thought from him as if it were the plague itself. Isobel would live. He would make her live, If she died—
McTabb heard the low cry that broke from his lips. He could not keep it back. Good God, if she went, how empty the world would be! He might never see her again after these days of terror that were ahead of him; but if she lived, and he knew that the sun was shining in her bright hair, and that her blue eyes still looked up at the stars, and that in her sweet prayers she sometimes thought of him— along with Deane— life could not be quite so lonely for him.
McTabb had dropped back to his side.
“Head hurt?” he asked.
“A little,” lied Billy. “There’s a level stretch ahead, Rookie. Hustle up the dogs!”
Half an hour later the sledge drew up in front of Couchée’s cabin. Billy pointed to the tent.
“The little one is in there,” he said. “Go over an’ get acquainted, Rookie. I’m going to take a look inside to see if everything is all right.”