"Who are you?" she heard herself asking. "And why are you acting this way with me?"
The man leaned suddenly forward.
"You mean to tell me you don't know?"
"A lumberjack, maybe, who's lost his way like myself?"
His expression changed abruptly.
"What you luggin' this for?" He indicated the revolver.
"For protection."
"From what?"
"Wild things."
"There ain't no wild things in these mountains this time o' year; they're snowed up, and you know it."