Something awoke him, hours afterward. He opened his eyes, and found
that the fire was still burning brightly. On the far side of it,
beyond the dogs, sat Thornton. A look at the sky, where the stars were
dying, and Jan knew that it was just before the gray break of dawn. He
sat upright. Thornton laughed softly at him, and puffed out clouds of
smoke from his pipe.
"You were freezing," he said, as Jan stared, "and sleeping like a dead
man. I waited for you back there, and then hunted you up. You know--I
thought--" He hesitated, and knocked the ash from his pipe bowl. Then
he looked frankly and squarely at Jan. "See here, old man, if you're
hard up--had trouble of any sort--bad luck--got no money--won't you
let me help you out?"
"Thank you, m'sieur--I have money," said Jan. "I prefer to sleep
outside with the dogs. Mon Dieu, I guess I would have been stiff with
the frost if you had not come. You have been here--all night?"
Thornton nodded.
"And it is morning," exclaimed Jan, rising and looking above the
spruce tops. "You are kind, m'sieur. I wish I might do as much for
you."
"You can," said Thornton quietly. "Where are you going--from here?"
"To the company's offices at Prince Albert. We will start within an
hour."
"Will you take me with you?" Thornton asked.
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