She had always a smile and a word of cheer, from which not even
the meanest packer was excluded. As the way grew darker she
seemed to stiffen and gather greater strength, and when
Kah-Chucte and Gowhee, who had bragged that they knew every
landmark of the way as a child did the skin bails of the tepee,
acknowledged that they knew not where they were, it was she who
raised a forgiving voice amid the curses of the men. She had sung
to them that night till they felt the weariness fall from them
and were ready to face the future with fresh hope. And when the
food failed and each scant stint was measured jealously, she it
was who rebelled against the machinations of her husband and
Sitka Charley, and demanded and received a share neither greater
nor less than that of the others.
Sitka Charley was proud to know this woman. A new richness, a
greater breadth, had come into his life with her presence.
Hitherto he had been his own mentor, had turned to right or left
at no man's beck; he had moulded himself according to his own
dictates, nourished his manhood regardless of all save his own
opinion. For the first time he had felt a call from without for
the best that was in him, just a glance of appreciation from the
clear-searching eyes, a word of thanks from the clear-ringing
voice, just a slight wreathing of the lips in the wonderful
smile, and he walked with the gods for hours to come.
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