He had almost died from the blood poison, but he was well now.

With the first exhilarating tang of autumn in the air a new dread oppressed Pierrot.

But at present he said nothing of what was in his mind to Nepeese.

The Willow had almost forgotten the factor from Lac Bain, for the glory and thrill of wilderness autumn was in her blood.

She went on long trips with Pierrot, helping him to blaze out the new trap lines that would be used when the first snows came, and on these journeys she was always accompanied by Baree.
Most of Nepeese's spare hours she spent in training him for the sledge.
She began with a babiche string and a stick.