In that moment there flashed into Howland's mind a memory of the battle that Jean had fought for him on the Great North Trail.
"You nearly killed one of them--that night--at Prince Albert," he said slowly.

"I can't understand why you fought for me then and won't help me now.

But you did.

And you're afraid to go down there--" "Until I have regrown a beard," interrupted Jean with a low chuckling laugh.

"You would not be the only one to die if they saw me again like this.