But neither Stee nor I can face three miles' tramp without something to protect us." "Yes, you can have two of the dogs on leash; but remember they are dreadfully tired, poor things, for they have had a long, hard day.
You had better leave your sledge here to-night, then there will be no temptation for you to let the dogs draw you," Katherine said, in a hard tone.
Mrs.Burton looked at her in surprise, even meditated a word of excuse, because her attitude was so unfriendly towards these neighbours who had been in such direful peril.

But the word was not spoken, for Katherine's face was too stern for the elder sister to even suggest any change in her manner.

Miles tied two of the dogs on a leash while the men put on their snowshoes, then he carefully drew their sledge inside the door of the store, which was afterwards securely barred.
"Katherine, what is the matter?
Why did you and Miles go stealing off in that fashion to bring the stores home without telling me?
And why, oh! why, did you treat those men as if they were the dirt beneath your feet ?" demanded Mrs.Burton, as she plied her sister and brother with hot coffee and comforting food, to make up to them for all the toil and hardship which had gone before.
"Because I regard them as the scum of the earth," Katherine answered with a yawn, as she stretched out her feet to the glowing warmth of the fire.
"They are not very noble characters certainly, but when men have been face to face with such a terrible death, one feels it is a duty to be kind to them," Mrs.Burton said, in gentle reproof.
Miles burst out laughing, but Katherine shook her head at him and proceeded to explain.

"It was because I was afraid those two were going to steal our stores that we started off in such a hurry to get the lot home, and we were on our way back when we heard the wolves, then cries and shots.

We let the first two dogs go then, and had to hold on to the others with all our might to keep them from going too.