In desperation she had appealed to him, and he had discovered a strange terror under the forced calm of her appearance.

Since then he had fathered her with his attentions, watching closely with the wisdom of years.

And more than once he had observed that questing, defiant poise of her head with which she was regarding the cabin windows now.
She had told him she was twenty-three and on her way to meet relatives in Nome.

She had named certain people.

And he had believed her.