The smoldering fire remained in his eyes, the immobility of his face unchanged.

Only when Alan repeated, in his own words, Mary Standish's confession of love at Nawadlook's door did the fighting lines soften about his comrade's eyes and mouth.
Stampede's lips responded with an oddly quizzical smile.

"I knew that a long time ago," he said.

"I guessed it that first night of storm in the coach up to Chitina.

I knew it for certain before we left Tanana.