Not until early twilight came with the deep shadows of the western mountains, and the _Nome_ was churning slowly back through the narrow water-trails to the open Pacific, did the significance of that afternoon fully impress itself upon Alan.

For hours he had surrendered himself to an impulse which he could not understand, and which in ordinary moments he would not have excused.

He had taken Mary Standish ashore.

For two hours she had walked at his side, asking him questions and listening to him as no other had ever questioned him or listened to him before.

He had shown her Skagway.