were a man; then I could go off hunting, trapping, or even
lumbering, and so breathe fresh air all day long."

Mrs. Burton smiled. "I expect if you were a man you would just do
as other men do; that is, smoke a dirty little pipe all day long,
and so never breathe fresh air at all."

"That is not the sort of man I would be," retorted Katherine, with
a toss of her head.

Then she put the twins into their high chairs: her father and the
boys came in, and dinner began. It was a hasty meal, as early
dinner has to be when half of the day's work lies beyond it, and in
less than half an hour Katherine was getting into a thick pilot
coat, fur cap, mittens, and a big muffler; for, although the sun
was so bright, the cold was not to be trifled with.

'Duke Radford, short for Marmaduke, was a sombre-looking man of
fifty. Twenty-five years of pioneer life in the Keewatin country
had worn him considerably, and he looked older than his years. But
he was a strong man still, and to-day he had loaded a sledge with
stores to draw himself, while Katherine looked after the four great
dogs which drew the other sledge.

The track for the first three miles was as bad as a track could be.
'Duke Radford went first, to beat or pack the snow a little firmer
for Katherine and the dogs; but even then every movement of her
snowshoes sent the white powdery dust flying in clouds. The dogs
followed close behind, so close that she had often to show a whip
to keep them back, from fear that they would tread on her snowshoes