A hundred men were riding,
A-hunting for Pierre.
They rode and rode, but nothing could they find.
They rode around by moonlight;
They rode around by day;
They rode and rode, but nothing could they find.

Then came the sharp scraping of his runners across the surface of
the snow on a level with the buried roof. It lessened from a hissing
speech to a hissing whisper. It sighed away. Bella sat down abruptly
on a chair, pulled in her chin like an unhappy child; her bosom lifted
as though a sob would force its way out.

"If he doesn't come back!" she murmured. "If he doesn't come back!"
She was speaking to God.




CHAPTER II


Pete blinked, swallowed hard and began to talk fast and hopefully.

"He'll come back. I don't believe he'll get halfway there, Bella,"
he reassured the woman. "He'll come to his senses. You know how moody
he is. Come over here and doctor up my ankle, please. 'Make a fuss
over me, Bell.' Isn't that what I used to say?"

He coaxed until at last she came and knelt before him and removed