“Good-by, Heaven-Sent Hell-Bent Wade!” called Moore.  “It’s no joke of a name any more.  It’s a fact.”

Wade plodded down through the deep snow, stepping in his old tracks, and as he toiled on his thoughts were deep and comforting.  He was thinking that if he had his life to live over again he would begin at once to find happiness in other people’s happiness.  Upon arriving at his cabin he set to work cleaning a path to the dog corral.  The snow had drifted there and he had no easy task.  It was well that he had built an inclosed house for the hounds to winter in.  Such a heavy snow as this one would put an end to hunting for the time being.  The ranch had ample supply of deer, bear, and elk meat, all solidly frozen this morning, that would surely keep well until used.  Wade reflected that his tasks round the ranch would be feeding hounds and stock, chopping wood, and doing such chores as came along in winter-time.  The pack of hounds, which he had thinned out to a smaller number, would be a care on his hands.  Kane had become a much-prized possession of Columbine’s and lived at the house, where he had things his own way, and always greeted Wade with a look of disdain and distrust.  Kane would never forgive the hand that had hurt him.  Sampson and Jim and Fox, of course, shared Wade’s cabin, and vociferously announced his return.

Early in the afternoon Wade went down to the ranch-house.  The snow was not so deep there, having blown considerably in the open places.  Some one was pounding iron in the blacksmith shop; horses were cavorting in the corrals; cattle were bawling round the hay-ricks in the barn-yard.

The hunter knocked on Columbine’s door.

“Come in,” she called.

Wade entered, to find her alone.  She was sitting up in bed, propped up with pillows, and she wore a warm, woolly jacket or dressing-gown.  Her paleness was now marked, and the shadows under her eyes made them appear large and mournful.

“Ben Wade, you don’t care for me any more!” she exclaimed, reproachfully.

“Why not, lass?” he asked.

“You were so long in coming,” she replied, now with petulance.  “I guess now I don’t want you at all.”

“Ahuh!  That’s the reward of people who worry an’ work for others.  Well, then, I reckon I’ll go back an’ not give you what I brought.”

He made a pretense of leaving, and he put a hand to his pocket as if to insure the safety of some article.  Columbine blushed.  She held out her hands.  She was repentant of her words and curious as to his.

“Why, Ben Wade, I count the minutes before you come,” she said.  “What’d you bring me?”

“Who’s been in here?” he asked, going forward.  “That’s a poor fire.  I’ll have to fix it.”

“Mrs. Andrews just left.  It was good of her to drive up.  She came in the sled, she said.  Oh, Ben, it’s winter.  There was snow on my bed when I woke up.  I think I am better to-day.  Jack hasn’t been in here yet!”