“Peter!  Where is he?”

“Jude, let’s keep our stories until morning.  Things look different, then.  And you are all in.”

“So are you!”

“I’m not as bad off as you.  Let me tuck you up, dear.  When you’ve had a sleep, you can give me my turn.”

Too done up to protest, Judith allowed Douglas to wrap her in blankets and, with the Wolf Cub snuggled against her back, she dropped into slumber.  Douglas set himself to the task of keeping the fire going.  The snow ceased at midnight and the cold grew more intense.  Douglas chopped wood or walked up and down before the fire to fight off the snow stupor which constantly menaced him.  When the lethargy was too heavy to be controlled by exercise alone, he stooped over Judith and, lifting the corner of the blanket which covered her face, he would gaze at her with such joy and thankfulness as he never before had experienced.  Whatever the future might bring forth, he had her safe and warm for to-night.  And he wished that he believed in a God that he might thank Him!

CHAPTER XVIII

ELIJAH NELSON’S RANCH

“Call it Fate, call it Destiny, something stronger than my own will is shaping my destiny.”

—­Douglas Spencer.

At dawn Judith stirred, blinked at Douglas, and sat up, staring.  Her eyes were bloodshot and deep sunk in her head, but her look was full of energy, nevertheless.  Douglas was standing on the opposite side of the fire.

“Have you been up all night?” she demanded.

“Had to keep the fire,” he mumbled, swaying as he spoke.

Judith crawled out of the blankets, took Doug by the arm, and pushed him down in the warm nest she had left.  Then she covered him carefully.

“It’s my turn now,” she said.

He slept until noon.  When he woke, Judith was making coffee, and the little wild mare was munching oats with the other horses.  The Wolf Cub was gnawing on a bone, and the sun sifted brilliantly through the cedars.  Douglas got to his feet stiffly and Judith looked up at him from her cooking with a smile.

“Nothing like having your breakfast served immediately on waking,” said Douglas.

“Come and eat, Doug.  We must be on our way.”  Judith poured a tin cup of coffee and offered Douglas a bacon sandwich as she spoke.

“You shouldn’t have let me sleep so long.  A couple of hours would have kept me going the rest of the day.”

“You talk as foolish as old Johnny!” exclaimed Judith.  “You were in almost as bad shape as I was, and two hours’ sleep would have been a mere aggravation to me.  Will you let me have enough grub to see me down to the Bowdins’ ranch, Doug?”

“No, I won’t,” replied Douglas succinctly, bracing himself for battle as he spoke.

“Don’t let’s quarrel, Doug.”  Judith kept her eyes on the fire.  “I haven’t any intention of going back to Lost Chief.  I’ve broken away and I shall stay away.”