It was nobody’s fault except the man’s that Loraine Lisznayi at last landed him.  The way of a man with a maid may be too wonderful to know, but the way of a woman with a man passeth all conception; whence the prophet were indeed unwise who would dare forecast Floyd Vanderlip’s course twenty-four hours in advance.  Perhaps the model-woman’s attraction lay in that to the eye she was a handsome animal; perhaps she fascinated him with her old-world talk of palaces and princes; leastwise she dazzled him whose life had been worked out in uncultured roughness, and he at last agreed to her suggestion of a run down the river and a marriage at Forty Mile.  In token of his intention he bought dogs from Sitka Charley,—­more than one sled is necessary when a woman like Loraine Lisznayi takes to the trail, and then went up the creek to give orders for the superintendence of his Bonanza mines during his absence.

He had given it out, rather vaguely, that he needed the animals for sledding lumber from the mill to his sluices, and right here is where Sitka Charley demonstrated his fitness.  He agreed to furnish dogs on a given date, but no sooner had Floyd Vanderlip turned his toes up-creek, than Charley hied himself away in perturbation to Loraine Lisznayi.  Did she know where Mr. Vanderlip had gone?  He had agreed to supply that gentleman with a big string of dogs by a certain time; but that shameless one, the German trader Meyers, had been buying up the brutes and skimped the market.  It was very necessary he should see Mr. Vanderlip, because of the shameless one he would be all of a week behindhand in filling the contract.  She did know where he had gone?  Up-creek?  Good!  He would strike out after him at once and inform him of the unhappy delay.  Did he understand her to say that Mr. Vanderlip needed the dogs on Friday night? that he must have them by that time?  It was too bad, but it was the fault of the shameless one who had bid up the prices.  They had jumped fifty dollars per head, and should he buy on the rising market he would lose by the contract.  He wondered if Mr. Vanderlip would be willing to meet the advance.  She knew he would?  Being Mr. Vanderlip’s friend, she would even meet the difference herself?  And he was to say nothing about it?  She was kind to so look to his interests.  Friday night, did she say?  Good!  The dogs would be on hand.

An hour later, Freda knew the elopement was to be pulled off on Friday night; also, that Floyd Vanderlip had gone up-creek, and her hands were tied.  On Friday morning, Devereaux, the official courier, bearing despatches from the Governor, arrived over the ice.  Besides the despatches, he brought news of Flossie.  He had passed her camp at Sixty Mile; humans and dogs were in good condition; and she would doubtless be in on the morrow.  Mrs. Eppingwell experienced a great relief on hearing this; Floyd Vanderlip was safe up-creek, and ere the Greek girl could again lay hands upon him, his bride would be