“I hope so,” returned the stranger gravely, “for what is possible for him is possible for us.”

“Then you are anxious to get away,” Kate could not help saying.

“Very.”

The reply was not discourteous in manner, but was so far from gallant that Kate felt a new and inconsistent resentment.  Before she could say anything he added, “And I hope you will remember, whatever may happen, that I did my best to avoid staying here longer than was necessary to keep my friend from bleeding to death in the road.”

“Certainly,” said Kate; then added awkwardly, “I hope he’ll be better soon.”  She was silent, and then, quickening her pace, said hurriedly, “I must tell my sister this dreadful news.”

“I think she is prepared for it.  If there is anything I can do to help you I hope you will let me know.  Perhaps I may be of some service.  I shall begin by exploring the trails to-morrow, for the best service we can do you possibly is to take ourselves off; but I can carry a gun, and the woods are full of game driven down from the mountains.  Let me show you something you may not have noticed.”  He stopped, and pointed to a small knoll of sheltered shrubbery and granite on the opposite mountain, which still remained black against the surrounding snow.  It seemed to be thickly covered with moving objects.  “They are wild animals driven out of the snow,” said the stranger.  “That larger one is a grizzly; there is a panther, wolves, wild cats, a fox, and some mountain goats.”

“An ill-assorted party,” said the young girl.

“Ill luck makes them companions.  They are too frightened to hurt one another now.”

“But they will eat each other later on,” said Kate, stealing a glance at her companion.

He lifted his long lashes and met her eyes.  “Not on a haven of refuge.”

CHAPTER IV

Kate found her sister, as the stranger had intimated, fully prepared.  A hasty inventory of provisions and means of subsistence showed that they had ample resources for a much longer isolation.

“They tell me it is by no means an uncommon case, Kate; somebody over at somebody’s place was snowed in for four weeks, and now it appears that even the Summit House is not always accessible.  John ought to have known it when he bought the place; in fact, I was ashamed to admit that he did not.  But that is like John to prefer his own theories to the experience of others.  However, I don’t suppose we should even notice the privation except for the mails.  It will be a lesson to John, though.  As Mr. Lee says, he is on the outside, and can probably go wherever he likes from the Summit except to come here.”

“Mr. Lee?” echoed Kate.

“Yes, the wounded one; and the other’s name is Falkner.  I asked them in order that you might be properly introduced.  There were very respectable Falkners in Charlestown, you remember; I thought you might warm to the name, and perhaps trace the connection, now that you are such good friends.  It’s providential they are here, as we haven’t got a horse or a man in the place since Manuel disappeared, though Mr. Falkner says he can’t be far away, or they would have met him on the trail if he had gone towards the Summit.”