Angela said nothing. She had got beyond repartee. The immediate past was a nightmare, filled with terrible journeying, close proximity with the sweepings of the gutter, and sights that at times almost froze the blood within her. And yet the worst had not arrived! Twice she had tried to escape from this enforced pilgrimage, but had failed utterly. Jim had brought her back by brute force. She became aware of the difficulties that faced her. She was his wife--his property. Had any modern Don Quixote felt like rescuing a beautiful woman in distress, he might well have hesitated at sight of the husband. As civilization was left behind so the hope of escape lessened. Her brain swam as she beheld this terrifying thing over which she was expected--nay, compelled--to travel. Yet other women were doing it--women with children in their arms! But perhaps they loved the men they accompanied, whilst she---- She bit her lips as she looked at the grim face of Jim. All the gear had to be packed over that awful height. Jim, anxious to save time, collared three wiry Indians and bargained with them. For ten cents a pound they were ready to pack the gear. He agreed, and she saw them take on to their backs an immense burden. Each of them carried no less than 200 pounds. With these crushing weights they were going to climb the dizzy path. It was amazing! The Indians having started, Jim began to strap the rest of the packages about him. Despite her hate, she could not but feel a sense of admiration. When she thought his back was about to break he still added more, grunting as he took up the packages. All but a sack of beans found lodgment on that huge body. The latter he placed into her hands. "Take that," he said. She hesitated, and then took it, carrying it in her arms as she might a child. "Better shoulder it," he growled. "I can carry it better this way," she retorted. He said no more but began the ascent. In a few minutes she found herself almost exhausted. She moved the sack to her shoulder and found this method much easier. Looking at it from the base, the Chilcoot had been terrifying enough, but on the slope it was a thousand times worse. She remembered a conversation between Jim and a man on the steamer who had made the ascent many times. "Say, is this Chilcoot as husky a thing as they make out?" queried Jim. "Wal, stranger, I calculated it would be steepish, but darn me if I thought it would lean back!" the other had replied.