Travel back and forth had broken the road in the valley. It was not until the riders struck the hill trail that they had to buck drifts. It was slow, wearing work, and, by the time they came in sight of the dam, Betty’s watch told her that it was two o’clock. Merrick saw them coming down the long white slope and wondered what travelers had business urgent enough to bring them through heavy drifts to the isolated camp. As soon as he recognized Betty, he went to meet her. Billy rode on down to the tents. He knew when he was not needed. Rich color glowed in her cheeks, excitement sparkled in her eyes. “What in the world are you doing here?” Merrick asked. She was the least bit dashed by his manner. It suggested censure, implied that her adventure--whatever the cause of it--was a bit of headstrong folly. Did he think it was a girl’s place to stay at home in weather like this? Did he think that she was unmaidenly, had bucked miles of snowdrifts because she could not stay away from him? “Have you heard about Mr. Hollister? He’s been hurt--shot.” “Shot?” “Last night. At Black’s cabin.” “Who shot him?” “I don’t know. He’s pretty bad, Billy says.” “Doctor seen him yet?” “He’s on the way now. I want you to take me to him, Justin.” “Take _you_? What for?” “To nurse him.” He smiled, the superior smile of one prepared to argue away the foolish fancies of a girl. “Is your father home yet?” “No. He’ll be back to-morrow. Why?” “Because, dear girl, you can’t go farther. In the first place, it’s not necessary. I’ll do all that can be done for Hollister. The trip from here won’t be a picnic.” “I’ve brought my skis. I can get in all right,” she protested eagerly. “I grant that. But there’s no need for you to go. You’d far better not. It’s not quite--” He stopped in mid-sentence, with an expressive lift of the shoulders. “Not quite proper. I didn’t expect _you_ to say that, Justin,” she reproached. “After what he did for us.” “He did only what any self-respecting man would do.” Her smile coaxed him. “Well, I want to do only what any self-respecting woman would do. Surely it’ll be all right if you go along.” How could he tell her that he knew no other unmarried woman of her age, outside of professional nurses, who would consider such a thing for the sake of a comparative stranger? How could he make her see that Black’s cabin was no place for a young girl to stay? He was exasperated at her persistence. It offended his _amour propre_. Why all this discussion about one of his employees who had been a tramp only a few months since? Merrick shook his head. His lips smiled, but there was no smile in his eyes. “You’re a very impulsive and very generous young woman. But if you were a little older you would see--”