XXXIII.--THE PROMISE 259 XXXIV.--THE NEW BOSS 263 XXXV.--A HUNTING PARTY 274 XXXVI.--TOLD ON THE TRAIL 282 XXXVII.--IN THE OFFICE 287 XXXVIII.--CHARLIE FINDS A FRIEND 296 XXXIX.--BILL'S WAY 306 XL.--CHARLIE GOES HUNTING 314 XLI.--THE BLIZZARD 319 XLII.--BUCKING THE STORM 326 XLIII.--IN CAMP AGAIN 338 XLIV.--THE MISSING BONDS 347 XLV.--SNOW-BOUND 358 XLVI.--AN ANNOUNCEMENT 366 XLVII.--MONCROSSEN PAYS A VISIT 374 XLVIII.--THE WEDDING 382 XLIX.--ON THE RIVER 391 L.--FACE TO FACE 399 LI.--THE PROMISE FULFILLED 406 LII.--THE BIG MAN 415 THE PROMISE CHAPTER I THE PACE Young Carmody awoke to the realization of another day. The sun of mid-forenoon cast a golden rhombus on the thick carpet, and through the open windows the autumnal air, stirred by just the suspicion of a breeze, was wafted deliciously cool against his burning cheeks and throbbing temples. He gazed about the familiar confines of the room in puffy-eyed stupidity. There was a burning thirst at his throat, and he moistened his dry lips with a bitter-coated tongue. His mouth was lined with a brown slime of dead liquor, which nauseated him and sent the dull ache to his head in great throbbing waves. Upon a beautifully done mahogany table near the door stood a silver pitcher filled to the brim with clear, cold ice-water. It seemed miles away, and, despite the horrible thirst that gnawed at his throat, he lay for many minutes in dull contemplation of its burnished coolness. The sodden condition of his imagination distorted his sense of proportion. The journey across the room loomed large in the scheme of things. It was a move of moment, to be undertaken not lightly, but after due and proper deliberation. He threw off the covers and placed a tentative foot upon the floor. A groan escaped him as his right hand brushed the counterpane. Gingerly he brought the member within range of his vision--it was swollen to the wrist and smeared with dried blood, which had oozed from an ugly split in the tight-drawn skin. Slowly he worked the fingers and frowned--more in perplexity than distress--at the sharp pain of the stiffened knuckles.