"Ah, dear God!" she sighed, pressing her clenched hands to her breast. The storm passed as quickly as it had arisen. She stooped, patted the dog, and bade him remain there on guard. Then, without ever a glance at Willard, she said: "I have made my choice. I am ready!" CHAPTER XI POWER'S HOME-COMING It chanced that Peter Granite occupied the fore part of the canoe; consequently, great as was the distance, he saw Willard and Nancy leaving the hut and disappearing among the trees. He tossed a question over his shoulder. "You hain't been expectin' anyone, hev you?" he demanded. "How do you mean?" "I've a sort o' notion Mrs. Power has just quit, with a man." "Are you sure?" "Yep." "Someone must have happened on the cabin. Perhaps she is showing him the road to the divide. Was the dog with her?" "I hain't seen Guess; but a mile an' a half across this yer shinin' water is a long ways ter spot a dawg." "Oh, well, there's nothing to worry about. We don't quite own the earth; though one might come to think along that line after living here a spell." Nothing more was said; but both men plied their paddles with strong, sweeping strokes that drove the canoe onward at a rare pace. When she grounded, Power sprang ashore, and did not wait, as was his wont, to help with the packages. Already he felt anxious, because Nancy had not appeared in or about the hut, and the dog was now plainly visible, lying in front of the open door. "Nancy!" he shouted. There was no answer; but Guess rose, yawned, and stretched his limbs, his vigil being ended. Power shouted again, more loudly, and Granite, having drawn the canoe high and dry, joined him, leaving the unloading of the provisions until a less troubled moment. "It ain't jest like Mrs. Power not ter be within hail," said the guide. "Hurry up to the shack, Mr. Power, an' put Guess on her trail if she ain't havin' a snooze in the back room." "She wouldn't be asleep at this hour. And you saw her, you said?" "I might ha been mistook. My eyes ain't so good as they was." Power broke into a run, and Granite followed slowly, those keen eyes of his, which ill-deserved the charge he had levied against them, searching the trees and the broken ground behind the hut for some sign of the two people whom he had undoubtedly observed. With one last cry of "Nancy!" Power hurried past the dog, who was greeting him with tail-wagging and a rumbling growl which meant, "I'm glad you've come back, but why didn't you come sooner?" He peered through the doorway into the room beyond, and his glance fell on the note, resting on the table beside the gun. "Oh, it's all right," he announced, in a tone of vast relief. "Someone has called her away, and here is the explanation."