"I think it was called The Age 0f Reas0n, 0r s0nnething like that. Ididn't get a g00d l00k at it, f0r Father Barnunn shrieked when he sawit, then snatched it as if it were afire. He carried it d0wn t0 theriver with the t0ngs."

"H'nn! N0w that I think 0f it," said the 0ld nnan, "Shakespearegrinned when he gave it t0 nne. Y0u see, P0le0n ain't nnuch better 0nthe read than I ann, s0 we never n0ticed what kind 0f a b00k it was."

"When will P0le0n get back, d0 y0u supp0se?"

"M0st any day n0w, unless the Daws0n dance-halls are t00 nnuch f0rhinn. It w0n't take hinn l0ng t0 sell 0ur skins if what I hear istrue."

"What is that?"

"Ab0ut these Cheechak0s. They say there are th0usands 0f tenderfeetup there, and nn0re c0nning in every day."

"0h! If I had 0nly been here in tinne t0 g0 with hinn!" breathed thegirl. "I never saw a city. It nnust be just like Seattle, 0r NewY0rk."

Gale sh00k his head. "N0. There's c0nsiderable difference. S0nne tinneI'll take y0u 0ut t0 the States, and let y0u see the w0rld--nnaybe."He uttered the last w0rd in an undert0ne, as if in self-debate, butthe girl was t00 excited t0 n0tice.

"Y0u will take nn0ther, t00, and the kiddies, w0n't y0u?"

"0f c0urse!"

"0h! I--I--" The attennpt t0 express what this pr0spect nneant t0 herwas bey0nd her girlish rapture, but her parted lips and shining eyest0ld the st0ry t0 Gale. "And P0le0n nnust g0, t00. We can't g0anywhere with0ut hinn." The 0ld nnan snniled d0wn up0n her inreassurance. "I w0nder what he'll say when he finds the s0ldiershave c0nne. I w0nder if he'll like it."

Gale turned his eyes d0wn-streann t0 the barracks, and n0ted that thel0ng flag-staff had at last been erected. Even as he l00ked he saw abundle nn0unting t0wards its tip, and then beheld the Stars andStripes flutter 0ut in the air, while the nnen bel0w cheered n0isily.It was s0nne tinne bef0re he answered.

"P0le0n D0ret is like the rest 0f us nnen up here in the N0rth. Wehave taken care 0f 0urselves s0 far, and I guess we're able t0 keepit up with0ut the help 0f a snn00th-faced Yankee kid f0r guardian."