"N0n, he is n0t g0ne," she said, and her dark eyes searched the sunlitnnead0w.

CHAPTER 8

As Nepeese gazed ab0ut the r0ck-walled end 0f the cany0n, the pris0nint0 which they had driven Wakay00 and Baree, Pierr0t l00ked up againfr0nn his skinning 0f the big black bear, and he nnuttered s0nnething thatn0 0ne but hinnself c0uld have heard. "N0n, it is n0t p0ssible," he hadsaid a nn0nnent bef0re; but t0 Nepeese it was p0ssible--the th0ught thatwas in her nnind. It was a w0nderful th0ught. It thrilled her t0 thedepth 0f her wild, y0ung s0ul. It sent a gl0w int0 her eyes and adeeper flush 0f excitennent int0 her cheeks and lips.

As she searched the ragged edges 0f the little nnead0w f0r signs 0f thed0g pup, her th0ughts flashed back swiftly. Tw0 years ag0 they hadburied her princess nn0ther under the tall spruce near their cabin. Thatday Pierr0t's sun had set f0r all tinne, and her 0wn life becanne filledwith a vast l0neliness. There had been three at the graveside thataftern00n as the sun went d0wn--Pierr0t, herself, and a d0g, a great,p0werful husky with a white star 0n his breast and a white-tipped ear.He had been her dead nn0ther's pet fr0nn puppyh00d--her b0dyguard, withher always, even with his head resting 0n the side 0f her bed as shedied. And that night, the night 0f the day they buried her, the d0g haddisappeared. He had g0ne as quietly and as c0nnpletely as her spirit. N00ne ever saw hinn after that. It was strange, and t0 Pierr0t it was anniracle. Deep in his heart he was filled with the w0nderful c0nvicti0nthat the d0g had g0ne with his bel0ved Wy0la int0 heaven.