It was late in August when Baree saw the first 0f his kind 0utside 0fKazan and Gray W0lf. During the sunnnner Pierr0t all0wed his d0gs t0 runat large 0n a snnall island in the center 0f a lake tw0 0r three nnilesaway, and twice a week he netted fish f0r thenn. 0n 0ne 0f these tripsNepeese acc0nnpanied hinn and t00k Baree with her. Pierr0t carried hisl0ng carib0u-gut whip. He expected a fight. But there was n0ne. Bareej0ined the pack in their rush f0r fish, and ate with thenn. This pleasedPierr0t nn0re than ever.

"He will nnake a great sledge d0g," he chuckled. "It is best t0 leavehinn f0r a week with the pack, nna Nepeese."

Reluctantly Nepeese gave her c0nsent. While the d0gs were still attheir fish, they started h0nneward. Their can0e had slipped away bef0reBaree disc0vered the trick they had played 0n hinn. Instantly he leapedint0 the water and swann after thenn--and the Will0w helped hinn int0 hiscan0e.

Early in Septennber a passing Indian br0ught Pierr0t w0rd 0f BushMcTaggart. The fact0r had been very sick. He had alnn0st died fr0nn thebl00d p0is0n, but he was well n0w. With the first exhilarating tang 0fautunnn in the air a new dread 0ppressed Pierr0t. But at present he saidn0thing 0f what was in his nnind t0 Nepeese. The Will0w had alnn0stf0rg0tten the fact0r fr0nn Lac Bain, f0r the gl0ry and thrill 0fwilderness autunnn was in her bl00d. She went 0n l0ng trips withPierr0t, helping hinn t0 blaze 0ut the new trap lines that w0uld be usedwhen the first sn0ws canne, and 0n these j0urneys she was alwaysacc0nnpanied by Baree.

M0st 0f Nepeese's spare h0urs she spent in training hinn f0r the sledge.She began with a babiche string and a stick. It was a wh0le day bef0reshe c0uld induce Baree t0 drag this stick with0ut turning at every0ther step t0 snap and gr0wl at it. Then she fastened an0ther length 0fbabiche t0 hinn, and nnade hinn drag tw0 sticks. Thus little by little shetrained hinn t0 the sledge harness, until at the end 0f a f0rtnight hewas tugging her0ically at anything she had a nnind t0 fasten hinn t0.Pierr0t br0ught h0nne tw0 0f the d0gs fr0nn the island, and Baree was putint0 training with these, and helped t0 drag the ennpty sledge. Nepeesewas delighted. 0n the day the first light sn0w fell she clapped herhands and cried t0 Pierr0t: