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businesslike way：
〃Never mind what he thinks。 That will come after。 At present we
have two graves to dig。 But first of all； we've got to tie up
Dennin so he can't escape。〃
Hans refused to touch Dennin； but Edith lashed him securely； hand
and foot。 Then she and Hans went out into the snow。 The ground
was frozen。 It was impervious to a blow of the pick。 They first
gathered wood； then scraped the snow away and on the frozen surface
built a fire。 When the fire had burned for an hour； several inches
of dirt had thawed。 This they shovelled out； and then built a
fresh fire。 Their descent into the earth progressed at the rate of
two or three inches an hour。
It was hard and bitter work。 The flurrying snow did not permit the
fire to burn any too well； while the wind cut through their clothes
and chilled their bodies。 They held but little conversation。 The
wind interfered with speech。 Beyond wondering at what could have
been Dennin's motive； they remained silent； oppressed by the horror
of the tragedy。 At one o'clock； looking toward the cabin； Hans
announced that he was hungry。
〃No； not now； Hans；〃 Edith answered。 〃I couldn't go back alone
into that cabin the way it is； and cook a meal。〃
At two o'clock Hans volunteered to go with her； but she held him to
his work； and four o'clock found the two graves completed。 They
were shallow； not more than two feet deep； but they would serve the
purpose。 Night had fallen。 Hans got the sled； and the two dead
men were dragged through the darkness and storm to their frozen
sepulchre。 The funeral procession was anything but a pageant。 The
sled sank deep into the drifted snow and pulled hard。 The man and
the woman had eaten nothing since the previous day； and were weak
from hunger and exhaustion。 They had not the strength to resist
the wind； and at times its buffets hurled them off their feet。 On
several occasions the sled was overturned； and they were compelled
to reload it with its sombre freight。 The last hundred feet to the
graves was up a steep slope； and this they took on all fours； like
sled…dogs； making legs of their arms and thrusting their hands into
the snow。 Even so； they were twice dragged backward by the weight
of the sled； and slid and fell down the hill； the living and the
dead； the haul…ropes and the sled； in ghastly entanglement。
〃To…morrow I will put up head…boards with their names；〃 Hans said；
when the graves were filled in。
Edith was sobbing。 A few broken sentences had been all she was
capable of in the way of a funeral service； and now her husband was
compelled to half…carry her back to the cabin。
Dennin was conscious。 He had rolled over and over on the floor in
vain efforts to free himself。 He watched Hans and Edith with
glittering eyes； but made no attempt to speak。 Hans still refused
to touch the murderer； and sullenly watched Edith drag him across
the floor to the men's bunk…room。 But try as she would； she could
not lift him from the floor into his bunk。
〃Better let me shoot him； and we'll have no more trouble；〃 Hans
said in final appeal。
Edith shook her head and bent again to her task。 To her surprise
the body rose easily； and she knew Hans had relented and was
helping her。 Then came the cleansing of the kitchen。 But the
floor still shrieked the tragedy； until Hans planed the surface of
the stained wood away and with the shavings made a fire in the
stove。
The days came and went。 There was much of darkness and silence；
broken only by the storms and the thunder on the beach of the
freezing surf。 Hans was obedient to Edith's slightest order。 All
his splendid initiative had vanished。 She had elected to deal with
Dennin in her way； and so he left the whole matter in her hands。
The murderer was a constant menace。 At all times there was the
chance that he might free himself from his bonds； and they were
compelled to guard him day and night。 The man or the woman sat
always beside him； holding the loaded shot…gun。 At first； Edith
tried eight…hour watches； but the continuous strain was too great；
and afterwards she and Hans relieved each other every four hours。
As they had to sleep； and as the watches extended through the
night； their whole waking time was expended in guarding Dennin。
They had barely time left over for the preparation of meals and the
getting of firewood。
Since Negook's inopportune visit； the Indians had avoided the
cabin。 Edith sent Hans to their cabins to get them to take Dennin
down the coast in a canoe to the nearest white settlement or
trading post； but the errand was fruitless。 Then Edith went
herself and interviewed Negook。 He was head man of the little
village； keenly aware of his responsibility； and he elucidated his
policy thoroughly in few words。
〃It is white man's trouble〃； he said； 〃not Siwash trouble。 My
people help you； then will it be Siwash trouble too。 When white
man's trouble and Siwash trouble come together and make a trouble；
it is a great trouble； beyond understanding and without end。
Trouble no good。 My people do no wrong。 What for they help you
and have trouble？〃
So Edith Nelson went back to the terrible cabin with its endless
alternating four…hour watches。 Sometimes； when it was her turn and
she sat by the prisoner； the loaded shot…gun in her lap； her eyes
would close and she would doze。 Always she aroused with a start；
snatching up the gun and swiftly looking at him。 These were
distinct nervous shocks； and their effect was not good on her。
Such was her fear of the man； that even though she were wide awake；
if he moved under the bedclothes she could not repress the start
and the quick reach for the gun。
She was preparing herself for a nervous break…down； and she knew
it。 First came a fluttering of the eyeballs； so that she was
compelled to close her eyes for relief。 A little later the eyelids
were afflicted by a nervous twitching that she could not control。
To add to the strain； she could not forget the tragedy。 She
remained as close to the horror as on the first morning when the
unexpected stalked into the cabin and took possession。 In her
daily ministrations upon the prisoner she was forced to grit her
teeth and steel herself； body and spirit。
Hans was affected differently。 He became obsessed by the idea that
it was his duty to kill Dennin； and whenever he waited upon the
bound man or watched by him； Edith was troubled by the fear that
Hans would add another red entry to the cabin's record。 Always he
cursed Dennin savagely and handled him roughly。 Hans tried to
conceal his homicidal mania； and he would say to his wife： 〃By and
by you will want me to kill him； and then I will not kill him。 It
would make me sick。〃 But more than once； stealing into the room；
when it was her watch off； she would catch the two men glaring
ferociously at each other； wild animals the pair of them； in Hans's
face the lust to kill； in Dennin's the fierceness and savagery of
the cornered rat。 〃Hans！〃 she would cry； 〃wake up！〃 and he would
come to a recollection of himself； startled and shamefaced and
unrepentant。
So Hans became another factor in the problem the unexpected had
given Edith Nelson to solve。 At first it had been merely a
question of right conduct in dealing with Dennin； and right
conduct； as she conceived it； lay in keeping him a prisoner until
he could be turned over for trial before a proper tribunal。 But
now entered Hans； and she saw that his sanity and his salvation
were involved。 Nor was she long in discovering that her own
strength and endurance had become part of the problem。 She was
breaking down under the strain。 Her left arm had developed
involuntary jerkings and twitchings。 She spilled her food from her
spoon； and could place no r