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Indian…killin'； an' thin pull out for Ireland？ An' so I started in
to kill all iv yez； but； as Harkey was fond of sayin'； I cut out
too large a chunk an' fell down on the swallowin' iv it。 An'
that's me confession。 I did me duty to the devil； an' now； God
willin'； I'll do me duty to God。〃
〃Negook and Hadikwan； you have heard the white man's words；〃 Edith
said to the Indians。 〃His words are here on this paper； and it is
for you to make a sign； thus； on the paper； so that white men to
come after will know that you have heard。〃
The two Siwashes put crosses opposite their signatures； received a
summons to appear on the morrow with all their tribe for a further
witnessing of things； and were allowed to go。
Dennin's hands were released long enough for him to sign the
document。 Then a silence fell in the room。 Hans was restless； and
Edith felt uncomfortable。 Dennin lay on his back； staring straight
up at the moss…chinked roof。
〃An' now I'll do me duty to God；〃 he murmured。 He turned his head
toward Edith。 〃Read to me；〃 he said； 〃from the book；〃 then added；
with a glint of playfulness； 〃Mayhap 'twill help me to forget the
bunk。〃
The day of the execution broke clear and cold。 The thermometer was
down to twenty…five below zero； and a chill wind was blowing which
drove the frost through clothes and flesh to the bones。 For the
first time in many weeks Dennin stood upon his feet。 His muscles
had remained inactive so long； and he was so out of practice in
maintaining an erect position； that he could scarcely stand。
He reeled back and forth； staggered； and clutched hold of Edith
with his bound hands for support。
〃Sure； an' it's dizzy I am；〃 he laughed weakly。
A moment later he said； 〃An' it's glad I am that it's over with。
That damn bunk would iv been the death iv me； I know。〃
When Edith put his fur cap on his head and proceeded to pull the
flaps down over his ears； he laughed and said：
〃What are you doin' that for？〃
〃It's freezing cold outside〃； she answered。
〃An' in tin minutes' time what'll matter a frozen ear or so to poor
Michael Dennin？〃 he asked。
She had nerved herself for the last culminating ordeal； and his
remark was like a blow to her self…possession。 So far； everything
had seemed phantom…like； as in a dream； but the brutal truth of
what he had said shocked her eyes wide open to the reality of what
was taking place。 Nor was her distress unnoticed by the Irishman。
〃I'm sorry to be troublin' you with me foolish spache；〃 he said
regretfully。 〃I mint nothin' by it。 'Tis a great day for Michael
Dennin； an' he's as gay as a lark。〃
He broke out in a merry whistle； which quickly became lugubrious
and ceased。
〃I'm wishin' there was a priest；〃 he said wistfully； then added
swiftly； 〃But Michael Dennin's too old a campaigner to miss the
luxuries when he hits the trail。〃
He was so very weak and unused to walking that when the door opened
and he passed outside； the wind nearly carried him off his feet。
Edith and Hans walked on either side of him and supported him； the
while he cracked jokes and tried to keep them cheerful； breaking
off； once； long enough to arrange the forwarding of his share of
the gold to his mother in Ireland。
They climbed a slight hill and came out into an open space among
the trees。 Here； circled solemnly about a barrel that stood on end
in the snow； were Negook and Hadikwan； and all the Siwashes down to
the babies and the dogs； come to see the way of the white man's
law。 Near by was an open grave which Hans had burned into the
frozen earth。
Dennin cast a practical eye over the preparations； noting the
grave； the barrel； the thickness of the rope； and the diameter of
the limb over which the rope was passed。
〃Sure； an' I couldn't iv done better meself； Hans； if it'd been for
you。〃
He laughed loudly at his own sally； but Hans's face was frozen into
a sullen ghastliness that nothing less than the trump of doom could
have broken。 Also； Hans was feeling very sick。 He had not
realized the enormousness of the task of putting a fellow…man out
of the world。 Edith； on the other hand； had realized； but the
realization did not make the task any easier。 She was filled with
doubt as to whether she could hold herself together long enough to
finish it。 She felt incessant impulses to scream； to shriek； to
collapse into the snow； to put her hands over her eyes and turn and
run blindly away； into the forest； anywhere； away。 It was only by
a supreme effort of soul that she was able to keep upright and go
on and do what she had to do。 And in the midst of it all she was
grateful to Dennin for the way he helped her。
〃Lind me a hand；〃 he said to Hans； with whose assistance he managed
to mount the barrel。
He bent over so that Edith could adjust the rope about his neck。
Then he stood upright while Hans drew the rope taut across the
overhead branch。
〃Michael Dennin； have you anything to say？〃 Edith asked in a clear
voice that shook in spite of her。
Dennin shuffled his feet on the barrel； looked down bashfully like
a man making his maiden speech； and cleared his throat。
〃I'm glad it's over with；〃 he said。 〃You've treated me like a
Christian； an' I'm thankin' you hearty for your kindness。〃
〃Then may God receive you； a repentant sinner；〃 she said。
〃Ay；〃 he answered； his deep voice as a response to her thin one；
〃may God receive me； a repentant sinner。〃
〃Good…by； Michael；〃 she cried； and her voice sounded desperate。
She threw her weight against the barrel； but it did not overturn。
〃Hans！ Quick！ Help me！〃 she cried faintly。
She could feel her last strength going； and the barrel resisted
her。 Hans hurried to her； and the barrel went out from under
Michael Dennin。
She turned her back； thrusting her fingers into her ears。 Then she
began to laugh； harshly； sharply； metallically； and Hans was
shocked as he had not been shocked through the whole tragedy。
Edith Nelson's break…down had come。 Even in her hysteria she knew
it； and she was glad that she had been able to hold up under the
strain until everything had been accomplished。 She reeled toward
Hans。
〃Take me to the cabin； Hans；〃 she managed to articulate。
〃And let me rest；〃 she added。 〃Just let me rest； and rest； and
rest。〃
With Hans's arm around her； supporting her weight and directing her
helpless steps； she went off across the snow。 But the Indians
remained solemnly to watch the working of the white man's law that
compelled a man to dance upon the air。