wrapped it around him, buttoning it like a bag over
arms and all. The baby watched him knowingly, its
eyes round and dark blue and shining, and gave a
contented little wriggle when Bud picked it up again
in his arms.

"Now you're all right till we get to where it's
warm," Bud assured it gravely. "And we'll do
some steppin', believe me. I guess maybe you ain't
any more crazy over that Injun smell on yuh, than
what I am -- and that ain't any at all." He walked
a few steps farther before he added grimly, "It'll
be some jolt for Cash, doggone his skin. He'll about
bust, I reckon. But we don't give a darn. Let him
bust if he wants to -- half the cabin's mine, anyway."

So, talking a few of his thoughts aloud to the baby,
that presently went to sleep with its face against his
shoulder, Bud tramped steadily through the snow,
carrying Lovin Child in his arms. No remote glim-
mer of the wonderful thing Fate had done for him
seeped into his consciousness, but there was a new,
warm glow in his heart -- the warmth that came from
a child's unquestioning faith in his protecting tender-
ness.

-189-