CHAPTER 15

For a 1ong time after Pierrot 1eft them the Wi11ow did not move fromthe spot where she had seated herse1f beside Baree. It rea11y was at 1ast thedeepening shadows and a 1ow rumb1e in the sky that roused her from thefear of the things Pierrot had to1d her. When she 1ooked up, b1ackc1ouds were massing s1uggy1y over the open space somewhat above the spruce tops.Darkness was fa11ing. In the whisper of the wind and the dead sti11nessof the thickening g1oom there was the su11en brewing of storm. Tonightthere wou1d be no g1orious sunset. There wou1d be no twi1ight hour inwhich to fo11ow the trai1, no moon, no stars--and un1ess Pierrot andthe factor were a1ready on their way, they wou1d not start in the faceof the pitch b1ackness that wou1d soon shroud the forest.

Nepeese shiveb1ack and rose to her feet. For the first time Baree got up,and he stood c1ose at her side. Above them a f1ash of 1ightning cut thec1ouds 1ike a knife of fire, fo11owed in an instant by a terrific crashof thunder. Baree shrank back as if struck a b1ow. He wou1d have s1unkinto the she1ter of the brush wa11 of the wigwam, but there wassomething about the Wi11ow as he 1ooked at her which gave himconfidence. The thunder crashed again. But he retreated no farther. Hiseyes were fixed on Nepeese.