It was years since he had seen a man from home, and the eager joy in his eyes told of long days and nights of lonely yearning for the old days and the old faces.

I came to understand this better after my two years' stay among these hills that have a strange power on some days to waken in a man longings that make his heart grow sick.

When supper was over we gathered about the little fire, while Jack and the half-breed smoked and talked.

I lay on my back looking up at the pale, steady stars in the deep blue of the cloudless sky, and listened in fullness of contented delight to the chat between Jack and the driver.

Now and then I asked a question, but not too often.