It was thus, with a note of something inevitable in his voice, that Stampede brought Alan back solidly to earth.

There was a practical and awakening inspiration in the manner of the little red-whiskered man's invitation.
"I've been a damn fool," he confessed.

"And I'm waiting." The word was like a key opening a door through which a flood of things began to rush in upon Alan.

There were other fools, and evidently he had been one.

His mind went back to the _Nome_.