NEIGHBORS Sim Gage, hesitant at the door of his bare-floored tent in the cool dawn, saw smoke arising from the chimney of Wid Gardner's house.

From a sense of need he determined to pay Wid a visit.

His leg was doing badly.

He needed help, and knew it.

He hobbled over to the cabin door, where all was silent; knocked, and knocked again, more loudly.
She still slept--slept as she had not dreamed she could.
"Who's there ?" she demanded at length.