Fremling noted the furtive glance the young man threw over his shoulder, and the nervous dilation of his nostrils.
"Tell me," begged David at last, "this—this thing that haunts me... can you destroy it... can you lift the Curse? Oh, I can not bear more."
"Poor boy!" said the older man. "All alone here in the wilderness with that ever at your side. I can realize what you must suffer."
At the compassion and understanding in Fremling's voice, the other looked up with tears in his eyds.
"I am going mad. I meant to end it all tonight. To walk on and on into the very heart of the storm, until the cold and snow had frozen the life out of me and I could never wait or fear or suffer any more."
"Only to find your implacable enemy awaiting you on the other side of the door you would thus force o
