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Very slowly, breathing in gasps with a catch and a groan, Ja my own bruises, I ran to him, and dropped to ht?"

"No," he said shortly, and collapsed on the ground, wheezing gently

His face was no ht; the rest of his body was so dark as to be nearly invisible I found out why as I ran my hands swiftly over him His clothes were so soaked with blood that they stuck to his body, his hunting shirt co sound as I pulled at it

"You s under his chin for a pulse It was fast--no great surprise--but strong, and a wave of relief washed over me "Is that your blood, or the bear’s?"

"If it washis eyes "No credit to you that I’ot to his hands and knees, groaning "What possessed ye, wo for my life?"

"Hold still, for heaven’s sake!" He couldn’t be too badly hurt if he was trying to get away I clutched hi behind hierly up his sides "Broken ribs?" I said

"No But if ye ticklebetords

"I won’t," I assured hi lightly No splintered ends protruding through the skin, no sinister depressions or soft spots; crackedbroken He yelped and twitched under my hand "Bad spot there?"

"It is," he said between his teeth He was beginning to shiver, and I hurried to fetch his plaid, which I wrapped about his shoulders

"I’ away my attempts to help him to a seat "Go see to the horses; they’ll be upset" They were We had hobbled the horses a little way froood deal farther under the i and whinnying I could hear in the distance

There were still s from the deep shadows under the trees; the sound was so human that the hair prickled on the back ofthe sounds, I went and found the horses, cowering in a birch grove a few hundred yards away They whickered when they scented hted to see me, bear piss and all

By the time I had soothed the horses and coaxed the, the pitiful noises frolow in the clearing; Jaain

He was crouched next to the tiny blaze, still shivering under his plaid I fed in enough sticks to o out, then turned my attention to hied?" I asked, still worried

He gave ood one across the back, but I dinna think it’s verra bad Have a look?" He straightened up, wincing, and felt his side gingerly as I crossed behind hi his head tohere the bear’s carcass lay "Myers said the black bears dinna often attack ye, without ye provoke theested "And then had the sense to get out of the way" I lifted the plaid, and whistled underin shreds, smeared with dirt and ash, splotched with blood His blood this tiently pulled the tattered pieces of the shirt apart, exposing the long bow of his back Four long claw-es that tapered to superficial red welts

"Ooh!" I said, in syh my back was much to look at, anyway," he joked feebly "Really, is it bad?" He twisted around, trying to see, then stopped, grunting as the h; I’ll need to wash it out" The blood had already begun to clot; the wounds would need to be cleansed at once I put the plaid back and set on a pan of water to boil, thinking what else I ht use

"I saw some arrowhead plant down near the streaain froht froht?" I paused and looked at hili the lines of his face into strong relief

"Aye, I will" He ht of dyin’ asleep in o"

A sickle-ht over the trees, and I had little trouble finding the place I reht, chillingfor tubers of the arrowhead plant

S all around me, and the stiff leaves of cattails rustled softly in the evening breeze It was very, very peaceful, and all of a sudden I foundso hard that I had to sit down on the stream bank

Anytime It could happen anytime, and just this fast I wasn’t sure which seemed ht, alive with pro the sickness, the residue of shock, drain away It didn’t matter, I told myself Not only anytime, but anywhere Disease, car wreck, randoe for anyone, but like ed not to think of thatof the claw marks on Ja…had the wounds been slightly deeper…for that ainst that danger, I could fight

The thought brought me back to myself, the squashed leaves and roots cool and wet in my hand I splashed cold water oversoh the thin scriainst the fire Sitting bolt upright, in a way thathis wounds