to　mount　the　barrel。
  He　bent　over　so　that　Edith　could　adjust　the　rope　about　his　neck。
  Then　he　stood　upright　while　Hans　drew　the　rope　taut　across　the
  overhead　branch。
  〃Michael　Dennin；　have　you　anything　to　say？〃　Edith　asked　in　a　clear
  voice　that　shook　in　spite　of　her。
  Dennin　shuffled　his　feet　on　the　barrel；　looked　down　bashfully　like
  a　man　making　his　maiden　speech；　and　cleared　his　throat。
  〃I'm　glad　it's　over　with；〃　he　said。　　〃You've　treated　me　like　a
  Christian；　an'　I'm　thankin'　you　hearty　for　your　kindness。〃
  〃Then　may　God　receive　you；　a　repentant　sinner；〃　she　said。
  〃Ay；〃　he　answered；　his　deep　voice　as　a　response　to　her　thin　one；
  〃may　God　receive　me；　a　repentant　sinner。〃
  〃Good…by；　Michael；〃　she　cried；　and　her　voice　sounded　desperate。
  She　threw　her　weight　against　the　barrel；　but　it　did　not　overturn。
  〃Hans！　　Quick！　　Help　me！〃　she　cried　faintly。
  She　could　feel　her　last　strength　going；　and　the　barrel　resisted
  her。　　Hans　hurried　to　her；　and　the　barrel　went　out　from　under
  Michael　Dennin。
  She　turned　her　back；　thrusting　her　fingers　into　her　ears。　　Then　she
  began　to　laugh；　harshly；　sharply；　metallically；　and　Hans　was
  shocked　as　he　had　not　been　shocked　through　the　whole　tragedy。
  Edith　Nelson's　break…down　had　come。　　Even　in　her　hysteria　she　knew
  it；　and　she　was　glad　that　she　had　been　able　to　hold　up　under　the
  strain　until　everything　had　been　accomplished。　　She　reeled　toward
  Hans。
  〃Take　me　to　the　cabin；　Hans；〃　she　managed　to　articulate。
  〃And　let　me　rest；〃　she　added。　　〃Just　let　me　rest；　and　rest；　and
  rest。〃
  With　Hans's　arm　around　her；　supporting　her　weight　and　directing　her
  helpless　steps；　she　went　off　across　the　snow。　　But　the　Indians
  remained　solemnly　to　watch　the　working　of　the　white　man's　law　that
  compelled　a　man　to　dance　upon　the　air。