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diff --git a/19489-h/19489-h.htm b/19489-h/19489-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..39e8f6d --- /dev/null +++ b/19489-h/19489-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5904 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Canoe Mates In Canada, by St. George Rathborne + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; + position: absolute; right: 2%; border:1px solid white; + padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; + color: #444; background-color: #EEE;} + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + hr.full {width:100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.major {width:75%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.minor {width:30%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + td.pr {padding-right:10px;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Canoe Mates in Canada, by St. George Rathborne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Canoe Mates in Canada + Three Boys Afloat on the Saskatchewan + +Author: St. George Rathborne + +Release Date: October 7, 2006 [EBook #19489] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CANOE MATES IN CANADA *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class='figcenter' style='width: 340px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='Once he had to paddle like a madman to keep from being sucked into the largest whirlpool along the course. [Page 12]' title='' width = '320' height = '525'/><br /> +<span class='caption'>Once he had to paddle like a madman to keep from being sucked into the largest whirlpool along the course. [Page 12]</span> +</div> + +<hr class='major' /> + +<table width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='' border='1'> + <tr><td> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 250%; margin-bottom: 0px; font-weight: bold;">Canoe Mates In</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 250%; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-weight: bold;">Canada</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; margin-bottom: 20px;">OR</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 110%; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;">THREE BOYS AFLOAT ON</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 110%; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;">THE</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 110%; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;">SASKATCHEWAN</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; margin-bottom: 10px;">By</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 15px; font-weight: bold;">ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 0px;">Author of<br />"THE HOUSE BOAT BOYS," "CHUMS IN DIXIE,"</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 80%; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 30px;">"THE YOUNG FUR TAKERS," Etc.</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='width: 100px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<img src='images/illus-emb.png' alt='' title='' /></div> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 100%; margin-bottom: 30px;">M. A. DONOHUE & CO.,<br/>Chicago</p> + </td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='major' /> + +<table width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='' border='1'> + <tr><td> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 160%;">CANOE AND CAMPFIRE SERIES</p> + +<p class="center">Four Books of Woodcraft and Adventure in the Forest +and on the Water that every Boy Scout should have in his Library</p> + +<p style="text-align: center;"><i>By ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE</i></p> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>CANOEMATES IN CANADA; or, Three Boys Afloat on the Saskatchewan.</p> +<p>THE YOUNG FUR-TAKERS; or, Traps and Trails in the Wilderness.</p> +<p>THE HOUSE-BOAT BOYS; or, Drifting Down to the Sunny South.</p> +<p>CHUMS IN DIXIE; or, The Strange Cruise of a Motor Boat.</p> +<p>CAMP MATES IN MICHIGAN; or, With Pack and Paddle in the Pine Woods.</p> +<p>ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOYS; or, Camping in the Big Game Country.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<p style="margin-left:5%; margin-right:5%;"> +In these four delightful volumes the author has drawn bountifully from +his thirty-five years experience as a true sportsman and lover of +nature, to reveal many of the secrets of the woods, such as all Boys +Scouts strive to know. And, besides, each book is replete with stirring +adventures among the four-footed denizens of the wilderness; so that a +feast of useful knowledge is served up, with just that class of stirring +incidents so eagerly welcomed by all boys with red blood in their veins. +For sale wherever books are sold, or sent prepaid for 50 cents each by +the publishers.</p> + </td></tr> +</table> +<p style="text-align: center;">Copyright, 1912, M. A. Donohue & Co.</p> + +<hr class='full' /> + + +<h2><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width:20%;" /> +<col style="width:70%;" /> +<col style="width:10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">Chapter</td> + <td></td> + <td align="right">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">I.</td> + <td align="left">A PLUNGE DOWN THE RAPIDS.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I.">7</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">II.</td> + <td align="left">THE CAMP UNDER THE HEMLOCKS.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II.">17</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">III.</td> + <td align="left">COMRADES.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III.">28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IV.</td> + <td align="left">THE THREE SMOKE SIGNALS.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV.">37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">V.</td> + <td align="left">THE FALSE CHART OF DUBOIS.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V.">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VI.</td> + <td align="left">THE TIMBER-CRUISER.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI.">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VII.</td> + <td align="left">OWL AND TIMBER WOLF.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII.">67</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VIII.</td> + <td align="left">THE CALL OF THE WILD.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII.">77</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IX.</td> + <td align="left">TRAPPER LORE.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX.">84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">X.</td> + <td align="left">MAGIC IN THE BERRIES.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X.">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XI.</td> + <td align="left">A BREAK IN THE CHAIN.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI.">117</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XII.</td> + <td align="left">ON THE TRACK OF ELI.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII.">127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIII</td> + <td align="left">BIRDS OF A FEATHER.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">137</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIV.</td> + <td align="left">WITHOUT AUTHORITY.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV.">152</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XV.</td> + <td align="left">SCENTS A MYSTERY.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV.">160</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVI.</td> + <td align="left">A LITTLE WITCH.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI.">170</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVII.</td> + <td align="left">SEEN THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII.">184</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVIII.</td> + <td align="left">OWEN FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII.">194</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIX.</td> + <td align="left">FOR SO IT WAS WRITTEN.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX.">204</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XX.</td> + <td align="left">THE TENT DWELLERS.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX.">214</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXI</td> + <td align="left">AT DEAD OF NIGHT.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">221</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XXII.</td> + <td align="left">CONCLUSION.</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII.">231</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr class='full' /> + +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 200%; margin-bottom: 0px; font-weight: bold;">Canoe Mates in Canada</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 120%; margin-top: 0px; font-weight: bold;">or</p> +<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 140%; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 30px; font-weight: bold;">Afloat on the Saskatchewan</p> + +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_I." id="CHAPTER_I."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2><h3>A PLUNGE DOWN THE RAPIDS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Kneeling in a "bullboat," fashioned from the skin of an animal, and +wielding a paddle with the dexterity only to be attained after years of +practice in canoeing, a sturdily-built and thoroughly bronzed Canadian +lad glanced ever and anon back along the course over which he had so +recently passed; and then up at the black storm clouds hurrying out of +the mysterious North.</p> + +<p>It was far away in the wilderness of the Northwest, where this fierce +tributary of the great Saskatchewan came pouring down from the +timber-clad hills; and all around the lone voyager lay some of the +wildest scenery to be met with on the whole continent.</p> + +<p>Here and there in this vast territory one might come across the +occasional trading posts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span> of the wide-reaching Hudson Bay Company, at +each of which the resident factor ruled with the arbitrary power of a +little czar.</p> + +<p>It might be he would discover the fire of some Ishmaelite of the forest, +a wandering "timber-cruiser," marking out new and promising fields for +those he served, and surveying the scene of possible future bustling +logging camps.</p> + +<p>Otherwise the country at this time was a vast unknown land, seldom +penetrated by human kind, save the Indian fur gatherers.</p> + +<p>Considering that he was in so vast a wilderness this adventurous lad +appeared to have scant luggage in his well battered bullboat—indeed, +beyond the buskskin jacket, which he had thrown off because of his +exertions, there did not seem to be anything at all aboard the craft, +not even a gun, by means of which he might provide himself with food +while on the journey downstream.</p> + +<p>This singular fact would seem to indicate that he might have had trouble +of some sort back yonder.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the occasional glances which he cast over his shoulder added +strength to this possibility; though the look upon his strong face was +more in the line of chagrin and anger than fear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span></p> + +<p>Now and then he shook his curly head, and muttered something; and once a +name passed his lips in anything but a friendly fashion—that of +Alexander Gregory.</p> + +<p>Swifter grew the current, giving plain warning to one so well versed as +this lad must be in the vagaries of these mad rivers of the Silent Land +that presently it would be racing furiously down a steep incline, with +razoredge rocks on every side, apparently only too eager to rend asunder +the frail canoe of the adventurous cruiser.</p> + +<p>Still Owen Dugdale continued to ply the nimble paddle, weaving it in and +out like a shuttle.</p> + +<p>He kept to the middle of the river when it would seem to at least have +been the part of wisdom had he edged his craft closer to either shore, +so that he might, in time, make a safe landing in preference to trusting +himself to the mercy of the wild rapids, in which his frail bullboat +would be but as a chip in the swirl of conflicting waters.</p> + +<p>Already had the vanguard of the storm swept down upon him.</p> + +<p>An inky pall began to shut out the daylight, and when a sudden flash of +lightning cleft the low-hanging clouds overhead the effect was perfectly +staggering.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span></p> + +<p>The roar of thunder that followed quick upon its heels was like the +explosion of a twelve-inch gun as heard in the steel-jacketed turret of +a modern battleship.</p> + +<p>Again and again was the rushing river, with its grim forest-clad shores +lighted up by the rapid-fire electric flashes.</p> + +<p>All around crashed the loud-toned thunderclaps, rumbling and roaring +until the whole affair became a perfect pandemonium; and brave indeed +must be the soul that could gaze upon it without dismay and flinching.</p> + +<p>It was just then, before the rain had begun to descend, and while the +artillery of heaven flashed and roared with all the fury of a +Gettysburg, that Owen Dugdale found himself plunging into the dangerous +rapids, ten times more to be feared under such conditions than ordinary.</p> + +<p>Possibly he may have regretted his rashness in sticking to the middle of +the channel until it was too late to change his course; but apparently +the solitary young Canuck was at the time in somewhat of a desperate +frame of mind, and recked little what might be the result of his mad act +of defiance to the combined powers of tempest and boiling rapids.</p> + +<p>At least he showed no signs of shrinking from the consequences.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span></p> + +<p>Beyond shifting his weight a trifle, as if to settle himself better for +the desperate work that faced him, he remained just as before, on his +knees.</p> + +<p>Crouching amidships, lie held his paddle poised as if ready to thrust it +into the swirling water at a second's notice, to stay the progress of +the canoe as it lunged toward a threatening rock, or glided too near a +roaring whirlpool, where disaster was certain to follow.</p> + +<p>Owen Dugdale was no novice at shooting rapids, though never before could +he have undertaken such a fierce fight as the one in which he was now +engaged, for the combination of the elements made it simply appalling.</p> + +<p>The stirring scene might have appealed to the instinct of an artist; but +so far as the lad was concerned he had only eyes for the perils with +which he was surrounded, and his whole soul seemed wrapped up in the +prompt meeting of each emergency as it flashed before him.</p> + +<p>A dozen times he would have met with sudden disaster but for the +instantaneous manner in which his hand followed the promptings of his +brain.</p> + +<p>Even then it was a mighty close shave more than once, for the boat +rubbed up against several snags in whirling past, any one of which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> +would have sunk the frail craft had it been a head-on collision.</p> + +<p>Once he had to paddle like a madman to keep from being sucked into the +largest whirlpool along the course; which seemed to reach out eager +fingers, and strive to the utmost to engulf him in its gluttonous maw.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the almost incessant lightning, Owen was enabled to see these +perils in time to take action, else he must have been speedily +overwhelmed in the fury of the rushing waters.</p> + +<p>While the time might have seemed an eternity to the brave lad who +battled for his very life, in reality it could not have been more than a +couple of minutes at most that he was shooting down that foamy descent, +dodging hither and thither as the caprice of the rapids or the impetus +of his paddle dictated.</p> + +<p>Just below him was the finish of the dangerous fall, and as so often +happens, the very last lap proved to be more heavily charged with +disaster than any of those above, even though they appeared to be far +worse.</p> + +<p>Being a son of the wilderness, Owen Dugdale had probably never heard of +the kindred terrors that used to lie in wait for the bold mariners of +ancient Greece—the rock and the whirlpool known as Scylla and +Charybdis—if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> they missed being impaled upon the one they were apt to +be engulfed in the other—and yet here in the rapids of this furious +Saskatchewan feeder he was brought face to face with a proposition +exactly similar to that of mythology.</p> + +<p>He strove valiantly to meet the occasion, and his sturdy sweep of the +paddle did send him away from the ugly pointed rock; but the last +whirlpool was so close that he was not enabled to fully recover in time +to throw his whole power into the second stroke; consequently his canoe +was caught in the outer edge of the swirl, and before one could even +wink twice it capsized.</p> + +<p>This was not the first time Owen had met with such a disaster while +shooting rapids and he had his wits about him for all of the confusion +that surrounded him there.</p> + +<p>His very first act was to clutch hold of the canoe, and throw all his +energies into the task of avoiding the deadly suction of the whirlpool, +for once he fell into its grip there must be only a question of seconds +ere he reached its vortex and went under.</p> + +<p>Fortune, aided by his own violent efforts, favored him, and as a result +he managed to swim down the balance of the rapid, and reach the smoother +waters below, still hanging on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> with a desperate clutch to his poor old +boat, while his other hand gripped the paddle.</p> + +<p>The canoe was full of water, but it did not sink, being buoyant enough +to keep on the surface; but Owen found it as much as he could do to push +the unwieldly thing along when he began to make for the nearest shore.</p> + +<p>Exciting as this adventure had been, it was only an episode in a life +such as he had spent up in this vast region, where the first lesson a +boy learns is to take care of himself, and meet peril in any guise.</p> + +<p>There was not the least doubt with regard to his ability to gain the +nearby shore with his wrecked canoe, even if left to himself.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, when his ears caught the sound of encouraging shouts, and +he realized that his perilous descent of the rapids had been witnessed +by sympathetic eyes, it gave Mm a thrill to know that friends were near +by, and waiting to assist him, if such were necessary.</p> + +<p>But young Dugdale was an independent lad, accustomed to relying +altogether upon his own endeavors, as one must always do whose life is +spent in the heart of the Great Lone Land of the Far Northwest.</p> + +<p>Hence, he kept on swimming with his boat until he could wade, and in +this way came out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> of the river dripping, temporarily held in check by +his misfortune, but not in the least dismayed.</p> + +<p>Two figures hurried to meet him, though they arrived too late to give +him a helping hand in effecting a landing.</p> + +<p>Owen looked at them in amazement—he had at the most anticipated that +those whose encouraging shouts had reached his ears while in the water +must be some timber-cruisers who chanced to be camping at the foot of +the rapids for the fishing to be found there; or it might be several of +the halfbreed <i>voyageurs</i> employed by the Hudson Bay Company to carry +furs from far distant posts to some station on the railroad; but he +found himself gazing upon neither.</p> + +<p>Two boys confronted him, neither of them much older than himself, and +utter strangers at that.</p> + +<p>Owen had never had a chum; and indeed, his life had been a lonely one, +burdened by responsibilities that had made him much older than his +years—his scanty associations had been with hardy lumbermen or +<i>voyageurs</i>, so that the presence of this twain struck him as the most +mysterious and remarkable thing in all his experience.</p> + +<p>And they seemed so solicitous concerning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> his welfare, insisting upon +taking hold of the boat and pulling the same clear of the water, that he +almost began to fancy he must be dreaming.</p> + +<p>"Now," exclaimed the taller of the two, when this job had been finished, +"come right up to our tent, where we have a bully fire that will dry you +off in a jiffy. And our coffee is just ready, too—I rather guess +that'll warm you up some. Eli, it's lucky you made an extra supply, +after all. Looks as if you expected we'd have company drop in on us. +I'll carry the paddle—good you hung on to it, for it's a tough job to +whittle one out, I know. Here we are, old chap, and believe me, you're a +thousand times welcome!"</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_II." id="CHAPTER_II."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2><h3>THE CAMP UNDER THE HEMLOCKS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Young Owen Dugdale's heart thrilled within him.</p> + +<p>In all his life he could not exactly remember a single time when he had +been thus warmly welcomed to any camp. Why, it was almost worth shooting +the rapids and meeting with disaster to hear such words, and feel that +every one was meant.</p> + +<p>Who were these lads, and why were they here in this faraway land?</p> + +<p>His astonished eyes fell upon the craft that had evidently carried them +up the river from some hamlet, scores, perhaps hundreds, of miles away.</p> + +<p>Such a dandy canoe Owen Dugdale had never dreamed existed in the whole +wide world, for it was of varnished cedar, and with its nickeled +trimmings, glistened there under the hemlocks in the flash of the +lightning, and the glow of the protected campfire.</p> + +<p>He seemed to feel somehow that this apparent calamity upon the river had +been the "open sesame" for him to enter upon a new and perhaps +delightful experience; rather a rough introduction<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> perhaps, but then he +knew only such in the range of his past.</p> + +<p>And the delicious odor of that supper was enough to arouse the dormant +appetite of one who had foresworn all cookery, one of these modern +cranks determined to exist upon nuts and fruit, which our young friend +of the bullboat certainly was not.</p> + +<p>Both lads bustled about trying to make him comfortable near the cheery +blaze, and then filling a pannikin with the canoeist's stew of corn +beef, succotash and left-over potatoes, they invited him to set-to, nor +wait for them a second.</p> + +<p>Owen could not have restrained himself, once his nostrils became +saturated with those delicious odors, and he started to eat like a +starving chap; as indeed, he came very near being, seeing that he had +not partaken of a mouthful of food for almost twenty-four hours, and +then but scantily.</p> + +<p>Then came a cup of such coffee as he had never before tasted, with +condensed milk to mellow the same, and close at his hand was placed a +package of crackers into which he was expected to dip as the humor +seized him.</p> + +<p>Boys never like to talk while hungry, and no matter how strong the +curiosity on both sides might be, nothing was said beyond the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> usual +courtesies necessary in passing things, until one and all declared +themselves satisfied.</p> + +<p>But, although their tongues were silent during this half-hour, their +eyes did double duty, and Owen found a thousand things at which to +wonder.</p> + +<p>The canoe had been enough to excite his curiosity, but everything he saw +about the camp was in keeping with such luxury.</p> + +<p>The dun-colored tent was a beauty, and doubtless positively waterproof, +for the rain that had been beating down ever since they commenced eating +had found no inlet; and the fly over the fire sufficed to keep it from +being extinguished.</p> + +<p>He saw several warbags of the same kind of canvas, evidently used for +the storage of clothes and provisions; and in addition there were a +couple of guns, rubber ponchos, gray blankets that peeped out of two +expensive sleeping bags, and a couple of black japanned boxes the +contents of which he could not picture, unless they might be something +in the way of surveyors' instruments; for Owen had once seen a party of +these gentry running a line through the forest, and hence his vague +application now.</p> + +<p>These things had been taken in with a few glances around; but the two +boys themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> occupied most of his attention, and he found himself +trying to study out what they were—the taller one he understood +immediately must be in command, for his whole appearance indicated it, +while the shorter chap was of the calibre not unlike himself, bronzed +from a life in the open, and with a cheery manner that drew the waif +toward him from the start.</p> + +<p>Both were dressed for business, with no unnecessary frills; and it was +evident that if the leader of the mysterious expedition was possessed of +unlimited means he also had enough common sense to deny himself luxuries +when upon such a long cruise.</p> + +<p>When every one declared that not another bite could be taken, Eli pulled +out a pipe, being evidently addicted to smoking, and his comrade, +finding that the newcomer had dried out pretty thoroughly, hunted up a +spare jacket from one of the bags, which he insisted upon Owen donning, +since the storm, now a thing of the past, had been followed by a cool +wave that made the fire doubly pleasant.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the tall lad, with one of his winning smiles, that drew Owen +to him so wonderfully, "let's exchange confidences a bit, just as far as +you care to go and no further. First of all my name is Cuthbert +Reynolds, and I'm from across the border, a Yankee<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> to the backbone; and +this is Eli Perkins, also an American boy, a native of the lumber +regions of Michigan, and with his fortunes bound up in mine."</p> + +<p>"And I'm Owen Dugdale," said the other, knowing the pause was intended +for him to break in with the mention of his name; "a native Canuck, and +at home in this timber region—my parents were of Scotch descent I +believe. And the first thing I want to say is that I'm mighty glad to be +here with you just now. I was just about as hungry as a bear, and only +for you I don't see what I could have done, after that ducking, for my +matches must have been wet, and I would have gone to sleep hungry and +cold."</p> + +<p>The tall lad hastened to interrupt him, evidently not fancying being +thanked for doing what was apparently the greatest pleasure in the world +to him.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, please; we understand all that. You're a thousand times +welcome, and I tell you right now nothing could have happened to please +me better than meeting up with you. You can bet there's something +besides chance in it. Now, naturally you're wondering what in the +dickens two fellows of our stripe are doing wandering about up here in +the Far Northwest like a couple of nomads.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps when you learn the actual truth you'll wonder harder than +ever how it is one of us has escaped landing in a lunatic asylum up to +this time; but as some of my friends say to me, youthful enthusiasm is +responsible for many queer things, and so long as my wonderful ambition +is to copy after Stanley in the line of exploring, why, they don't +worry.</p> + +<p>"They say I have more money than I know what to do with, anyway, and if +it must be blown in somehow, why, this is a harmless way of doing it, +dangerous only to myself, and any other foolish chap whom I may +influence to accompany me on my mad expeditions," and as he spoke he +glanced affectionately in the direction of the homely, freckled but +good-humored Eli, who returned the look with a grin and an emphatic nod +of approval.</p> + +<p>"Now, you see, Eli has been with the lumbermen all his life, and is as +hardy as they make them. What he doesn't know about the woods isn't +worth telling; and so we make a pretty good team, for I've picked up a +little knowledge about camp life during my canoeing days in the East, +and manage to fill in the gaps in Eli's education, along the line of +woodcraft.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span></p> + +<p>"I might as well make a full confession in the start, for you're bound +to get on to my weakness if we see much of each other, and I hope we +will. Ever, since I was knee-high to a grasshopper I've been inoculated +with the exploring bee, read everything ever printed in that line, and +pictured myself doing wonderful stunts like Livingstone and Stanley."</p> + +<p>It was only to be expected then that when I was left my own master at +the death of my father, I would pursue my hobby to the limit; and I +rather guess I have been on the jump for two years. Haven't made myself +famous yet, and a little of my enthusiasm in that line has dribbled +away; but I'm just as determined to work in the field of research as +ever; only age is beginning to tone down my earlier wild notions, and +after this last and crowning folly I think I shall hitch up with some +veteran who knows it all, and be content to work up from the ranks.</p> + +<p>"I started out on this expedition with great notions of making such a +trip as no man had ever before attempted, passing up a branch of the +Saskatchewan, making a portage with the assistance of the Crees or +Chippewas to some convenient branch of the Athabasca River, and voyage +on to the lake of that name<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> by fall, winter there perhaps at the Hudson +Bay Post, and in the spring by means of the chain of lakes and rivers +that I understand connect the Athabasca Lake with Hudson Bay, arrive at +that vast sheet of water in time to be picked up by some whaler and +carried home a winner.</p> + +<p>"Makes you smile, I guess—well, it strikes me as funny, now that I've +been navigating this country for several months, and only gotten this +far; but when I laid out the trip it was a serious business for me, and +I couldn't see anything but success ahead of me. I've had my fun, and +I'm ready to call the game off. This is a man's work, I understand now, +and I'm out of the exploring business for the time, only now that we're +up so far Eli and myself want to see all we can of the country; and Eli +has some notions in the line of discovering rich copper ledges that he +means to work while wandering about this unknown land, eh, old man?"</p> + +<p>In this boyish, familiar manner did he address his comrade, and Eli as +usual laughed good-naturedly and nodded his head—evidently he had a +fund of humor in his make-up that could not be disturbed by any amount +of "joshing."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span></p> + +<p>Cuthbert halted in his explanations; he did not hint at such a thing, +but evidently it was up to Owen to tell something at least in connection +with his presence in the neighborhood, and how he came to be rushing +down the dangerous rapids at the time the storm broke, when it would +appear the part of wisdom for one who knew the peril involved as well as +he did, to land and portage around the troubled water.</p> + +<p>The lad acted a little as though confused, not knowing just how much he +should tell in connection with himself; but taking a brace he finally +spoke up—Eli was adding some wood to the fire from a stock they had +laid in dry when the storm was seen approaching, while Cuthbert busied +himself in making his seat more comfortable, though in reality it was +done in order not to appear to be noticing the coloring-up of the guest, +about whom he seemed to realize that there was a bit of a mystery.</p> + +<p>"I told you my name was Owen Dugdale, and that I had always lived up in +this country. Well, that is hardly so, for when I was a little chap I +remember being in Montreal with my parents for a spell; but they came +back here and I've never gone out of the woods since.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span></p> + +<p>"My mother taught me all I know, for she was a lady, and had been +educated in a convent school in that city. My father was used to the +life of the woods, and I learned everything connected with that from +him. I lost my mother two years ago, and my father later. That's about +all there is in connection with me. I—I had some trouble up the river +at the post, and was making my way down with the intention of leaving +this country forever when this accident happened. I'm glad it did +happen, because it's thrown me in with two such good fellows. You'll be +surprised when I tell you that I've never had a boy friend in all my +life; and—well, it's mighty fine to be sitting here and talking with +you both. I wish I could do something to return the favor, that's what."</p> + +<p>"You can—stay with us a while, and let us have some of the benefit of +your knowledge of the country. We'd like nothing better; and if you have +no other place to go, why make a third member of the crowd. You have a +boat, and as for grub and such, why, we're loaded down with it. Don't +decide just now, but think it over and tell us in the morning. We won't +take no for an answer, remember."</p> + +<p>Owen turned his head away as if to look at something he fancied moved +along the edge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> of the camp; but it was to conceal the tears that came +unbidden into his eyes—the genuine warmth of this invitation stirred +his heart, and as some resolution sprang into life he gripped his hands +and set his teeth hard.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_III." id="CHAPTER_III."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2><h3>COMRADES.</h3> +</div> + +<p>The young Canadian sat for a few minutes mute, as though turning over +this proposition of Cuthbert's in his mind; then suddenly raising his +eyes he looked his new friend straight in the face and said:</p> + +<p>"That's awfully white of you, and I'm going to accept your invitation. +I'll be only too glad to stay with you, for a time at least, and serve +you as guide. And if you still persist in your determination to ascend +the river further, to see all you can while in this country, who should +know that region better than myself. Let come what will, I am going +back!"</p> + +<p>The impulsive American, after his kind, was bound to seal the bargain +with a hearty handshake; and Eli, not to be outdone in the matter, also +thrust out his broad "paw" as he called it, squeezing that of the other +with a strength that made Owen wince a bit.</p> + +<p>At the same time the observing Cuthbert could not but note the gritting +of Owen's teeth when he declared that he was ready to go back into the +country from which he had apparently just come; it would appear as +though some recent experience up the river did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> linger fondly in his +memory, and that when he came paddling downstream in his battered old +bullboat it might have been with the idea of quitting the country for +good.</p> + +<p>Naturally this aroused a little curiosity in the other's mind, though he +was not addicted to this failing overly much.</p> + +<p>What could there be in the depths of the wilderness to bring about this +aversion on the part of young Dugdale?</p> + +<p>If Cuthbert had allowed himself to ruminate upon this subject all sorts +of suspicions might have been aroused; but he was by nature too frank +and generous to judge a stranger before he had been given a chance to +explain; and the more he looked in the face of the lad, and noted the +calm depths of his gray eyes the stronger grew his conviction that Owen +Dugdale, as he called himself, could not descend to anything wrong.</p> + +<p>Some persons carry their character in their faces, and he was of the +number. So Cuthbert made up his mind to chase all suspicion from his +mind; if in his own time the Canadian chose to confide in him, well and +good; until then he would forget what he had seen of first anxiety and +then grim determination, stamped upon that young face.</p> + +<p>Both of the would-be explorers were cast in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> somewhat of a merry mould, +and it was impossible to be in their company long without partaking of +their happy-go-lucky spirit.</p> + +<p>To the sober Owen this was about as fine a thing as could ever have +happened, for he found it utterly out of the question to ponder gloomily +upon the bitter past while these two chaps were whipping jokes back and +forth, and insidiously drawing him into the conversation, until greatly +to his astonishment he even burst out into a hearty peal of laughter, +the first expression of merriment that had sprung from his heart for +many a day.</p> + +<p>Perhaps a benign Providence had taken pity upon him, and was now bent on +sending sunshine where hitherto there had been little save clouds and +storm.</p> + +<p>The more he saw of these cousins from over the line the better he liked +them.</p> + +<p>It was a favorite joke of Cuthbert's to compare himself with that +wonderfully humorous character of Spanish literature, who took himself +so solemnly even while he furnished merriment for everybody—Don +Quixote, the Knight of La Mancha—this wild expedition into the depths +of the Northwestern Unknown Land was now, in the originator's mind, +about as weird and ridiculous a proposition as any of the adventures of +the crazy knight; and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> never tired of cracking broad jokes upon the +subject.</p> + +<p>Of course, as was natural, honest Eli must pose for the faithful squire, +Sancho Panza; and long since he had been told the whole story, so that +he was now acquainted with most of the peculiarities of that worthy, and +even at times managed to tickle his friend and employer by carrying out +the idea in some manner.</p> + +<p>Owen was not ignorant as to the facts, for it chanced that he had read +the book, having found an old copy in his cabin home, the property of +his mother; so that he was in a condition to enjoy the joke whenever +there happened to be a reference made to the ancient couple.</p> + +<p>The storm had long since passed away down the river, growling in the +distance for quite a time; but gradually the stars came peeping out in +the broad blue dome overhead, and while the woods dripped with the +moisture the prospect for a good day on the morrow seemed propitious.</p> + +<p>There was room in the tent for three, with a little good-natured +crowding; and while Owen protested against intruding he was turned down +instantly, and compelled to take his place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span></p> + +<p>Never in all his life had he been drawn to any one as he was toward +these two big-hearted fellows from across the border; and when he lay +down finally, after busying himself for half an hour about the fire, he +felt like a new boy; such is the confidence generated in the human heart +by comradeship.</p> + +<p>Owen had intentionally chosen a position near the exit of the tent, for, +seeing that he had spent his life under similar conditions, and it was +second nature with him to attend to a fire during the night, he would +not hear of either of his new friends attempting it.</p> + +<p>In spite of his getting up several times between that hour and the +breaking of dawn Owen slept sounder than he had done for many a day; he +seemed to feel a new confidence in himself, as if matters had taken a +turn for the better, and in this accidental meeting with his benefactors +his fortunes had begun to assume a less gloomy aspect.</p> + +<p>Once, as he was about snuggling down under the extra blanket which had +been assigned to him he rested his head upon his hand, his elbow being +on the ground, and surveyed the two sleeping lads, for the firelight +crept through the opening of the tent, and revealed the interior.</p> + +<p>It was difficult for him to believe that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> had only known these good +fellows a comparatively few hours; so strong a hold had they taken upon +his heart that it seemed as though he must have met them in his dreams, +for they appeared to be occupying a space in his affections that was +theirs by right.</p> + +<p>So the morning found them.</p> + +<p>When Cuthbert awoke he discovered that the new addition to the exploring +party was already busily employed in getting things ready for breakfast; +whereupon there arose a friendly argument as to whose duty it was to +hustle things for the morning meal.</p> + +<p>This was finally settled by arranging matters so that the three of them +could take turns about in the daily duties; and Owen chose to begin +then.</p> + +<p>The others were not adverse to letting him have a whack at the culinary +department, for they had been going together for a long time now, and +both had about exhausted their repertoire in the line of cookery, so +that a change would really be a delightful diversion; for almost every +camper has his favorite dishes upon which he prides himself, and when +two such come together there is always more or less of a friendly +rivalry to see which can outdo the other.</p> + +<p>By degrees such a party comes to recognize<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> the particularly strong +points of each member, so that in the end they make a fine team, every +one being a star in his favorite line.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was eaten with more or less good natured chaff, such as boys +will always indulge in, and older campers as well; for when in the woods +it seems as if being brought close back to Nature makes children of us +all, showing that it is only the care and worry of a strenuous battle +for wealth or power that forces men to appear aged and serious.</p> + +<p>After that came a portage, for the canoes and all the camp duffle had to +be transported above the rapids.</p> + +<p>Eli now seemed to notice for the first time that their new friend had +virtually nothing but his boat and paddle, and loudly he bewailed the +wretched misfortune that had caused everything to be swallowed up in the +hungry maw of the swift rapids.</p> + +<p>At this Owen smiled in a curious manner, and openly confessed that the +only damage he had sustained besides getting wet, was the loss of his +jacket; and he surely had little regret for that missing garment since +Cuthbert had so kindly clothed him with a spare one of his own.</p> + +<p>Eli may not have been as able to grasp the true significance of this +frank declaration as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> his comrade; but even he realized that the subject +must be a sore one with Owen, and that it was not wise to ask questions +or seem curious, so he immediately turned to other matters.</p> + +<p>Really, he could not be blamed for this wonder, since it was indeed a +strange thing to meet with a wanderer in this vast territory so far from +the outposts of civilization entirely destitute of the commonest +necessities for comfort or the procuring of food—no blanket, cooking +utensils, food, and even a gun missing—well, there surely lay back of +this a story of unusual interest; and for one Eli hoped their new friend +would soon take them into his confidence, at least so far that they +might be able to help him.</p> + +<p>After some hard work all the stuff was carried to a point above the +rapids, where they could readily launch their craft without being +carried down into the hungry maw of the swirling flood.</p> + +<p>The river had risen somewhat after the rainstorm of the previous night, +and evidently there would be no lack of water above; this is always a +welcome fact to those who navigate toward the headwaters of rivers, +since it is no sport to track canoes over almost dry beds of streams, +making "shoes" for the boats in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> order to prevent their being torn by +sharp rocks during the passage.</p> + +<p>Owing to the current, which was particularly swift in the region of the +rapids, they had to bend to the paddle with considerable vim when the +start was eventually made; but the cruisers were young, and their +muscles well seasoned by more or less hard work, so that they gradually +drew away from the vicinity of Owen's mad voyage among the rocks and +sucking whirls of the drop in the river; and the further they went the +easier the paddling became.</p> + +<p>The morning was cool and invigorating after the storm, so that it was +not to be wondered at that our young friends felt joyous, and presently +Eli broke out in a lumberman's "chanty" that he had picked up while in +camp—Cuthbert joined in the chorus, and unable to withstand the +seductive strains, Owen found himself also lifting his voice and adding +volume to the merry sound.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV." id="CHAPTER_IV."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2><h3>THE THREE SMOKE SIGNALS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Cuthbert was delighted when he heard the Canadian lad's voice, for he +realized that it was one of rare sweetness as well as power; and being +fond of singing, and knowing scores of college songs, he promised +himself he would in good time teach them to Owen, for their voices would +blend admirably, while Eli's had a certain harshness about it that +rather swamped his own baritone.</p> + +<p>And he was also aware that the <i>voyageurs</i> of the Canadian wilds have +numerous French boating songs of their own, that are wonderfully adapted +to the rhythm and swing of the paddle; possibly Owen would know some +such, and might be induced to sing them on occasion, all of which would +add to the delight of their advance over the waters, onward into further +depths of the wilderness where mystery brooded and the unknown abounded, +for them, at least.</p> + +<p>They had managed to make a few miles, but the current was mighty +difficult to buck up against, and when finally Cuthbert suggested that +they take advantage of an alluring point where the trees hung over the +water and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> situation seemed especially adapted for a campfire, Eli +greeted the proposal with a grunt of unaffected delight, while even the +well seasoned Owen felt that something to eat would not come in amiss.</p> + +<p>To most of us the time to eat is ever a welcome one, especially when we +know there are good things in the larder; and with boys this thing of +appetite is an ever present reality, and the point of sufficiency seldom +reached.</p> + +<p>Soon a cheery fire had been started, and Owen persisted in taking charge +of the preparations for lunch, giving them a species of flapjack that +neither had ever seen before, and which they pronounced fine.</p> + +<p>Owen's eyes alone told that he appreciated their praise, for he uttered +no word to betray the fact. He was a singularly quiet lad, and Cuthbert, +who made it something of a fad to study human nature wherever he found +it, felt certain that his past life had been mixed up with considerable +of sorrow.</p> + +<p>All that morning they had not met a solitary human being upon the river, +and when Eli commented upon this, their new comrade assured them that it +was no unusual thing to go for several days thus, especially at this +time of year, when the Indians and halfbreeds who trapped for the fur +company were hunting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> back in the forests, laying in venison to be +"jerked" or dried for consumption during the winter months, when +attending to their traps far up the small branches of the Saskatchewan, +or the Athabasca.</p> + +<p>In the spring the posts of the Hudson Bay Company are busy places, with +these various companies of <i>voyageurs</i> and trappers coming in with their +loads, for which they are paid, partly in cash and the balance in store +goods. It is then that the resident factor has to exercise his wisdom in +handling so varied an assortment of characters, and keeping them from +getting into fierce fights, since they are bound to get hold of more or +less liquor, and the closing of a successful season, with a period of +rest before them, is apt to make them hilarious.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert asked many questions along this line, being sincerely desirous +of obtaining information at first hands; but while Owen answered readily +enough, and explained any point that seemed a bit hazy to his listeners, +it might have been noted that he did not offer to launch out into a +voluntary description of life as it was to be seen at one of these +posts—Cuthbert even fancied that the subject was not wholly pleasing to +the lad, and came to the conclusion that whatever of trouble Owen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> might +have met with recently, it must have had some connection with one of +these posts.</p> + +<p>They were delayed for some time after eating, for Cuthbert was desirous +of attending to some little thing that needed fixing about the canoe; +and Owen, who had never set eyes on a cedar boat of this delicate +character, willingly lent a hand to the accomplishment of the task, +satisfied to just handle such a dainty wizard craft, which in his eyes, +accustomed to canoes of birch, or even dugouts, and others made of +animal skins, assumed the character of something almost too pretty to be +touched.</p> + +<p>They paddled for just about three hours that afternoon, and met one +Indian in a birch bark canoe, shooting downstream.</p> + +<p>Both Cuthbert and Eli greeted him heartily; but they noticed that he +looked at their new companion in something of a strange manner, though +not saying a word to Owen, who seemed to pay no attention to the +copper-skinned voyager.</p> + +<p>If the scowl upon the face of the lone paddler was any indication of his +feelings, there could not possibly be any love lost between them; and +noticing that one of the fellow's eyes seemed swollen, the idea thrust +itself into Cuthbert's mind, ridiculous as it might seem,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> that possibly +Owen might have had something to do with that catastrophe.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had kept his eyes on the alert for a good spot where they could +pass the next night, and it lacked half an hour to sunset when he gave +utterance to a shout, and pointed with his paddle at the shore ahead.</p> + +<p>"There's the very place, boys, and it's no use going any further. Just +an ideal spot to pitch the tent, and the background will make a dandy +picture when I get my camera in focus on it in the morning, for the sun +must rise, let's see, over across the river, and shine right on the +front of the tent. I've been baffled so often in trying for that same +effect that I don't mean to miss this opportunity if I can help it. So +here's looking at you, and we'll head in, if you please."</p> + +<p>Owen opened his mouth as if tempted to say something, but caught himself +in time, and silently acquiesced, sending his boat shoreward with +vigorous dips of the paddle that told how little his energy had been +exhausted by the day's work.</p> + +<p>It was a fine spot, too, and Eli was loud in his delight; though, +knowing his capacity for stowing away food from long experience, +Cuthbert was secretly of the opinion that much of his enthusiasm sprang +from the fact that a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> halt just then brought dinner closer, rather than +an artistic appreciation of the surroundings.</p> + +<p>That had always been the "fly in the ointment" with those two strangely +assorted companions—one of them was of a romantic disposition, and +inclined to seeing the elements in a glorious sunset that appealed to +his soul, while with Eli, it only meant that the following day would, in +all likelihood, be a fine one.</p> + +<p>And that was one of the reasons why Cuthbert welcomed the coming of +Owen, for somehow he fancied that the young Canadian might be built +along his own lines, and able to sympathize with him as the good-hearted +but crude Eli never could, since it was not in his nature to go beyond +the substantial and matter-of-fact.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, he was a "bully good fellow," as Cuthbert was wont to +declare, and in time of stress and difficulty could be depended on to +the utmost, being honest, willing and obliging, three necessary elements +in a camping comrade that go far to make amends for any little shortage +in artistic temperament.</p> + +<p>The whole three of the cruisers were soon busily engaged, for there is +always plenty for all hands to do when pitching camp, what with the +raising of the tent, the making of a fireplace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> upon which coffee pot +and frying pan will rest cozily, the digging of a ditch on the higher +ground back of the shelter, if there seems the slightest possible chance +of rain before morning—well, every one who has been there knows how the +opportunities for doing something open up to a willing campmate, so +there is hardly any use in enumerating them here.</p> + +<p>When darkness finally fell upon them all these things had been taken +care of, and they were in fine fettle for the stay, whether it be of +long or short duration, even to a pile of firewood close at hand.</p> + +<p>Supper was next in order, but that was a pleasure in which all insisted +in taking a share in preparing as well as demolishing; and it was +wonderful how speedily things were managed with so many cooks eager to +assist the chef.</p> + +<p>During their afternoon trip upstream they had trolled with a couple of +lines back of the boat, and fortune had smiled upon them sufficiently to +provide them with fish for the evening meal, which Owen cooked in the +manner most favored in this region, where trout may be looked on as a +common, everyday article of food, and not in the line of luxury.</p> + +<p>Of course, there is no necessity to tell how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> perfectly delicious that +dinner turned out to be, for every one knows that fish are at their best +when eaten in the very spot they are taken from their native element; +and that being placed on the ice for hours or days takes their delicate +flavor away, and renders the flesh soft and crumbly and next to +tasteless.</p> + +<p>And Owen confessed that the cup of Ceylon tea which he drank was the +first he had tasted for a year; and he also gave his companions to +understand that he had been brought up by a Scotch mother to look upon +tea as nectar fit for the gods.</p> + +<p>After the feast they lay back and took life easy, all of them being +actually too surfeited to think of such a thing as cleaning up the pots +and pans for the time being, that little task being left until later, +when they would possess more energy and ambition.</p> + +<p>Eli apparently had something on his mind, and as he filled his pipe, +preparatory to enjoying his customary after-dinner smoke, he opened the +subject by remarking:</p> + +<p>"I say, boys, did either of you notice that line of smoke down the +river, just at the time we were heading for the shore? I was going to +call your attention to it, but something that was said about the spot +for this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> camp drew my attention, and I clean forgot it till now."</p> + +<p>"I didn't notice anything—in fact, I was so much taken up with looking +for a jolly place to bunk tonight that I reckon I never once glanced +back. How about you, Owen?" asked Cuthbert, turning to the new comrade.</p> + +<p>He knew the other had seen the smoke even before Owen spoke, because +something like a flash spread over his swarthy face, though his eyes +looked straight at Cuthbert without a sign of flinching.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I saw it—in fact, I had turned my head a dozen times in the last +half-hour, expecting something of the sort," he remarked, composedly.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't a forest fire—not near dense enough for that; and yet it +looked queer for a campfire—as near as I could make out there were +several of 'em, all in a row, and climbing straight up like columns," +declared Eli, wagging his head mysteriously.</p> + +<p>"Just three," added Owen, gloomily, and yet with a gritting of his teeth +that excited Cuthbert's curiosity more than a little.</p> + +<p>"Three smokes in a row—I declare, that sounds like a signal; the +Indians down in Florida always communicate in that way, and have a +regular code, so that they can send long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> messages across the swamps and +pine forests," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"That's just what it was, a smoke signal; and the Cree Indian we met on +the river sent it to others of his race upstream," observed the young +Canadian.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert immediately remembered that he had seen the lone paddler turn a +look that was a mingling of surprise and displeasure upon Owen when the +canoes passed in midstream, and his former thought that these two had +met before, and that the husky lad might even have had to do with the +mournful black eye of the aborigine, came back with added force just +now; still, he was not the one to ask questions, and unless the other +chose to take his new friends fully into his confidence, whatever the +mystery that lay in his past must always remain so.</p> + +<p>"Yes," went on Owen, bitterly, "it was meant to give notice to one who +is interested in my movements that I had apparently changed my mind, and +did not intend to leave the neighborhood as speedily as had been +expected—that's all."</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_V." id="CHAPTER_V."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2><h3>THE FALSE CHART OF DUBOIS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>No more was said just then; but naturally enough both Cuthbert and Eli +could not get the matter out of their minds. The duties of the hour had +occupied their attention upon first landing—the pitching of the +waterproof tent, gathering of fuel, and kindred occupations incident to +getting things ready for the coming night, so that now they could take +things easy.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had some sort of rude map of the region, which he had purchased +from an old French-Canadian <i>voyageur</i> during earlier stages of his +trip; he did not know how reliable it might prove to be, though thus far +the young explorers had not found it amiss to any very great extent.</p> + +<p>When he found a chance he meant to drag this document out from its place +of hiding among the various charts of the Hudson Bay country which he +carried along, and get Owen's opinion as to its trustworthy character.</p> + +<p>This would give him an opportunity to renew his acquaintance with the +lay of the land above, and in some way it might cause their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> strange new +friend to open his heart, and take them more fully into his confidence +with relation to his previous connections here.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was pretty positive that there was some sort of a Hudson Bay +trading post on this same stream, situated in an isolated quarter—most +of them went under the name of a fort, and indeed, they were built to +resist any attack that might be made upon them by Indians or disorderly +half breeds; for there were at times vast quantities of valuable plunder +held in these posts, in the shape of rare peltries, and the many things +the trappers took in part payment for their winter's catch, so that a +clean-out of a distant post would mean a serious loss to the great +company that for scores of years had carried on this business of +gathering the precious skins of silver foxes, lynx, badger, mink, otter, +fisher, marten, opossum, beaver, bear, wolves and muskrats.</p> + +<p>The meal was, as we have seen, soon prepared, and partaken of with that +keen relish known only to those who live in the open.</p> + +<p>As usual the boys had grouped themselves around the fire at the time the +question of the smoke signals arose, each bent upon doing some +individual task, that had been upon his mind; for it is the natural +habit after dining heartily to desire to rest from strenuous exertion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> +and take up little matters that require possibly only the manipulation +of the hands, or the action of the brain.</p> + +<p>Eli seemed deeply interested in some specimens he had picked up close to +their noon camp, and which held forth alluring promises of copper—it +was the chief fad of his life to run across a lode of the valuable metal +in this far-North country; and make his everlasting fortune that way; +for in secret the Michigan lad hugged certain plans for future worldwide +travel to his heart, all of which, while extremely visionary at present, +would be easily possible when his "ship came home," and that rich copper +deposit cropped up before his eager eyes.</p> + +<p>Few boys there be who fail to have a hobby of some sort—with some it is +the pretty general craze for stamp collecting, others go in for coins, +autographs, birds' eggs, specimens of birds, weapons of worldwide +people, rabbits, pigeons—well, the list is almost inexhaustible, when +you come to think of it.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert's weakness, as has already been seen, lay in the line of travel +and exploration, and the chances were that as he grew older he would +develop into a bona fide Livingstone or a Stanley, eager to see faraway +lands where the feet of a white man had probably never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> before wandered, +and the mystery of which he might be the very first to unearth.</p> + +<p>With Eli it was copper, morning, noon and night; he asked a thousand +questions about the ore, where it had been found, what the character of +the rocks peculiar to the region, and all such things, making copious +notes the while, until as his comrade Cuthbert said, he should be about +one of the best posted fellows in that line in the country—still, up to +this day he had not met with such a measure of success as to turn his +head; though Eli was a most determined chap, and bound to hold on after +the manner of a bulldog, once he had taken a grip.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Owen also had his particular hobby; but if so the others had as +yet been granted little opportunity of realizing what it was.</p> + +<p>Given time and it would no doubt develop itself.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had a good deal of patience, and prided himself on his waiting +qualities, so that he made little effort to hasten matters.</p> + +<p>As he had planned, however, while he sat by the glowing fire, which felt +very good on this cool night, he drew out the bunch of charts, and began +to absorb himself in the maze of lines and figures, anticipating that +when Owen saw what he had before him he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> must evince more or less +curiosity concerning the same, and offer to pass upon their genuine +value.</p> + +<p>The Canadian lad sat for some time staring into the fire, as though lost +in self-communion; and Cuthbert could easily imagine that affairs +connected with his life in this country were engrossing his attention.</p> + +<p>Many a sly look did Cuthbert flash over that way, for somehow there +seemed to be a wonderful fascination about Owen's personality that +appealed strongly to him, though he found it utterly impossible to +analyze this feeling, in order to make out whether it was pure sympathy +toward one who had evidently rubbed up against the hard places of life +while to him had been given the "snaps;" or on the other hand if it +might be the realization that in this waif of the Unknown Land his soul +had discovered the mate or chum for which he had looked so long and so +far—perhaps it might be a commingling of the two.</p> + +<p>Twice had Owen risen, and the other imagined he was about to come around +to his side of the fire to glance over his shoulder at the charts; but +both times young Dugdale had simply stepped to the pile of wood and, +taking up an armful, tossed it upon the dying blaze.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was beginning to fancy he would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> have to make a move himself to +draw the other's attention to what he was doing, so wrapped up did Owen +seem in his own personal affairs; when suddenly he discovered that those +wonderfully keen gray eyes of the rover were glued upon the papers he +held upon his lap.</p> + +<p>Then it was that Owen did come around to his side of the fire, and the +disturbed look upon his face gave way to a bright smile as he remarked:</p> + +<p>"I didn't notice what you had there, before. I was so bound up in my own +affairs. I suppose those are maps of this country you have; perhaps I +could be useful in telling you whether they are accurate or not, for I +rather guess I've picked up considerable information during these years +of wandering in the woods here. If you don't mind me looking at them—"</p> + +<p>"Why, to tell the truth that's just what I was wishing you would do, old +chap, but I hated to break in on your brown study. Here's a +supposed-to-be reliable chart of this region, which I paid a man a good +sum to get up for me; but already I've found it more or less crooked, +and have begun to lose confidence in its accuracy. Perhaps you could +show up the faults, and set me right, so that if the time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> ever comes +when I have to depend on the thing I won't get astray; for truth to tell +it would be no fun to find oneself lost on these upper reaches of the +great Saskatchewan. Sit right down here, and squint your optic over this +set of hen-tracks, made by the halfbreed, Dubois."</p> + +<p>"Dubois, you say—why, I know the fellow well. He ought to be able to +make a decent map of this country, for he's spent many years roaming +over it, though I think he was more concerned about stealing some honest +trapper's pelts than anything else. Why, see here, he's made an awful +botch of this thing right around this quarter, where he certainly knows +every foot of ground. I suspect that the greasy old rascal had some +object in misleading you—I wouldn't put it past him to plan so that you +might be lost up here, when he and some companions just as unscrupulous +as himself, would come on the scene and demand a big sum to get you out +of the scrape. I know of several things he has done as bad as that," +remarked Owen, with indignation in his voice.</p> + +<p>So he began to point out the false lines in the map, and at Cuthbert's +suggestion he erased the pencil lines and made new ones as he went +along, so that at the end of an hour that particular chart was entirely +changed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> presenting so new an aspect that the explorer was aroused to +declare that the miserable deceiver, Dubois, would hear something not to +his liking in case they ever met again.</p> + +<p>"This Hudson Bay post which you have marked on the river above us—what +is the name it is known by—he did not identify it except as a station?" +asked Cuthbert, putting a finger on the cross.</p> + +<p>"Fort Harmony," replied Owen, with a twitch about the corners of his +mouth that seemed to be along the sarcastic order, as if deep down in +his heart the lad thought the name might be a misnomer, according to his +own experience.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is something of a store, being so far up in the +wilderness; and is in charge of—a factor, I believe they call the +boss?" pursued Cuthbert.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. He is a grizzled old Scotchman, Alexander Gregory by name, who +has been in the employ of the company most of his life, and is known as +their most trusted agent. He is believed to be very rich; but though he +is scrupulously honest and knows how to drive those under him to their +best abilities, he is a harsh, cold-blooded man, seeking no +companionship, making no warm friends, and apparently bent only on +accumulating wealth and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> doing his full duty to the company he has +served so long a time."</p> + +<p>Cuthbert could easily read the strong tinge of bitterness in the other's +voice while he was thus talking, and he knew that whatever Owen's +troubles might be, they were connected in some way with this man of +iron, who for years had ruled after the manner of a despot in this +distant country along the upper branches of the Saskatchewan.</p> + +<p>He was glad to know even so much about the man Gregory, whom he found +himself beginning to dislike most cordially, even though he had never as +yet set eye on his grim face, just because he believed the other had +abused Owen in some way.</p> + +<p>Owen seemed to remember himself just there, and would say no more along +those lines, though quite willing to talk as long as his friend wished +in connection with the country, and the best route for them to follow.</p> + +<p>Another half-hour passed thus in communion, and Cuthbert picked up +considerable information that was apt to prove of benefit to him in the +future—just how valuable he did not then suspect.</p> + +<p>Eli had some time back given up his studies of the specimens he had +found, and joined in the general conversation; and his views were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> +usually as shrewd as they seemed quaint, for he possessed many of the +traits generally accredited to the Yankee from Down-East; and a natural +keenness had been further sharpened by his constant rubbing up against +all manner of men in the great logging camps of the Michigan peninsula.</p> + +<p>It was getting near the time for them to fix the fire for the night, and +seek the shelter of their blankets, when Owen, whose hearing was +phenomenally keen, held up his hand, and remarked, with some show of +excitement:</p> + +<p>"Somebody coming this way through the woods—not from the direction of +the post, but the other way. Perhaps it would be just as well to be +prepared, for you never know who to trust up here until he proves +himself to be a friend!"</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI." id="CHAPTER_VI."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2><h3>THE TIMBER-CRUISER.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Neither of the boys whom Owen addressed showed any particular signs of +alarm at his rather startling words, though Cuthbert quietly reached out +and drew his faithful ally, the little Marlin repeater, somewhat closer, +as though he felt safer thus; and Eli looked up to where the shotgun, +which was his especial charge, leaned against an adjacent tree, within +easy reach.</p> + +<p>Both of them had been around considerable, and could not be considered +green in the ways of the woods; and it is habit as well as disposition +that makes men cool in the face of peril.</p> + +<p>Plainly now the footfalls could be heard, for evidently the party +approaching did not want to arouse suspicion on the part of the campers, +and be met by a hostile shot.</p> + +<p>His figure loomed up presently in the semi-gloom beyond the range of the +firelight, and Cuthbert, when he first saw the tall, bulky form of the +pilgrim, was of the opinion that no word could do the newcomer better +justice than just the expression "loomed," for he was pretty much of a +giant.</p> + +<p>He was roughly dressed for the work of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> woods, and carried a rifle +of necessity, for a man would be several sorts of a fool who wandered +about these wild parts without that mainstay to back him up, and lacking +which he must of necessity starve in the midst of plenty.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert looked keenly at the fellow's face, being, as has been said +before, something of a reader of character.</p> + +<p>He instantly decided that he did not fancy the man—not that he was on +the surface other than a rough woods rover, with a laugh like the roar +of a bull alligator, and a heartiness that seemed genuine enough; but +something about his eyes caused the explorer to believe him +double-faced.</p> + +<p>Eli could not see deep enough for that, and was ready to take the fellow +for just what he appeared, a big, rough-and-ready woodsman, full of +coarse jokes, perhaps, but honest withal, a diamond that had never been +chipped.</p> + +<p>"Wall, bless my soul if it ain't three boys in camp here! Who'd a +suspected sich a thing, away up in this kentry, too. Lots o' pluck to +come so fur, fellers; how's the huntin' now, and I hopes as how ye ain't +settin' up in business as rivals ter me, ha! ha! In course I seen yer +blaze jest a ways back, an' thinks I, what's the use in bunkin' alone +ternight, Stackpole,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> yer old timber-cruiser, when thar's companionable +chaps near by who won't object p'raps ter sharin' ther fire with ye? So +I tolddled along a little further, an' here I be. Jest say as I'm +welcome, an' let me enjoy the hospertality o' the occasion. Thunder! but +the blaze is mighty fine tonight, fellers. Guess it won't be far from +frost by mornin' the way it is now. Hello! that you, Owen—well, who'd a +thought I'd run acrost ye here; ain't set eyes on ye this long spell."</p> + +<p>Owen made no reply, but there was a little curl to his upper lip that +Cuthbert noticed, and he knew that the young Canadian held no very good +opinion of the giant timber-cruiser.</p> + +<p>The name Stackpole was not entirely unknown to Cuthbert, since it had +been mentioned by several people when speaking of the Far Northwest and +those who were to be met with there—and if his recollections were +correct he was of the impression that the same Stackpole had been held +up as an example of a somewhat lawless character, who made a pretense of +cruising about looking for valuable timber in places where the +lumbermen, soon to come, could float the logs down a river to a market; +but who was suspected of other practices of a less honest character.</p> + +<p>At any rate Cuthbert scented trouble of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> some sort, and was greatly +disgusted in that the other had discovered their camp, as he had +declared, by accident, for as yet there was no reason to suspect he had +any design in joining them.</p> + +<p>He hardly knew what to do in the matter, for it would seem to be the +height of foolishness to warn Stackpole off, and refuse him the little +favor he asked, of spending the night by their fire, to enjoy their +company—people who roam the woods have peculiar ideas of hospitality, +and it is a serious infraction of the unwritten rules to deny a wanderer +the privilege of the camp for a night.</p> + +<p>Surely they could stand his unwelcome presence for that short time; and +if they maintained their usual custom of standing watch-and-watch alike, +there would seem to be little chance of his doing them an evil turn.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Cuthbert allowed his face to appear pleasant, as though he +might even be delighted to have this wandering timber spy with them for +a space, to enliven things a bit.</p> + +<p>"Sit down and make yourself quite at home. You're right, it is getting +sharp and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see signs of frost, the +first of the season, in the morning. We're up here knocking about a +little, partly to hunt, but mostly because I've a penchant,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> that is, a +weakness for exploring out-of-the-way places. Stackpole, did you say +your name was?—well, mine's Cuthbert Reynolds, this is my friend, Eli +Perkins, and, you seem to know Owen, so I won't try to introduce him. +Have you had supper—if not there's something in the pot that wouldn't +taste bad if warmed up a bit?"</p> + +<p>That was the way Cuthbert spoke, for he was naturally genial and +generous, ready to divide anything he had with one in distress; only in +this case he felt that it was along the line of casting pearls before +swine, for that ugly little gleam in the corner of Stackpole's shifty +eye warned him against trusting the fellow too far.</p> + +<p>"That sounds good, and I'm goin' ter take ye up on the proposition, +young feller. I ain't had ary bite since noon, an' then 'twas a snack +only. Coffee—why, I've plumb forgot how she tastes, fact, it's been so +long since I had a cup. An' stew, my, that smells prime. Say, it was a +mighty lucky streak that made me come along the river here, headin' fur +the post. Thought I'd keep right along till I got thar, but 'twas tryin' +business, an' I'd jest determined ter bunk down till mornin' when I +ketched a glimpse o' this yer fire. Guess my old luck ain't petered out +yit."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span></p> + +<p>He was evidently something of a talker, and liked to hear the sound of +his own voice; but Cuthbert was of the opinion that the presence of Owen +had rather upset the big chap, and that some of this patter was intended +to hide his confusion, and allow him to figure out his standing there.</p> + +<p>The mystery surrounding Owen seemed to be growing deeper all the while, +and the more these peculiar things came about the greater the desire on +Cuthbert's part to help the Canadian lad by all means in his power.</p> + +<p>He awaited his chance to see the other alone, so that he might ask a few +pertinent questions concerning Stackpole.</p> + +<p>This came in a little while, when, the coffee and stew having been +warmed, the giant timber-cruiser was busily employed in disposing of the +same.</p> + +<p>Owen was down by the river's edge, apparently looking after the two +boats, so they would be safe for the night—he never missed an +opportunity to handle the wonderful cedar canoe, running his hands over +its smooth sides, and admiring its beautiful lines, so that this was not +a peculiar occupation for him.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Cuthbert was rather inclined to believe that Owen wanted +him to saunter over that way, in order that he might say something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> he +could not well communicate in the presence of the unwelcome guest.</p> + +<p>So he got up, busied himself with a few things for a minute or two, and +then walked in the direction of the boats, conscious at the same time +that Stackpole had his shrewd eyes fastened upon him; and he could +imagine the sneer upon the boarded face of the woodsman, betraying how +readily he saw through the little game.</p> + +<p>"I imagine you know what sort of fellow he is, Owen. Now, I don't just +fancy his looks, and even if you weren't here to tell me about him I'd +keep an eye on Mr. Stackpole during his stay in camp," was what Cuthbert +said in a low tone, as he sat down on the upturned cedar boat alongside +his friend.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the whole thing in a nutshell—it's a wise thing to keep +watch of that man when he's near anything valuable, for he's got a +reputation for being light-fingered, and I know he's been accused of +lots of mean things up in this country. Most men are afraid of him, for +he can be an ugly customer in a scrap, and under that jolly laugh he has +the temper of a devil. And to tell you the truth, he doesn't like me +worth a cent. There's a story connected with it which I'll be glad to +tell you at the first chance, that is if you care to hear anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> +concerning my wretched and unhappy past. I think we'd better act as if +we didn't suspect anything, only let him see we are here. Perhaps he'll +go away in the morning, but I don't believe that he's heading for the +post, because there's been bad blood between him and the old factor for +a long while; and I guess Mr. Gregory is the only man in all these parts +Stackpole really has respect for."</p> + +<p>All of this Owen muttered into the ear of his comrade, meanwhile keeping +his eyes fastened upon the burly figure squatted in the camp beside the +genial fire, and noting how often Stackpole's glance wandered +suspiciously toward them, as if the fellow wondered what he, Owen, might +be telling the young fellow, whom he had already decided, if he did not +know it before, to be the ruling spirit of the expedition, and who +evidently held the purse, a very important consideration in the mind of +a man like the said Stackpole.</p> + +<p>"Yes, when you get good and ready to tell me I'd consider it a privilege +to know something more of your life here, old chap; and if anything I +can do will be of benefit, you understand that you're as welcome to it +as the sunlight after a week of rain," pursued Cuthbert; at which the +other, overcome with emotion (for he had led a lonely life and never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> +knew what it was to have the counsel of a genuine friend) and unable to +express his feelings in words, simply allowed his hand to creep along +the keel of the cedar canoe until it met that of the generous-hearted +Cuthbert, when his fingers were intertwined with those of his new chum; +nor were these latter loth to meet him half-way.</p> + +<p>There was a whole world of words in that eloquent handgrip, for soul +spoke to soul; and the communion of interests that had been slowly +drawing them together ever since their strange meeting was cemented then +and there.</p> + +<p>They busied themselves around the boats for a short time, more to make +it appear that they had really sought the spot with the intention of +fixing things cozily for the night than because there was need of their +labor; and during the minutes that elapsed Cuthbert managed to ask +numerous questions about Stackpole, for when he learned from Owen that +in times past this fellow and the halfbreed Dubois, from whom he had +secured the unreliable chart, had been boon companions, a disturbing +thought was born in his mind that possibly there might have been more of +design than accident in the coming of the timber-cruiser on this night.</p> + +<p>The peace and charm that had up to this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> period marked the stay of +himself and honest Eli in the wilderness seemed in a fair way to be +dissipated; and who could say what sort of storm and stress lay before +them—for one thing, he was glad that Owen had crossed his path, nor did +he mean that the other should ever go out of his life again—come what +would, he was bound to look forward to a future shared in common by +both, whether in American wilds or some far-distant country where +wonderful things were awaiting discovery.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII." id="CHAPTER_VII."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2><h3>OWL AND TIMBER WOLF.</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the two friends returned to the fire Stackpole was taking his ease +and smoking furiously, Eli having possibly supplied him with tobacco of +a brand far beyond any to which he may have been accustomed in his +wanderings.</p> + +<p>Evidently, no matter what his suspicions may have been, the gaunt timber +nomad was resolved to seem quite at his ease; indeed, his was a nature +not easily disturbed by possible trouble—he found the vicinity of the +fire comfortable, and did not mean to forsake it in a hurry unless there +was urgent reason for decamping.</p> + +<p>Eli, in his wild life among the lumberjacks, had met with too many +characters just like Stackpole, not to size the fellow up for just what +he must be; and while he carried on in a seemingly friendly way, he was +watching the other, with the idea of guessing his business in this +particular region; for he judged that Stackpole seldom made a move +without some suspicious object back of it.</p> + +<p>When a lad is thrown upon his own resources at a very early age he soon +learns to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> analyze people and their motives in a manner equal to a +Sherlock Holmes, and Eli had always delighted in trying to read the +various types to be met with in the wilderness.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was uneasy.</p> + +<p>The presence of this hulking rover took away from all the pleasure of +the camp, and he was provoked to think they should be compelled to +entertain one who was not only a stranger, but possessed of an unsavory +reputation.</p> + +<p>Still, he had been in the woods enough to be aware that there is an +unwritten law governing hospitality around the campfire; and no matter +how unpleasant the presence of this timber-cruiser might be to him, he +did not wish to appear in the light of a boor.</p> + +<p>They were three to one, and having been forewarned they could keep a +jealous eye on the said unwelcome guest so long as he remained; but +Cuthbert vowed to himself that with the break of day, and the morning +meal over, their paths must lie in opposite directions.</p> + +<p>Stackpole was no fool, and it did not take him long to discover that +each of the three lads kept his gun within reach of his hand all the +time; which fact announced as plain as words could have done that they +entertained suspicions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> concerning him, and did not mean to be caught +napping in case he tried to make trouble of any sort.</p> + +<p>Now, while Stackpole was a fellow equal to two if not three of the boys, +with regard to physical abilities, death and the possession of firearms +levels all such distinctions, and a bit of lead would sting just as much +from one of their guns as if it had come from the weapon of a +six-footer; hence, he made up his mind to walk a straight line while +among the possessors of all this hardware.</p> + +<p>His avaricious eyes wandered frequently toward the splendid Marlin +repeater owned by Cuthbert, and the fact was very evident that he envied +him the possession of such a dandy gun, compared with which his battered +Winchester looked like "six cents," as Eli remarked to himself when he +correctly gauged the meaning of those sly glances.</p> + +<p>"He'll steal if he can, the skunk," muttered the young logger, shaking +his head in his pet peculiar manner, which he always did when angered or +puzzled.</p> + +<p>And then and there Eli determined that he would not allow himself a wink +of sleep that whole night; and that if Stackpole attempted any "funny +business" he would round him up with a sharp turn.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span></p> + +<p>They talked of many things while sitting there around the campfire; and +the man managed to make himself fairly agreeable; for he certainly was +mighty well posted in everything connected with the country Cuthbert, in +his enthusiastic simplicity had come so far to explore; and had he been +built upon a different plan, Stackpole might have proven a valuable man +to tote along—he had penetrated further in the direction of Hudson Bay +and the Arctic shores beyond than any other man in the Northwest +Territory, and proved this by describing many of the things encountered +by a well known explorer with whose work Cuthbert was quite familiar, +and whose sole companion Stackpole claimed to have been.</p> + +<p>There is something more than mere knowledge to be desired in a companion +on a long tramp, and this is reliance in his fidelity, cheerful +disposition, and readiness to shoulder at least half of the +labor—without these qualities in a campmate much of the pleasure is +missing.</p> + +<p>Finally the boys began to find themselves yawning, for the day's toil +had been severe, with a strong current in the river to buck against, and +they had been up since peep of day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span></p> + +<p>So they started to make preparations for sleeping.</p> + +<p>The giant timber-cruiser watched them get their sleeping-bags ready, +that is, Cuthbert and Eli, with more or less curiosity, for evidently he +knew little or nothing about such Arctic necessities, even though he had +accompanied an explorer for many hundred miles into the great unmapped +region beyond Hudson Bay—at least he claimed to have done so.</p> + +<p>Perhaps there was also a bit of envy in the looks he bent upon these +evidences of comfort, for he could appreciate the value of such +contrivances during a Northern winter, especially to a man whose +business was apt to take him outdoors, regardless of the weather.</p> + +<p>He had an apology for a blanket in his pack, and this he proceeded to +spread upon the ground, selecting a spot close to the fire, where he +could toast his feet while he slumbered, a favorite attitude with such +nomads, as our young friends all knew.</p> + +<p>Owen, of course, had his third of the tent, but it had been already +arranged between the trio that all through the night one of them should +stand guard, not because there appeared to be impending danger from +without, but on account of the unwelcome guest they entertained at their +fire.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span></p> + +<p>Not one of them grumbled, being built in a manner to meet such +emergencies cheerfully, and wrestle with difficulties in the same spirit +as they would accept favors, a splendid combination in woods chums.</p> + +<p>No doubt Stackpole noticed that Owen, having made his bed ready, showed +no disposition to occupy the same; but if he understood just why, he at +least made no comment, in which he displayed his good sense.</p> + +<p>He turned in "all standing," simply lying down, rolling himself up in +his faded blanket, and with his pack-bag for a pillow, losing himself to +the world, so far as the boys could tell; though they noticed that he +had pulled his slouch hat so far down over his face that it was utterly +impossible to see whether his keen eyes were closed or watching every +movement of his entertainers.</p> + +<p>Inside the tent our friends found a chance to confer, and thus a plan of +campaign for the night was laid down.</p> + +<p>Then Cuthbert and Eli crawled into their sleeping-bags, for the night +was inclined to be frosty, and there is a world of comfort in these +modern contrivances, under such conditions; while Owen walked down to +the canoes, and with an arm thrown caressingly across<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> the keel of the +precious cedar craft began his long and lonely vigil.</p> + +<p>He thought nothing of such a little hardship, having been accustomed to +the vicissitudes of the woods from childhood—to him the various sounds +of the wilderness, after nightfall had come, were as familiar as the +cackling of hens to a farmer's lad, and what was more to the point he +read these signs so well that they one and all possessed a significance +far beyond any surface indications.</p> + +<p>But these forests of the Silent Land bear little comparison with the +depths of a tropical jungle, or the dense growth of an African +wilderness where a multitude of animals make the air vibrate with their +roaring during the entire period of darkness.</p> + +<p>Sometimes in the daytime not a sound can be heard save the moaning of +the wind among the tops of the pines, or the gurgle of some meandering +stream, all around being absolute silence, deep and profound.</p> + +<p>At night it? is not quite so bad, for then the hooting of a vagrant owl, +or it may be the distant howl of a prowling timber wolf, that gray +skulker of the pine lands, is apt to break the monotony; but even in the +midst of summer there is lacking the hum of insects and the bustle of +woods life—at best one hears the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> weird call of the whip-poor-will, +called by the Indians, the "wish-a-wish," or if near a marsh the +croaking of gigantic bullfrogs.</p> + +<p>Owen apparently had many things to engage his thoughts as he kept watch +and ward over the camp of his new-found friends; and judging from his +repeated sighs his self-communion was hardly of a cheerful character, +for several times the boy gritted his teeth savagely, and clinched his +fist as though rebelling against some decree of fate that had +temporarily upset his calculations.</p> + +<p>Once a name escaped his lips, and it was that of the old factor in +charge of the Hudson Bay trading post further up the river; and almost +in the same breath he murmured the word "mother," tenderly, as though +his thoughts had flown backward to happy scenes so greatly in contrast +with his present forlorn conditions.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Owen did not forget why he was on guard, not for a minute.</p> + +<p>He had so placed himself when leaning his back against that adored cedar +boat that he could keep watch over the camp, and particularly that +portion of it where Stackpole's elongated frame, rolled up like a mummy +in his blanket, was to be seen.</p> + +<p>So often did the eyes of the lad fall upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> the recumbent timber-cruiser +that the other could not have moved without attracting his notice.</p> + +<p>Stackpole was apparently sleeping like a log, for ever and anon his +stentorian breathing arose into something approaching a snore, that +sounded tremulously, like a mysterious note from a harsh Eolian harp set +in the wind.</p> + +<p>Possibly, upon noting that Owen was to have the first watch the shrewd +chap had made up his mind there would be nothing doing thus early in the +night, his chances being better later on when the "greenhorn," as he +erroneously denominated Cuthbert on account of his fine name and genteel +appearance, had charge.</p> + +<p>Thus time crept along, midnight came and went, with young Dugdale still +holding the fort, as if he intended remaining there until dawn.</p> + +<p>Once only did he detect a movement on the part of the suspicious party; +and then Stackpole twisted about as though desirous of assuming a new +position, and at the same time he raised his head and took a sweeping +glance around, just as any woodsman might during the night, a habit born +of eternal watchfulness; yet under the circumstances it was more or less +suspicious to see how the fellow completed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> his hasty survey by a quick +look in the direction of the boats, as if quite conscious of the fact +that Owen was still there on guard.</p> + +<p>He immediately dropped back, and presently was heard the same pulsating +sound of asthmatic breathing, sometimes ending in a snort—if Stackpole +was still awake and pretending sleep he knew how to imitate the real +article right well, Owen thought, shaking his head dubiously.</p> + +<p>If the Canadian lad thought to usurp the privilege of the others in +extending his watch, he counted without his host, for Cuthbert came +crawling out of the tent shortly after the time he had set.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII." id="CHAPTER_VIII."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2><h3>THE CALL OF THE WILD.</h3> +</div> + +<p>First of all the explorer stopped by the fire and tossed several heavy +bits of fuel upon the embers, doing this with the air of one who looked +upon such an act as second nature.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, if Stackpole were watching from under the shade of his hat +brim, he might alter his opinion with regard to the novice act, and +begin to understand that a fellow need not necessarily be raw to the +ways of the woods because he possesses means, and chooses to supply +himself with certain comforts that are apt to come in handy—the best of +moccasins, a modern quick-firing rifle that carries a small bullet +calculated to spread in mushroom shape upon striking the quarry and do +the work of a gun of much larger caliber, a sleeping-bag, a compact +kerosene stove for the inevitable wet time in camp when the wood will +not burn—a veteran is apt to turn up his nose at such innovations, and +growl that the simple life suits him as it did his forebears; but, when +the rainy spell arrives he is just as willing to cook upon the little +stove he derided as the next one; and of a cold night, with the wind +howling around like a fiend, give him an opportunity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> to snuggle down +inside that cozy bag which had excited his contempt, and ten to one you +will be hardly able to divorce him from it at dawn.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had tried both ways, and, like the sensible chap he was, +decided that a man would be a fool to choose the old method with its +lack of comfort when able to afford these modern luxuries.</p> + +<p>He stalked over to the boats, trailing his gun along, as Owen saw with +grim pleasure, for it told him Cuthbert had not changed his mind with +regard to the character of their guest, and would undoubtedly keep a +close eye on Stackpole while his watch lasted.</p> + +<p>The other dropped down beside him, with a few words of greeting.</p> + +<p>Owen thought he detected a slight movement of the recumbent form, and +believed Stackpole must be awake—he made no effort to sit up and look +around, which in itself was somewhat suspicious, for a veteran of his +caliber must have so educated his faculties that not a movement, however +slight, could take place in a camp where he was sleeping without his +knowing it.</p> + +<p>The boys sat there and conversed in low tones for quite a long spell; +indeed, Cuthbert had to almost drive Owen to the tent, so contented<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> did +the Canadian lad seem to be in his company—lonely enough had his life +been since the loss of those he held dear, and there was something +infinitely precious to him in the cheery radiance of this optimistic +Yankee who had crossed his path at a period when he desperately needed a +friend.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert settled himself down for a good siege when finally he had seen +the other crawl into the tent, for he was not to arouse Eli, who slept +like a log, until it was after three by his little silver watch.</p> + +<p>He had made up his mind that if this pilgrim to whom they had given +shelter and food as become generous campers, showed any disposition to +pilfer he would treat him in a summary manner, and chase him into the +woods, just as any rascal should be made to decamp; and the fact of +Stackpole's gigantic figure made not a particle of difference in his +calculations.</p> + +<p>Whatever the fellow may have planned to attempt during the silent +watches of the night, his nerve evidently failed him, for he did not +venture to make the least move; possibly the combination of these three +determined-looking lads awed him more than he could care to admit, or it +might be he had other schemes up his sleeve whereby the same end could +be accomplished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> without taking so much risk—at any rate Cuthbert sat +his watch out, and after fixing the fire again, aroused Eli, who in turn +sauntered over to the boats, carrying his patron's cherished gun, which +he as dearly loved to fondle as a girl might a kitten.</p> + +<p>And if Stackpole saw this, as he evidently must under the shelter of +that hat brim, he knew it would be a signal for trouble with a big T if +he tried any queer business with these wideawake lads.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was almost positive he heard him give a disgusted grunt as he +settled back for another snooze, and they heard nothing farther from him +until morning, when he arose, yawning and stretching his huge bulk, as +though he had been dead to the world from the moment he lay down.</p> + +<p>They treated him decently and gave him an abundance of breakfast, which +the big timber-cruiser gulped down with the eagerness of a hungry wolf; +for it had been a long day since he tasted such delicious bacon and +coffee with flap-jacks to "beat the band," as Eli said, made by Owen, +who had proved to be superior as a cook to either of his new friends, +the gift being a legacy from his mother, he confessed.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, there was an air of restraint about their associations +with the woodsman,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> which he could not but feel, and therefore he made +up his bundle soon after, saying he must be on his way, and while they +were engaged in stowing the tent he took his departure, grunting some +sort of thanks for the many favors he had received at their hands.</p> + +<p>If what Owen told them of the fellow's nature was actually so, this +generosity on the part of the young explorer would not count for a row +of pins when occasion arose whereby the temptation came to Stackpole to +appropriate some of the expensive outfit his envious eyes had gloated +over during his stay with them.</p> + +<p>Our friends did not hasten their departure, for they wished to let him +have a long lead; for he had left the camp going in a direction that, if +persisted in, would land him at Fort Harmony in due time.</p> + +<p>Owen had not changed his mind since the preceding night, when he +asserted so positively that it was his opinion, judging from what he +knew of the relations existing between this rover of the mighty woods +and the chief factor of the region, Stackpole would hardly turn up at +the post, since there had long been bad blood between these men, and the +cruiser was too shrewd to put himself in the power of so strenuous an +enemy as the grim old Scotch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> trading master, who ruled affairs in this +stretch of country as though he were king.</p> + +<p>"I think he only started in that direction to blind us; and that after +going a mile or less he will break off the trail and head where he was +aiming for last night when he saw our fire, and thought there might be +something worth picking up here, or else keep watch of our movements," +said Owen, as he pulled the cords tight around the bag that held the +waterproof tent, while the others were doing the same duty for the +smaller bags in which food and extra clothes had been thrust.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert chuckled as though greatly tickled.</p> + +<p>"Well, if that was his hope, I'm afraid he was bitterly disappointed in +his calculations, that's all. We kept him under cover, all right, and +perhaps he's mentally kicking himself now over having wasted so many +hours peeping out from under that hat brim when he might just as well +have been snoozing."</p> + +<p>Eli professed to be greatly disappointed, for he remarked dejectedly:</p> + +<p>"Thought I might get a chance to try your gun, and I had just made up my +mind like which leg I'd pepper if he tried to sneak anything away. Well, +p'raps we may run across the critter again, and I'll just keep it in +mind that it was the left leg I chose—he's got somewhat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> of a limp in +the right one now, and you see that'd sort of even things up. I don't +like to see a lopsided feller nowadays."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I believe you're something of a philanthropist, Eli, always +looking out to do somebody good, even if you have to force it into them +with a hypodermic syringe or a shotgun. For my part, I don't care if we +never set eyes on old Stack again, for I fancy the fellow mighty little. +There is something about his eyes that goes against my grain, a shifty +look that you see in a wolf. He's welcome to all he stowed away, but I +hope he doesn't fancy he has a standing invitation to drop in frequently +to supper."</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX." id="CHAPTER_IX."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2><h3>TRAPPER LORE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>While the other two boys were finishing the packing of their stores Owen +had wandered up the bed of a creek that joined the river at a point just +above the site of their late camp.</p> + +<p>He had evidently noted something that aroused his interest, for the +others noticed him peering closely at the banks and examining a number +of things.</p> + +<p>"Now what in the world do you imagine he sees?" asked Eli, who was +possessed of a good lively streak of curiosity in his composition, and +could not observe these things without commenting on the same.</p> + +<p>"I was wondering somewhat along that vein, myself, and had come to the +conclusion that Owen's trapping instinct has been aroused by certain +signs of the furry game for which every man in this region is always on +the alert. Nothing else I can think of would interest him so," returned +Cuthbert.</p> + +<p>"Well, here he comes back again, and from the smile on his face I +imagine he wants us to take a look, too."</p> + +<p>"I'd just like to, for I've heard so much about the fur business since +striking this wild<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> country that it seems a shame not to be better +posted. I know a lynx from a common everyday bobcat, and can tell an +otter when I see it; but there are a thousand or two little things +connected with the trade of a trapper that are just so much Greek to me. +You notice I've been pumping him every chance I got, and perhaps he sees +an opening to make a demonstration. We're in no big hurry today, and I'd +be only too willing to hold over a bit if I could add to my pump of +practical knowledge."</p> + +<p>"Me, too," echoed Eli, who, although a woods dweller all his life, had +never made a practice of taking furs; and unless one goes into this +business at first hand the result is always disappointing.</p> + +<p>One week with an everyday trapper along the lines of his traps will do +more toward giving a novice a fair insight into the strange business of +outwitting the cunning bearers of fur coats than all the guides ever +written.</p> + +<p>For once Cuthbert had made a bullseye guess.</p> + +<p>When Owen reached them he was holding some little object up for +observation.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what that is, boys?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Both of them took a good look.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span></p> + +<p>"Looks like a bunny's paw," said Eli, dubiously.</p> + +<p>At this Cuthbert laughed.</p> + +<p>"Down in my section of Old Virginny the coons like to get rabbit's foot +for a charm; it is said to keep the evil spirits away, especially if +taken from a graveyard rabbit. Can it be possible there are fellows up +in this benighted region of the same mind? But that is not a rabbit's +foot, I think, Owen," he said.</p> + +<p>"What then?" asked the Canadian.</p> + +<p>"I don't know for certain, but if I made a guess I should say mink."</p> + +<p>"Good enough for a hap-hazard guess. Mink it is, and the little animal +just gnawed it off himself, last night, for you can see it is quite +fresh."</p> + +<p>"Gnawed it off himself, did you say? What in the world would he be fool +enough to do that for?" demanded Cuthbert looking closely to see whether +the other gave any signs of joking, but failing to find any.</p> + +<p>"Well, for one thing, he could not find anybody to do it for him."</p> + +<p>"Oh! and was it so very important that Mr. Mink should drop one of his +little footsie-tootsies in that way? Is it the habit up here for these +animals to go around cm three legs?"</p> + +<p>"No; but you see he was silly enough to believe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> that it was better to +go along the balance of his natural life with three feet rather than to +give up his nice soft pelt to grace the back of some lady in Montreal or +New York or London," returned Owen, gravely, twirling the little +reminder around between his fingers, and looking at it as though he +believed it could tell a sad story if only it were gifted with the power +of speech.</p> + +<p>"Now I see the reason. The mink had been caught in a trap, and after +twisting and turning until it had torn its leg fearfully, as is seen +right there, in desperation it finished the amputation itself; not that +it was afraid of decorating some high born dame's back, but because it +was threatened with starvation if it sat there in the trap indefinitely. +How's that, brother?" he declared.</p> + +<p>"About as near the facts as any one could come, for that is just what +happened to our poor little friend here. He'll have to hobble around on +three legs for the balance of his natural life; but that's better than +knocking under now. And, of course, some trapper, an Indian, probably, +is out a valuable skin through his carelessness."</p> + +<p>"But how does it come that more of the little beasts, all of them, in +fact, don't do the same thing? I should think it would be necessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> to +guard against it," remarked the Virginian.</p> + +<p>"That is just it. I said this trapper was out a skin through sheer +carelessness, for it is a slovenly way of trapping to let a nice mink +like that get away. If you care to step this way with me I'll show you +something which perhaps neither of you have ever seen before, and is +worth remembering."</p> + +<p>They were only too willing, for already what Owen had said was arousing +much curiosity within their minds, and they could not bear to let a +chance to have this gratified pass by without taking advantage of the +same.</p> + +<p>He jumped down into the gully through which the little creek ran, coming +from the hills far away, and winding in and out through the timber, +often being fairly choked with brush, so that an expert would find it +difficult to make headway.</p> + +<p>Still, down near its mouth it was more open, and they could wander along +for quite some distance without great effort.</p> + +<p>The banks were sloping in places, and rather inclined to be precipitous +in others, but at no place more than half a dozen feet in height.</p> + +<p>After going up for some little distance Owen stopped.</p> + +<p>"Here is where our little friend lost his foot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> and there is the trap +that helped to take it off," he said, pointing to a rusty Newhouse No. 2 +that was lying in full view, chain and all, by the edge of the water.</p> + +<p>Stooping over Cuthbert saw that the jaws were marked with a stain, and +bits of fur, proving the truth of Owen's assertion.</p> + +<p>"Sure as you live it did, and there was no surgeon's fee for that +amputation, either. Now go on and tell us why this happened, and what is +to prevent it being the rule, rather than the exception," he said +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"First of all, I must explain how mink are located, and something of +their habits, or you will not understand. They are nearly always found +along the banks of a small stream that empties into a larger, just as in +this case.</p> + +<p>"The female mink have settled places of abode, while the male are +rovers, and roam up and down the creek for a distance of about two miles +in either direction. Now, when a trapper has made up Ms mind that a +certain stream is the home of a considerable number of mink he comes out +in the early fall, some time before the regular trapping months open, +and gets things ready for his season.</p> + +<p>"Along the edge of the little bluff near the water line he digs holes +about three feet back into the bank and some nine inches across the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +front, throwing water about the place to kill the scent of his presence, +and a little driftwood in and around the hole, so that it will seem +natural to the suspicious animal.</p> + +<p>"These holes are made about a hundred feet apart, and are then left for +a couple of weeks, and when you go back to set your traps you will be +surprised to discover that almost every hole shows marks of mink having +gone in and out, searching for mates.</p> + +<p>"When they set the traps it is the regular thing to fasten the end of +the chain out just so far in the water, where it is deep enough to drown +the mink; once the trap snaps upon the leg of the animal its instinct +causes it to spring into the creek, and being weighed down by the trap, +it is soon drowned; this saves needless suffering, does not injure the +fur, and prevents the mink gnawing off its own foot in the mad desire to +escape."</p> + +<p>"Say, that's mighty interesting, now," declared Eli, bending down to +examine the trap again; "I didn't know there was so much to the pesky +business—had an idea all you had to do was to find where the animals +held out, stick a trap there, and go out the next day and grab your +fur."</p> + +<p>Owen laughed heartily at this.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid such a trapper would not get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> enough mink, otter, fox, or +even muskrat skins to buy his tobacco in a season. Why, these little +varmints are just chain lightning when it comes to cleverness, and they +can sometimes outwit the smartest old trapper who ever drew breath. +There are a thousand secrets connected with the business, and no one man +carries them all. Many of these have been handed down from some of those +old fellows who used to spend their lives trapping for the Hudson Bay +and the Northwest Fur Companies at the time these two were great rivals +over the whole of the fur country. You'd find it a most interesting +subject if you ever chose to dig into it. Of course, I've picked up +quite a few of these secrets and can do my share of a season's work, +though it never did appeal to me strongly enough to carry it on as a +business. If you went along up this stream you'd find a dozen traps or +more, some of them perhaps with a mink or, it might be, an otter in +their jaws, but always drowned. Now, I'm going to leave this foot just +where I found it. This man ought to be more careful. In the eyes of a +first class worker it's a sign of poor business to find a foot in a +trap. Perhaps he'll take warning and improve his methods. I hope so, for +I don't like the idea of a number<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> of these poor little beasts hopping +around on three legs for the balance of their lives."</p> + +<p>"I can see that nature never intended you for a trapper, Owen," remarked +Cuthbert, sagely; "for you have too much sympathy in your composition. I +imagine a man has to harden himself to all such things before he can +become a successful fur gatherer; but then it is necessary that there +should be some people follow such an occupation, else what would all our +lovely girls do for wraps? After all, the taking of furs does not +compare in cruelty with the shooting of herons and other birds by the +tens of thousands, just to pluck an egret or plume and toss the body +away. That is a cruel deed that ought to make every woman blush who ever +wears an egret on her hat or bonnet. But what you've been telling us is +mighty interesting, do you know? I am determined to learn all I can +about this strange business while here on the spot. Nothing like getting +things at first hand. Are other animals taken in the same way?"</p> + +<p>"To some extent. Whenever it is a water animal they are drowned when +caught. Even beaver have to be treated that way."</p> + +<p>"But these animals live under the water, don't they? Then how can they +be so easily drowned?" asked Cuthbert; but immediately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> adding: "Of +course, I know they have to come to the surface at stated intervals to +breathe. I suppose the trap holds them down beyond their allotted time, +and then they suffer, just as a fellow might after a minute had passed. +Now, foxes are caught on the land—are they ever know to gnaw their foot +off to get free?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. Trappers look more closely to their fox traps, you see, for +they are always hoping to catch a silver, and that means a fortune," +said Owen.</p> + +<p>"I suppose by that you mean a silver or black fox. I have heard they +were worth a big sum of money, and quite rare. What do the pelts bring +as a usual thing?" asked Cuthbert.</p> + +<p>"I believe as high as two thousand dollars for one fur, but that must +have been a mighty fine one. I knew one man who received eight hundred, +and I suppose the fur trader who bought it from him sold it again for a +thousand anyway. Some men have been lucky enough to take several silvers +during the whole of their trapping lives, while others have waited for +forty years and never caught a single one. But every fur gatherer lives +in hopes, even the Crees and Ojibwas indulging in these anticipations +that may never be realized.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> It is the highest priced skin to be found +ashore. A sea-otter may bring more, but I doubt it."</p> + +<p>"You've seen the pelts then?" asked Eli, whose eyes were sticking out at +this intelligence, for it seemed to him just then that a brisk trade in +silver foxes was even more to be desired than a copper mine.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, often, at a post where they were brought in. Some are only +seconds or thirds and worth far less than a first class article. I +remember one case that was pretty rough. A trapper had a beautiful skin, +that would have brought him a little fortune; but when the factor came +to examine it he found it almost worthless on account of being torn by a +charge of shot at close quarters."</p> + +<p>"That was a shame," declared Cuthbert, who was eagerly listening to all +these remarks on the subject of trapping; "but if silver fox pelts are +so very valuable I should think some enterprising fellow with an eye to +business would start a farm and raise them for the market."</p> + +<p>"Just what I was going to say. There would be big money in the deal if a +fellow had the right ground, and bought a pair to begin with," exclaimed +Eli.</p> + +<p>"It's easy enough to get the ground. Others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> have succeeded to some +extent with red foxes, though at first they lost every one, for the +cunning rascals burrowed under the fence; but a way was found to prevent +that by digging down a yard, filling it with stones, and running a heavy +wire mesh back several feet. Of course the foxes kept on burrowing along +the fence, but seemed to lack sense enough to start in five feet back so +as to avoid the obstruction. Their cunning has a limit, and beyond that +they're as stupid as any animal."</p> + +<p>"But how about the silvers—what is the obstacle that stands in the way +of making such a fox farm a success? Perhaps they refuse to breed in +captivity—I've heard of animals acting that way, even skunks at times," +said the Virginian.</p> + +<p>"No trouble in that line particularly, I believe. The great obstacle to +success lies in the fact that the silver fox is not a distinct type at +all, but a freak," smiled Owen.</p> + +<p>"A freak—that is, it can't be depended upon to reproduce its like?"</p> + +<p>"Never does, in fact. From a pair of silvers you will get red foxes, +that's all. It's been proven again and again, and yet I've heard of +several parties with more money than brains starting a silver fox farm. +Don't you ever allow yourself to be tempted to put cold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> cash into such +a game, either of you," continued the young Canadian, tossing the +severed foot of Mr. Mink down by the cruel trap that had been +instrumental in relieving the poor animal of his useful extremity.</p> + +<p>The trapper would find it there, and understand just what had happened, +doubtless profiting by his blunder and setting the trap right next time.</p> + +<p>All might have been avoided had he staked the end of the chain far +enough out in the water, so that the animal when caught would have been +drowned by the weight of the steel trap.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert seemed loth to give over questioning the boy who knew about the +various ways of circumventing these cunning little varmints of the +wilds; he found himself deeply interested in the matter and could not +hear enough on the subject.</p> + +<p>To his mind there must ever be a halo of romance connected with the +lives of those old-time French-Canadian voyageurs who, in early days, +used to paddle all the way from Montreal to Fort William on the northern +shore of the "big water," Superior, to collect the great and valuable +bundles of pelts brought in to the post in the Spring by the many +trappers connected with the company,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> some of them white, but mostly +full-blood Indians or halfbreeds speaking French.</p> + +<p>He had read considerable of their doings before making this trip into +the region of the mighty Saskatchewan, being desirous of posting himself +on the subject; but interesting as it may have seemed then, when seated +in his luxurious apartment in a New York hotel, it was doubly so now +that he was on the ground.</p> + +<p>Why, these very woods must have witnessed many a scene such as those +described, and he could easily picture the flotilla of batteaux moving +up or down the river, propelled by the muscular arms of the husky +voyageurs, while upon the still air rang out their famous Canadian boat +songs.</p> + +<p>It thrilled him to even think of it, and the surroundings assumed a new +aspect in his eyes; perhaps those days were gone, never to return, and +the trappers of today might prove to be merely ordinary Indians, or such +rascally fellows as Stackpole and Dubois; but Cuthbert did hope that +once at the post he might be able to hear some of the songs that have +come down from the old days, filled with the romance of the pines, the +birches, the larches, and the hemlocks that hung over those early +pioneer camps in the wilderness.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to ask you one thing," said Eli, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> they slowly walked back +in the direction of the camp.</p> + +<p>"All right. A dozen if you like, and I'll be only too glad to answer +them if I can. There are some things that even a fellow who has spent +years up here, and kept his eyes and ears open all that time, couldn't +answer. Go on, Eli," said Owen promptly.</p> + +<p>"I've taken a few animals myself over in the Peninsula, but not having +had any advice I guess I bungled the job somewhat. Anyhow, they said +down in St. Louis, where I sent my bunch, that they were misfits, and I +suppose it must have been so, if a fellow was to judge from the size of +the check they sent on. Since then I've been told that all animals can't +be skinned alive. Is that so? I just sliced 'em down, and peeled off the +jackets in the best way I could. Of course I knew enough to have thin +boards to fasten the pelts to when drying, and they seemed to be all +hunk when I shipped 'em; but somewhere I biffed it. Now, what d'ye +s'pose was wrong with my work?"</p> + +<p>Owen smiled as if he knew instinctively.</p> + +<p>"When they said the furs were misfits they meant that you had not taken +them off the right way. Some skins have to be cased, that is removed +entire, or turned inside out, and not cut down the belly first, which +injures<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> their sale. All skunk, marten, mink, fox, 'possum, otter, +weasel, civet, lynx, fisher and muskrat have to be treated this way. +Other animals should be cut open, such as the beaver, wolf, coyote, +'coon, badger, bear and wild cat. They cut off the tails only of such +chaps as have a rat-like appearance—'possum and muskrat. In all other +cases the tail is a part of the fur, and a valuable one, too, as I have +found out to my cost. The bone is of course taken out, which can be done +with only a small split."</p> + +<p>"All this is mighty interesting to me," remarked Cuthbert.</p> + +<p>"You can just bet it is. What else, Owen? Is there any difference about +the way skins are fastened to the drying boards? I might have blundered +there too, and that would help make a misfit, eh?" ventured Eli, +grinning.</p> + +<p>"Well, it would, without a doubt. It is just as well for any young +trapper to get thoroughly posted on these subjects before he tries to +take any fur, or all his work during the winter may go for nothing. I've +seen packs of pelts ruined by just that thing—they were cased the wrong +side out and could not be remedied. Some have to be cased with the fur +side out, and others with the pelt exposed to the air. Those that are +better with the fur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> out are fox, weasel, lynx, fisher, otter, marten +and wolf. The others must have the pelt outward so that the air can get +to it in plenty. And then again some trappers spoil their catch in part +by drying near a fire or in the sun. The best way is to hang them in the +open air in the shade, and let them have plenty of time, making sure to +clean them thoroughly of all fat and bits of meat."</p> + +<p>"There's one thing that strikes me about this business, and the more I +hear about it the firmer grows my conviction that after all the taking +of furs and curing the same is an art. Who'd think there was so much +that is interesting in the capture of wild animals, and preparing their +skins for the market. Then again I suppose these big houses that buy in +bulk have ways of handling the furs that increases their value a great +deal. The fur we see on the shoulders of our fine ladies has mighty +little resemblance to the pelt the poor trapper brings in to the post, +and trades for tobacco, powder and shot, tea, sugar, coffee and such +indispensables, not to mention whiskey," suggested Cuthbert, wisely.</p> + +<p>At this Owen shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"There you have me. I have a limit to my knowledge, and it stops with +the capture and drying of the pelts. What takes place after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> they get in +the hands of the dealer I know nothing about, only that they have mighty +cute ways of dyeing many of the cheaper grades, and calling them +something else. A skunk would not sell for as much under its own name as +some high sounding one; for you know there is always an unpleasant +association connected with the skunk."</p> + +<p>"You just bet there is," avowed Eli, heartily, as with the conviction of +one who knows whereof he speaks; "it associated with me for a whole week +once, up in a lumber camp, and by ginger, it was the only thing that +would associate with me till my new clothes came along and I could bury +the old ones. After that my curiosity about the cunning little striped +beast that used to slink across the tote road was satisfied, and +whenever I saw one I'd give a whoop that could be heard a mile away and +run for my life! They got to know that yell, and whenever any of the +boys heard it they'd laugh and say: 'There's that fool Eli huntin' +polecats again.' But I wasn't, not by a jugful; I was giving him a wide +berth, and taking off my hat to him in the bargain. Oh! ever since that +day I've had the greatest respect you ever heard tell of for the ornery +little critters."</p> + +<p>By this time they had arrived at the mouth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> of the little creek, and +climbed out upon the upper level.</p> + +<p>"I'd think the fur bearing animals would be pretty well cleaned out +along here, so close to the post," remarked Cuthbert, still harping on +the subject.</p> + +<p>"They are as a rule; but when a place is let alone a few years they +increase again; and I guess that's what has happened here. In the last +fifty years this creek may have been cleaned out a dozen or two times, +and then let alone for a spell to grow up again. This year it's being +gone over again, and from certain signs I noticed, the trapper is +reaping quite a little harvest. He was an Indian, too," said the other.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you can tell from signs whether a white man or an Indian is +working along a stream; no doubt they have different ways of doing +things. I thought the only way to know was to look at the moccasin +tracks, as an Indian toes in, while a white man walks with his toes +out," pursued Cuthbert.</p> + +<p>Owen laughed as though pleased.</p> + +<p>"That's an old and exploded theory. Why should a white man brought up in +the wilds toe outward, as though he wore shoes? With moccasins on his +feet, and used to them from a baby, he walks just like a red. But there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> +are many ways of telling whether it is a white or Indian at work. Only +long practice will do this. I could not explain it, but if the chance +comes I'll promise to show you what I mean."</p> + +<p>And with this they rested content, having learned considerable about the +art of fur gathering and curing in this little talk.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_X." id="CHAPTER_X."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2><h3>MAGIC IN THE BERRIES.</h3> +</div> + +<p>The sun was just peeping above the horizon, but the air still remained +chilly after the long night; to husky boys this amounted to little, and +as soon as the camp was abandoned they would soon warm themselves up +with paddle exercise, for it was no childish work battling against that +swift current.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow, it was a mighty comfortable camp," remarked Cuthbert, as they +moved away, and his eyes rested fondly upon the scene of their last +night's experience; so it ever is with those who live the life in the +open, for the unconscious things appeal to their affections, and a +staunch boat, a favorite paddle, a gun, knife, belt hatchet, or even the +spot where they found comfort and built their shrine at which they +temporarily worshiped, the campfire, arouses emotions in their hearts +that cannot be fully appreciated by those not of the mystic guild.</p> + +<p>Owen led the way in his bullboat.</p> + +<p>He was more than usually silent after his talk over the trap and the +poor little mink's foot up the creek, and Cuthbert wondered what it +might be that affected him—could the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> coming of Stackpole have had +anything to do with it—the idea was not impossible, for he had +evidently known the gaunt timber-cruiser before, and if the story of the +boy's sad past were known the gigantic woodsman might occupy a place in +it.</p> + +<p>Still, upon reflection, Cuthbert was of the opinion that there must be +another reason for his thoughtfulness this morning.</p> + +<p>He remembered what hints Owen had let fall concerning the old factor +connected with the Hudson Bay post, and that there had been trouble +between them; many things gave Cuthbert the opinion that the other had +been fleeing from the region at that time they made his acquaintance so +strangely, not in terror, but rather in anger, and he felt sure strange +happenings had been taking place at the post on the day preceding the +storm.</p> + +<p>If so, then it was the fact that he must evidently soon face the stern +factor again that disquieted Owen so; the way in which he tried hard to +throw off his morose mood, and answer the sallies of his comrades in a +spirit of frolic proved that he was fighting against his nature, and had +laid out a course which he was determined to tread, no matter what pain +or distress it brought in its train.</p> + +<p>At any rate, it would soon appear what ailed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> the lad, and Cuthbert, +greatly as he wished to know Owen's story, had too much delicacy to +influence him in the telling; he had promised to open his heart to this +new and sympathetic chum, and all would come when the spirit moved.</p> + +<p>About an hour after leaving camp they suddenly came upon two bullboats +that were descending the river swiftly, in each of which a trio of Cree +Indians sat or knelt, wielding the paddles after the deft manner of +those with whom the art has become second nature.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert did not anticipate any trouble from these fellows, who were +evidently in the employ of the fur company; but he was keen to notice +how they took the presence of the young Canadian in the company of +strangers, realizing that they must in all probability know him, and be +acquainted with whatever of trouble had hovered around him of late.</p> + +<p>Just as he expected, they seemed surprised at sight of Owen, and hasty +words were passed among them; but they made no motion to interfere with +the forward progress of the two boats, and answered the civil salutation +of Cuthbert with a series of "how-hows" until the current had swept them +past; but it might have been noticed that not once did their shrewd +black eyes leave the figure of the young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> Canadian squatted in his old +boat, and sweeping his spruce blade back and forth methodically, as he +urged his craft against the stream.</p> + +<p>"They know him all right, and are more than surprised to see him with a +party of strangers, heading upstream. Now, I wonder if they were sent +out to look for a fellow of his description? Gee, but this is a +conundrum, all right," whispered Cuthbert to his fellow paddler, at +which Eli grunted and nodded assent.</p> + +<p>The young Canuck guide in the lead did not so much as turn his head +after the boats containing the Indians had passed, but continued to dip +his paddle in and out with the methodical rhythm so characteristic of +the voyager who has spent his life amid these scenes.</p> + +<p>No so Cuthbert, whose curiosity had been excited in connection with the +untutored sons of the wilderness—ever and anon he twisted his head +around so that he could secure a survey of the river below; and on such +occasions Eli kept his eager eyes on the face of his comrade, knowing +full well that should there be anything happening he would discover it +reflected there.</p> + +<p>About the fifth time Cuthbert turned thus he gave vent to a little +exclamation, whether of satisfaction or annoyance it would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> been +difficult to say, and immediately whispered to Eli:</p> + +<p>"They're coming all right, just as I expected, old fellow. That proves +my idea correct, and that they had been sent out from the post, to find +what had become of the youngster. He knows they are coming after us just +as well as I do, but he's too proud to give them a single look. I like +his grit, and between you and me, he's going to show us something before +long. I'm in a fever to set eyes on that same old Tartar, Alex Gregory. +Already I seem to dislike him immensely, and possibly I'll end by hating +him good and hard. He's more than a little to blame for Owen's troubles, +whatever they may be. Say nothing, Eli, but keep your eyes open."</p> + +<p>"What if the copper-skinned critters attack us—I've got my gun handy, +and I give you my word there'll be the very old dickens to pay if they +start rough-housing it with us," answered the young logger; and it was +not in a boastful spirit that he spoke, for Eli usually showed a modest +disposition; only he, too, had taken a great fancy to the new chum who +had been sent to them by such a freak of fortune, and Cuthbert's +intimation that the other must be the victim of oppression rather riled +him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have no idea they will try any funny<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> business; they know we are +armed, and besides they have their orders from the head boss. You'll +find that they only mean to tag after us, keeping on our heels until +sure we mean to go to the post. These chaps possibly saw that smoke +signal the other Cree we met downstream sent up, and they knew Owen was +somewhere around. You noticed that they just stared at him all the time, +and paid little attention to us. Well, let it go at that; we'll be apt +to know a heap more than we do now when another day comes along. One +thing I'll wager a lot on, and that is he's worth sticking to through +thick and thin, eh, Eli?" ventured the explorer, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"You bet!" was the laconic but expressive answer he received, and +Cuthbert, who knew the logger so well, understood all that was implied.</p> + +<p>Eli also glanced back just before they turned a bend, and as there was +quite a little stretch of clear water back of them ere the stream +twisted its way around a big bunch of birch trees that stood like +sentinels on a projecting knoll, he was able to see the two bullboats +come around the curve, and follow grimly in their wake, the occupants +evidently making no effort at speed, for had they chosen they could have +given our youngsters a warm proposition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> in the way of a race, their +muscles being inured to the monotonous labor of the paddle.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert began asking questions of Owen, who allowed the other boat to +gain a position alongside, so that conversation might be the more easily +carried on. Thus he learned that, proceeding leisurely they would +readily make the Hudson Bay post ere nightfall; had there been any +reason for haste this time might have been shortened by several hours; +but it suited all of them to arrive around the sunset hour.</p> + +<p>Having an abundance of time they went ashore at high noon, built a fire +and had quite a healthy little lunch, washing it down with a pot of +coffee, the delightful aroma of which must have reached the nostrils of +the Cree paddlers who had drawn their boats ashore just below, for the +wind lay in that quarter.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert expected to hear from those who were playing this comical game +of tag, and, indeed, he had purposely caused the coffee to boil madly in +order that the appetizing scent might be wafted with the breeze; +consequently when Eli declared one of the Indians was advancing toward +the fire, the explorer grinned as though he might be patting himself on +the back over having accomplished a rather pretty piece of strategy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span></p> + +<p>The fellow came directly up to where they sat finishing their meal.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert did not altogether like his looks, but then he realized that he +was hardly capable of judging a good Indian from a bad one, since he had +only a limited experience with the natives—what appeared to be a +scowling phiz to him might seem only the natural expression to be found +upon the dusky faces of these Saskatchewan dwellers of the woods, when +viewed by Owen.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the Indian made certain mysterious motions with his +hands, which Cuthbert understood must be the peace signs, and he began +to imitate the other, not wishing to be outdone in politeness.</p> + +<p>"How," said the copper-colored intruder, with a rising inflection.</p> + +<p>"How," repeated Cuthbert, in just the same tone of voice.</p> + +<p>"You camp boss?" pursued Mr. Lo, keenly eyeing the young fellow, as +though he might be dubious concerning this fact.</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps you might call me that, seeing this is my outfit; but +just say that I'm an Easy Boss, and let it go at that. Now, what can I +do for you?" remarked the explorer, who was as yet unknown to fame, but +who had aspirations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span></p> + +<p>"Huh, you got um coffee—we smell um good—can stand no more—s'pose you +give Injun drink, him be glad, much so—no have coffee many moons—set +um up in other alley—how?" was what followed, much to the amusement of +both Cuthbert and Eli, for evidently the fellow had seen a bowling alley +in Winnipeg, or some other city.</p> + +<p>"Well, I like your nerve, my copper-colored friend, which I see you +carry with you all the time; but after all I don't know that I can blame +you asking, for the smell of good coffee is enough to set any chap wild. +What is your name, may I humbly inquire?" ventured Cuthbert, keeping a +very straight face, though he could hear Eli chuckling, and wanted to +laugh outright himself; for it was evident that while music is said to +have "power to soothe the savage beast," the aroma of the subtle coffee +bean in the process of cooking seemed capable of subjugating the savage +man himself, and bringing him to "eat humble pie," as Eli put it.</p> + +<p>"Name all same Springing Elk—son of Chief Wolf-killer, him same head of +Crees on big river Saskatch. You say we have coffee—ugh, much good, and +we not forget," and not waiting to receive additional assurance he +raised his hand to his mouth and gave vent to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> a series of sharp barks +or yelps that must have been an eagerly awaited signal conveying good +news to his mates, for immediately the whole bunch started for the +campfire of the three boys.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert, in an aside, asked Owen if they need fear any danger from the +Crees; but the young Canuck shook his head in the negative, answering +back:</p> + +<p>"Not at all. The only failing they have is a weakness for appropriating +anything that strikes their fancy, when they think no one is looking, +and I think we can avoid that by being on guard all the time until we +embark again. They are crazy about coffee, and would go to great trouble +to get a drink of the stuff."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Eli, though hearing what was said, did not feel disposed +to take any great stock in the pacific intentions of the heathen; he had +read stories of their treacherous nature, and heard men speaking so +derisively about the "only good Indian being a dead Indian," that he +felt it his bounden duty to maintain a watchful eye upon the sextette +while they were present, all the while keeping his gun in his clasp, +ready to meet any emergency that might arise.</p> + +<p>But then Eli had led a hard life, and there was considerable excuse for +his suspicious nature—we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> are often creatures of circumstances and +environment, and his school had been the rough logging camps, where the +worst that is in men usually crops out.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert busied himself in making a new pot of coffee, an operation +which the group of bucks watched with glistening eyes; and when a little +later the steam began to pour out from the nozzle of the pot, and the +aroma struck their olfactory nerves, really several of them could not +stand it, but had to walk away, those more masterful standing on one +foot and snuffing the air, while their expressions in anticipation would +have done credit to so many children.</p> + +<p>They each had two big tin cups of the decoction, steaming hot, and +undefiled by either sugar or condensed milk, showing that they possessed +the proper taste for the beverage of the gods, according to the ideas of +those who grow the royal berry, and know how it should be drunk.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had accommodated the untutored sons of the forest partly +because he had a warm heart, and again with the half-formed idea that +possibly his little party might benefit from the act in the +future—frequently the old saying of "bread cast upon the waters +returning after some days" comes true.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span></p> + +<p>Still, there was a limit to his indulgence; and he certainly did not +intend to allow this thirsty crowd of skin-hunters to become regulation +camp-followers; his supply of coffee would not long stand the strain, +even if his patience did.</p> + +<p>So as soon as the last cups were drained of every drop of the delicious +fluid the boys captured the same, deposited them in the receptacle where +they belonged, thrust this into the cedar canoe, and then Cuthbert, as +master of ceremonies, cried out:</p> + +<p>"Yo-ho, all aboard!"</p> + +<p>In another minute the canoes of the expedition began to cleave the +waters, headed upstream.</p> + +<p>The Indians also tumbled into their boats, nor were they longer +satisfied to hang back one or more hundred yards as formerly—that +elixir had quite captured their hearts, and they scrambled to keep in +close proximity to the magical "floating coffin," as they denominated +the cedar canoe, as if they could scent future feasts along the line of +that which they had just enjoyed.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert laughed over the situation more than a few times, and declared +that he need fear no evil from the copper-faced denizens of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> the timber +country so long as a shot remained in their locker—a grain of Java in +their caddy.</p> + +<p>But the Indians after a while struck a faster gait and vanished around a +bend above, nor did they see them again for several days, when they +arrived at the trading post.</p> + +<p>They paddled leisurely, with Owen leading the way as before, for being +familiar with the region he would know how to time matters so that they +should reach the vicinity of the post.</p> + +<p>As the afternoon waned Cuthbert could see that the other was struggling +with some strong emotion, and he understood that it must be connected +with the return trip he was making to the post, which he had evidently +abandoned for good at the time of his hasty run down the river.</p> + +<p>He fancied that Owen might take occasion to give them some inkling as to +how matters stood with him here, for he had promised to reveal the +secret of his lonely life at the first favorable opportunity; but +somehow he did not appear to be in the humor just then, being wrapped up +in his own gloomy reflections.</p> + +<p>'Well, it could not long be delayed now, and Cuthbert, being built along +the lines of a patient and philosophical lad, felt that he could wait.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI." id="CHAPTER_XI."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2><h3>A BREAK IN THE CHAIN.</h3> +</div> + +<p>About the middle of the afternoon Cuthbert's eye caught a situation on +the shore that seemed to appeal particularly to him as a place where he +would like to spend a night in camp.</p> + +<p>He was subject to these little freaks, and hated to pass an ideal +camping spot after a certain hour of the day; indeed, Eli could recall +many experiences along this order.</p> + +<p>Nor was the Virginia lad loth to explain the reason wherefore.</p> + +<p>It seemed that in cruising down some river in the States on a certain +winter, with a single companion, he was playing Scullion to the Cook of +his more experienced comrade; and consequently what the other said +generally went.</p> + +<p>The Cook was of a most ambitious disposition, and desirous of making +just as much time each day as though their lives depended on reaching a +certain city in the Southland by a settled date—and yet they had the +whole winter before them, with time to kill.</p> + +<p>Many a time and oft, as Cuthbert reminiscently remarked, they had come +upon a delightful looking spot for a camp an hour or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> less before dark, +and he found the inclination strong within him to go ashore, rest up, +get the tent pitched, and be ready for a night's campaign before the +curtains were drawn shut.</p> + +<p>But that sort of thing did not fit in with what the boss of the +expedition considered proper; and consequently they must utilize the +hour of daylight that remained in pushing forward.</p> + +<p>As a result, when darkness actually compelled their going ashore they +frequently had to put up with mean accommodations and suffer for hours.</p> + +<p>The lessons that are brought home to us by bitter experience are the +ones that remain the longest; and Cuthbert had never forgotten the +bitterness of spirit that haunted him on that cruise.</p> + +<p>He had learned his lesson thoroughly, and two things stood out above all +others as the right and proper course for an intelligent cruiser to +do—never pass a fine site for a camp when the afternoon sun was more +than half way down its course; and upon starting out in the morning +always manage to get a good breakfast, as there could be no telling when +another meal would come along.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span></p> + +<p>Eli was willing to go ashore, as usual, and Owen made no comment.</p> + +<p>So the boats were drawn up on the shingle, and the little party +disembarked.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had made no mistake about the location, for it was a charming +spot, and the view out on the river absolutely unique; since with little +effort one could see both up and down for a long distance.</p> + +<p>And others had in times gone by utilized this same ground as a stopping +place; for there was to be seen a fireplace made of stone in just the +proper spot, where the prevailing wind would fan the blaze as the meal +cooked.</p> + +<p>In camping there are scores of little wrinkles which come perfectly +natural to the experienced hand, but are totally unknown to the novice; +the only way to learn is to ask questions just as boldly as though +claiming Missouri for one's native State.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had one particularly favorite dish, which every now and then he +insisted upon foisting upon his comrades; and from the way Eli's eyes +glistened whenever he saw the Virginia canoeist starting to make +preparations looking toward this compound it might be surmised that the +infliction was not unbearable and could be endured about every day in +the week.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span></p> + +<p>He called it the Homeric kabab, and claimed that it had been handed down +from the days of the old Grecian writer and philosopher; which, if true, +proved that Homer knew a delicious thing when he tasted it.</p> + +<p>It surely was a thing to conjure with.</p> + +<p>Having made ready a glowing bed of coals, he set up two notched sticks +at either end, and across this hung a strong withe of willow or some +other wood, strung with inch pieces of meat, whether lamb, beef, venison +or rabbit it mattered not, since the state of the larder must decide +that matter; but it was of the utmost importance that alternating with +each bit of meat there should come a strip of eggplant or onion, or +both, if so fortunate as to have them.</p> + +<p>This withe was to be kept turning, spit-fashion, until its weight of +provender was deliciously browned and sending forth an aroma that would +make the mouth of a wood nymph water. After that all that was needed was +to give thanks and partake.</p> + +<p>When Owen has his first taste of this favorite canoeist's dish his eyes +told of the keenest enjoyment.</p> + +<p>Plain fare had been his portion most of his life, and it was a question +of quantity more than quality with his folks; appetite made up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> for a +lack of delicacies, and doubtless with that as a background even common +corn pone may assume the properties of a Delmonico planked steak.</p> + +<p>Eli had seemed to be as hungry as usual when they landed; but having +finished his task of erecting the tent he had picked up Cuthbert's +splendid repeating Marlin and said something about taking a little +stroll, with a hope that perchance he might sight game worthy of a shot.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had made no remark, for he knew that it was a weakness on the +part of his comrade to get off now and then with that gun, just for the +sake of handling it, and feeling for a short period that he owned the +whole world.</p> + +<p>It afforded the Virginia lad great pleasure to know that he had it in +his power to bring joy to honest Eli's heart; and while he valued the +gun, even its loss would not have caused a single cloud to cross his +brow.</p> + +<p>He was gifted with a splendid nature, and never so happy as when +conferring pleasure upon some one else.</p> + +<p>By the time supper was all ready Cuthbert remembered that the boy from +Michigan had not yet turned up.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you remember having heard a shot some time back?" he asked Owen.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but it was pretty far away, further than Eli could have gone, I +think; though now that you speak of it the report did come from up the +wind, and that was the direction he took on starting out. Are you +anxious about him?" replied the other, turning around from the job that +had been occupying his attention, and which was connected with placing +hemlock browse under the blanket he meant to use when the time to lie +down arrived, as well as alongside the sleeping bags of his two +companions.</p> + +<p>"Why, no, I don't think there's any reason for that. Eli had been +accustomed to roaming the woods all his life, for he was brought up in +the lumber camps; and it would be funny if he went and lost himself up +here, where the forest is so open. I was just thinking how fond he is of +my pet dish, and what a disappointment it would be to him if you and I +developed such ferocious appetites as to lick the platter clean before +he showed up. But I reckon there's plenty all around, and we'll try and +keep his share warm. Pull up here on this log, Owen, and try that +platter. The coffee is ready too, ditto the hard-tack."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span></p> + +<p>And with keen appetites the two certainly did ample justice to the meal.</p> + +<p>By hard-tack Cuthbert really meant the regular ship biscuit used on all +sailing vessels along the seashore and the lakes—there are two brands; +one a bit more tasty than the other, and this is supposed to be for the +officers' mess; but in a pinch both fill the bill admirably, as myriads +of canoeists are willing to testify with upraised hand.</p> + +<p>When supper had been finished, and both lads were ready to cry out +enough, it was dark.</p> + +<p>And still no Eli.</p> + +<p>Even then Cuthbert did not worry, for he had the utmost confidence in +the woodsman qualities of his stocky chum, and could not believe that +anything serious had happened to him.</p> + +<p>Perhaps he had wandered far afield, and chancing upon a deer a mile or +more from camp had secured his venison; under such conditions it would +require some time to cut the animal up, and then "tote" what he wanted +of the meat over the intervening territory.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, he looked around at every sound as if hoping to see Eli +stalking into camp, with a proud look on his homely phiz, and a burden +of fresh meat upon his shoulder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span></p> + +<p>Now it was a playful and venturesome 'coon that prowled around in the +vicinity of the camp, hoping to pick up some titbits from the supper of +the strange bipeds who periodically occupied this favorite site; then +again it might be a mink come up from the river to investigate what all +this illumination meant; but as the minutes passed Eli remained only +conspicuous by his absence.</p> + +<p>Owen had occupied himself in rubbing up several steel traps which the +boys had brought along, thinking they might prove useful in some way; +but which, having been neglected, were inclined to be very rusty.</p> + +<p>This was a familiar thing in the hands of the Canadian lad, for many a +time in the days long gone by he 'tended a line of traps in the country +where fur grows longest and best, and mink, otter, muskrat, fisher, +marten, skunk and even raccoon and opossum skins bring a good price.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert never lost an opportunity to acquire information, when he could +obtain it at first hand, and hence as they sat beside the fire, watching +the rosy flames dance and play at tag, he put many more questions to the +backwoods boy concerning the secrets of the profession, and learned +various new things<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> that up to this time he had never dreamed existed.</p> + +<p>So it is that in knocking about one may discover how limited a +vocabulary has been their portion; and observation with a traveler means +a widening of the horizon that broadens the mind.</p> + +<p>Owen was free to explain the numerous methods of capturing the wary wild +animals of his native land; and it gave him the keenest pleasure to +satisfy this desire for knowledge on the part of the new chum who had +been so good to him.</p> + +<p>He told of the astonishing care that was needed in order to circumvent +the wise and sharp-scented mink; how the traps were so arranged, as +Cuthbert had seen, that the animal upon being caught would jump into the +water, where the weight of the trap would drown the captive; otherwise +the little fellow in desperation might gnaw his foot off and escape, to +be a cripple the rest of his days, like the one whose foot they had +handled that morning; what bait was used to attract him to the vicinity +of the trap, for an artificial scent has been found marvellously +effective in arousing the mating instinct of the animal and causing him +to venture in places which otherwise he might avoid—all these and many +other things did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> Owen talk about as he handled the rusty traps; and +Cuthbert sat there entranced, drinking in the mysterious knowledge that +trappers have learned through succeeding generations, and handed down to +their successors.</p> + +<p>So the time passed, and yet there was no sign of Eli.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert finally sat up straight, and a look of growing concern could be +seen upon his fine manly face as he said:</p> + +<p>"There's no use talking, my boy, I'm really afraid something has +happened to Eli Perkins. He couldn't get lost if he tried, and the fact +that he's not here makes me think he's tumbled into trouble with a big +T. Now, the question is what can we do about it?"</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII." id="CHAPTER_XII."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2><h3>ON THE TRACK OF ELI.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Owen tossed the trap aside.</p> + +<p>Evidently he had been expecting some such remark from the other and was +not at all surprised at being called on for assistance.</p> + +<p>"I think that if anything has happened to Eli we can lay it to that +ungrateful dog, Stackpole," he remarked, frowning a trifle, as if his +memories of the timber-cruiser were not of the most pleasant character +imaginable.</p> + +<p>"You don't like that fellow one little bit, I can see; and do you know +the thought struck me when I saw him curl his lip on seeing you with us +that at some time in the past you two must have been at loggerheads," +observed Cuthbert.</p> + +<p>"Which is true, every word of it. If you had looked closer you might +have noticed a little notch in the fellow's left ear. I was the cause of +that, and it happened some years ago, when I was much smaller than I am +now, and less able to take care of myself. But I was born in the woods, +and brought up with a rifle in my hands, so that I learned early in life +to shoot straight."</p> + +<p>"Yes," interrupted Cuthbert, "I saw that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> you were a dead shot when you +tried my pet Marlin and brought down that hawk on the wing. I thought I +had some little ability in that line myself, but when I saw you trim +that buccaneer of the air so easily as if you were not half trying, I +gave up thinking myself in it. But please go on, Owen."</p> + +<p>"Where we lived was a lonely section. My father had offended some one +high in authority marrying my mother, and he felt this influence more or +less all his life; but I did not mean to speak about that just now, only +to explain how it was we chanced to be so far removed from other people.</p> + +<p>"Once in a while some wandering timber-cruiser like Stackpole would drop +in on us, and you can understand that as a general thing they were +mighty welcome, for they brought us news of the outer world.</p> + +<p>"But if there was one man I detested, it was Stackpole, and he had often +riled me as a kid, by his leering ways, and his sneaking method of +hanging around when my father was out looking after his traps.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what put it into my head, but somehow I seemed to finally +believe the fellow had been actually sent up into the wilderness by some +one high in authority at the post just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> to annoy my father and bring him +to his knees, which nothing had been able to do in the past.</p> + +<p>"So I came to follow Stackpole when he did not dream I was around, and +pretty soon I found that he was trying to steal my father's stock of +furs during his absence, having arranged it with a halfbreed Cree to +pull his chestnuts out of the fire, and avoid responsibility.</p> + +<p>"I had been afraid that his evil eye had been turned upon my pretty +mother, so that, after all, it was something of a relief to find that he +only wanted to take the bundle of valuable furs that would mean a living +for us during the next summer; but I've never believed anything else +than that he was sent there by old Alexander Gregory to reduce us to a +state where my parents would have to knuckle down, swallow their Scotch +pride, and accept favors at his hands, something father had sworn he +would die before doing.</p> + +<p>"Well, I caught the rascal in the act of carrying the furs off, though +he always swore that I wronged him, and that he had in reality rescued +them from a thief of a Cree who had snatched the lot; but I notched his +ear with a shot, and put another in his right leg—you remember Eli +noticed that he had a decided limp on that side.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span></p> + +<p>"They had to nurse the old villain all through his spell, and he never +forgave me for the double dose I gave him, though pretending it was all +right, and that, thinking as I did, I had done the proper thing. +Stackpole kept shy of our place after that, but I knew he would never +forgive me, and if the time ever arrived when he could get even he would +take the chance gladly. That was why I kept an eye on him all the time +he was with us, and warned you to look out, for the fellow is really a +thief, and has a bad reputation all over the region of the +Saskatchewan."</p> + +<p>"And you really think he may be the cause of Eli staying away? After we +treated him so well, too. The skunk has no gratitude in his make-up, +then, that's all I can say. Catch me giving him another cup of our +lovely Java; it's like casting pearls before swine," declared the other, +disgusted.</p> + +<p>"Of course," continued Owen, "there is always a chance that Eli may have +gotten twisted in his bearings. Any fellow might do that under stress of +excitement, no matter what his knowledge of woodcraft may be. I've been +there myself, and as all my life was spent in the timber I ought to be +free from such a trouble if any one might. So, perhaps it would be wise, +before we try to sally out and look for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> signs of our comrade, to shoot +off a gun a few times, and see whether he makes any reply. What do you +say?</p> + +<p>"Just what I was about to propose myself. Three shots is the usual +signal, but with Eli's shotgun we can only knock out two. Nevertheless, +here she goes."</p> + +<p>So saying he blazed away with both barrels, allowing a margin of a few +seconds to occur between the shots.</p> + +<p>Then both lads bent their ears and listened carefully.</p> + +<p>The night breeze was sighing among the pines and hemlocks, but it +carried no answering sound to their waiting ears.</p> + +<p>When several minutes had gone by Cuthbert thrust a couple more shells +into the barrels of the gun and once more let go.</p> + +<p>Again silence alone repaid their anxious attention.</p> + +<p>If the missing one heard those signal shots he was in no condition to +reply, and that would mean, of course, that he must be in trouble.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert looked at his friend.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem to be of any use. After that I can't doubt but what +something uncomfortable has happened to Eli. He's a jolly fellow, and I +think the world of him. If any harm came to pass I'd feel wretched, for +it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> was my foolish idea that brought him up here," he said +disconsolately.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wouldn't feel that way about it. A fellow like Eli must run a +certain amount of risk, no matter where he is. If he wasn't here he'd be +logging, and taking his life in his hand every hour, with trees falling +in the wrong direction, log jams occurring in the spring rise and the +lumber jacks risking death in the effort to free the king-pin that holds +the jam. Oh, no, Eli has no fault to find with the way you've treated +him; indeed, he's had a snap, and knows it. But we must be doing +something, if you feel too anxious to wait until morning."</p> + +<p>"It must now be ten o'clock, and that would mean many hours. Can +anything be done in the night? How could we follow his trail without a +hound? What wouldn't I give to have a good dog just now, such as my old +Bunker down home in Virginia. You take charge, and order me around as +you see fit. I'm ready to do anything."</p> + +<p>Owen smiled, and thought what a fine thing it was to have a chum built +along these lines; the conviction that Cuthbert would be just as anxious +if it had been he who was lost carried with it a thrill of pleasure he +had never known in all his life before.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, of course we can follow his trail slowly by the aid of that +hunting jacklight of yours. Suppose you get it going, while I attend to +some other things. If we abandon the camp even for a while it might be +wise to hide the boats, especially yours; for that lovely creation would +tempt almost any wanderer to carry it off. And your stores would be very +acceptable to some of these chaps who live on roasted navy beans for +coffee and hard tack with their venison."</p> + +<p>So saying the young Canadian busied himself.</p> + +<p>In ten minutes he had thoroughly hidden all their possessions, and in +such a clever way it would never be suspected that such things could be +lying around loose in the bushes beyond.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Cuthbert had fastened the jack to his hat and lighted the +same.</p> + +<p>On some occasions in the past he had shot deer by means of this same +little lantern, though its use is now frowned down on in many states, +since what appears to be a mean advantage is taken of the innocent deer +when they come down to drink at the lake or stream, and stare at the +strange glow upon the water, allowing the sportsman to push close enough +to make dead sure of his quarry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span></p> + +<p>Now it would not have been carried needlessly all this way into the +wilderness if it was destined to prove valuable in following the trail +of the missing Eli.</p> + +<p>Although Cuthbert had not voiced his worst fear, he was thinking that +possibly poor Eli might be lying somewhere in the vast woods badly +injured; for there were various ways in which such a thing could come +about.</p> + +<p>He knew nothing could have happened on account of the rifle, for his +faith in that marvel of the gunmaker's craft was unbounded; but Eli was +inclined to be a bit clumsy, and might have stumbled into some hole, +striking his head and rendering himself unconscious; or there was a +chance that he had wounded a stag which had thereupon charged vigorously +upon him, as wounded bucks are apt to do; so that Eli, not being +accustomed to working the mechanism of the repeating rifle, might have +been caught napping and tossed down.</p> + +<p>Well, they were now off, and would know something about the matter ere +long, for the tracks of the young hunter were plainly marked, as seen in +the light of the jack.</p> + +<p>Owen must have had considerable experience in this thing of following a +trail, for he picked it up in a wonderful fashion; that is, it seemed so +in the eyes of his companion, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> was quite willing to keep at his side +and bring the illuminating qualities of the little lantern to bear.</p> + +<p>Finally, thinking that it would be best that Owen had the jack upon his +hat, he insisted on turning it over to him, contenting himself from that +moment with falling in behind, carrying the shot gun in the hollow of +his left arm, and with finger upon a trigger.</p> + +<p>They walked for an hour in this way, and never once did Owen seem to be +in doubt.</p> + +<p>Such clever ability to follow tracks in the night time was an education +to Cuthbert, always ready to learn new things; and he watched the manner +in which it was done, wondering if he could ever in the course of years +possess the sagacity that seemed to come so naturally to his friend.</p> + +<p>In and out among the great trees they wound their way, just as Eli must +have done when wandering along, watching for a sight of game ahead.</p> + +<p>Now they came to where he had evidently struck some sign, for he bent +down as he advanced, Owen showing the other just how he knew this from +the marks; since three times had Eli dropped to his knee, only to rise +again and go on, eager to get still closer to the quarry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span></p> + +<p>Finally Owen paused and pointed.</p> + +<p>"Here he fired—only one shot," he declared, and picked up the brass +jacket of a long cartridge that had been ejected from the repeater when +Eli worked the combination.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert looked anxiously about.</p> + +<p>"I don't see him lying anywhere around, that's one thing that pleases +me," he said, in a relieved tone.</p> + +<p>"No, he rushed forward—see, here are his tracks, and yonder the remains +of the deer he shot. But Eli is not here. Something happened to him. +Give me five minutes and I'll tell you what it was," declared the woods +boy, soberly.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2><h3>BIRDS OF A FEATHER.</h3> +</div> + +<p>When Eli Perkins left the camp on that memorable afternoon with +Cuthbert's fine rifle on his shoulder, he did have a card up his sleeve, +so to speak.</p> + +<p>Not that Eli was not intent on securing game for the pot, and meant to +keep an eye out for anything in the shape of a deer that he could bag; +for he had long desired to shoot that dandy gun, the envy of his soul, +and as yet the opportunity to use it on a gallant stag had not been +forthcoming, though he had often carried it forth when the time seemed +propitious.</p> + +<p>But Eli had been looking around ever since they landed, and it was his +settled conviction that the country in that section had all the color of +a copper region.</p> + +<p>Copper was Eli's little god.</p> + +<p>He eternally dreamed of some day finding a ledge of such incredible +richness as would make all previous discoveries sink into utter +insignificance; and from his delightful share of the profits from the +mine he meant to satisfy that yearning for seeing foreign lands; for +long had he looked forward to the time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> to come when he could visit +Egypt, Turkey, Russia, Germany and all those countries he had read so +much about.</p> + +<p>His only prospect of ever getting there, in his mind, lay in this +discovery of copper, and copper haunted him day and night.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert knew all about his yearning, and in his own mind had long since +arranged it so that Eli would share his next trip abroad; but the other +knew not what luck was awaiting him and so he kept thinking of this +happy find, and his eyes were constantly on the watch for "signs."</p> + +<p>And now more than ever before he was convinced that he must be in a +country where there was undiscovered copper veins.</p> + +<p>That no one has as yet stumbled upon them did not strike the lad as +strange, for he knew that those who stalked through this wilderness +were, for the most part, ignorant trappers or Indians, who would not +know the value of a find if they fell over the richest outcropping ever +found.</p> + +<p>Eli had studied up the subject in his leisure hours for some years past, +and was fully posted on all that pertained to its various branches.</p> + +<p>So while he was walking ahead and looking with one eye for big game his +other optic was on the alert for any signs of an outcropping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> of the +rich metal that had been given the place of honor in his heart.</p> + +<p>This accounted in some measure for his eccentric advance; for many times +he turned aside to bend low over some suspicious spot where his keen eye +had detected symptoms of a deposit.</p> + +<p>Although disappointment came again and again Eli never despaired, for he +was certain he would sooner or later come upon that which he meant to +have, and the delay, while aggravating, could not crush his spirits.</p> + +<p>Twice later on he found reason to believe he was getting nearer the +object of his ambition, for the signs were certainly growing stronger; +and thus he was being lured further and further away from the camp.</p> + +<p>Then came the moment when he sighted the deer through the bushes, and +all his hunter instinct was aroused by the sight.</p> + +<p>He began to creep forward, his finger upon the trigger of the gun, and a +sense of delicious uncertainty thrilling his nerves.</p> + +<p>Just as the observant Owen later on declared, he did get down on one +knee several times, intending to shoot; but finding that the deer had +not shown any indication of alarm, he had concluded to advance a bit +further, in order to make doubly certain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span></p> + +<p>Eli knew that he was sure of that buck, for he had perfect faith in his +own abilities as a marksman, when within such short range; and as for +the quality of Cuthbert's pet rifle, that went unquestioned.</p> + +<p>Finally he took a quick aim and fired.</p> + +<p>It had been the report of his gun that floated away back to the camp, +and was heard by his two comrades about half an hour before dark.</p> + +<p>Eli deliberately pumped another cartridge into the chamber with one +speedy movement of his hand, as he had done many times in practice, and +then ran forward to where he had last seen the deer.</p> + +<p>He knew full well that it had gone down in a heap, for he had seen as +much while he was in that instant placing the rifle in condition for +further work; and hence he was not in the least surprised to find the +noble animal kicking its last when he arrived upon the spot.</p> + +<p>Eli was not an enthusiastic hunter; indeed, as a usual thing, he had +been pretty well satisfied to let Cuthbert do most of the shooting and +fishing of the trip; but when it came to disposing of the cooked product +while they sat around the camp fire, he was right in the game, for Eli's +one weakness was his appetite, and he never seemed to have enough.</p> + +<p>He placed the rifle against a neighboring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> tree, and, drawing his +hunting knife, proceeded first of all to bleed the deer, after which he +started to work cutting it up, for it was too heavy by long odds to +think of trying to carry the whole carcass to camp, now more than a mile +distant.</p> + +<p>So busily engaged was he in this work that he paid not attention to what +was taking place around him, and consequently did not see the shadowy +figure that came flitting from tree to tree like a wraith of the great +pinelands, finally reaching the oak against which Eli had leaned his +gun.</p> + +<p>Then a gnarled hand was stretched out and eagerly seized upon the +beautiful little Marlin, which was quickly withdrawn from view.</p> + +<p>Just then Eli was startled to hear a gruff "Ahem" from a point in front +of him, and glancing up hurriedly from his work he discovered a man +standing leaning on a long-barreled rifle and surveying him with a sneer +on his face.</p> + +<p>It was the same fellow who had bunked with them and drank their elegant +Java with such gusto—Stackpole, the timber-cruiser.</p> + +<p>Eli had not liked his looks when he was in camp, and he certainly saw no +reason to change his mind concerning the fellow now, for Stackpole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> did +have a piratical appearance when he scowled or looked scornful.</p> + +<p>Instinct compelled Eli to reach out his hand for his gun, even while not +removing his eyes from the interloper with the evil cast of features.</p> + +<p>When his groping hand failed to connect with the rifle he was compelled +to turn his head quickly and saw, to his dismay, that the gun no longer +occupied the spot where he had placed it.</p> + +<p>At the same moment a second man stepped into view, having his own rifle +hung over his shoulder with a strap, while the repeater belonging to +Cuthbert was resting in his grimy hands.</p> + +<p>Eli recognized this worthy immediately, nor was he very much surprised +to see him there, since Owen had declared it to be his belief that they +might run across him sooner or later.</p> + +<p>He remembered how they had met him some weeks earlier, and also how he +had made up that chart for Cuthbert, for a consideration, which since +that time had proven so very unreliable, and which the Canadian lad +pronounced utterly worthless.</p> + +<p>It was Dubois, the greasy woods-ranger, fit comrade for the ungainly and +grinning Stackpole.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span></p> + +<p>He stood there looking at the boy and nodding his head.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, if it ain't Eli Perkins alive and in ther flesh! Who'd ever +a thort tew see yer up hyer? I allowed thet p'raps yer boys mighter come +part way, but it does beat all how some fools air taken keer ov. Thank +yer kindly fur this yer purty little gun, Eli. Reckon I kin soon git +ther hang o' the way ye work thet pump bizness. Anyhow, I'm willin' ter +larn. Hold on, now, jest keep yer distance, er somethin' not down on +ther bill'll happen ter ye, boy!" was the way Dubois addressed him.</p> + +<p>Of course, Eli felt angry, but he saw that they had him trapped neatly +enough, and he was not the fool the other would try to make out.</p> + +<p>At least he had had considerable experience with just such fellows as +these and knew how far one could go in conducting negotiations with +their breed.</p> + +<p>Eli had a streak of caution and also a bit of cunning in his make-up; +doubtless he had found need of both in his dealings with the huskies to +be met with in the Michigan lumber camps, where brute strength counts +for more than education.</p> + +<p>It evidently behooved him to play "lame duck," just as the mother +mallard does in order<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> to deceive the wandering egg hunter, and lead him +away from her nest.</p> + +<p>So Eli simply chose to look foolish, and stood there grinning and saying +not a word.</p> + +<p>He was a good hand at playing the game of "wait," and perhaps in time +his chance would come to knock up their hand, and call the deal.</p> + +<p>"I see yer hev cut up ther deer all hunky-dory, Eli. Now, sence we old +fellers is a bit troubled with rheumertism s'pose ye shoulder ther bag +o'game an' come erlong wid us. My ole friend Dubois hes got er shack not +werry far off, an' we kin hold our hungry feelin's in till we git thar. +Up she goes, boy, an' don't yer dare ter scowl at me like thet again, +less ye wanter feel ther toe o' my moccasin. Wy, I've sliced a feller's +ears orf fur less'n thet. I'm a holy terror wen I'm riled up, ain't I, +Dubois?" said Stackpole.</p> + +<p>And this was the man whom they had entertained at their camp and given +the best meal of his whole life!</p> + +<p>Eli made a note of the fact for future reference.</p> + +<p>There would perhaps come a day of reckoning, and the account, however +long, could be adjusted.</p> + +<p>He took up the pack of meat and followed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> Stackpole, while Dubois walked +along a little distance behind.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was accidental, this meeting with the two woodsmen, but Eli +doubted it, preferring to believe that they had been watching him ever +since he left the camp, with the idea of effecting his capture should +the opportunity arise.</p> + +<p>With such men this was not a difficult thing to do.</p> + +<p>What puzzled him, however, was the trouble they were taking on his +account.</p> + +<p>If it was simply that coveted gun they wanted, why not turn him adrift +after securing possession of the firearm, rather than make a prisoner of +him; surely they could not be doing this for the mere sake of compelling +him to "tote" the venison to their camp, for that would be slipping up +on a point, since he must know where they held out and could carry the +information to Cuthbert when released.</p> + +<p>Now had it been the young Virginian who was captured, he could readily +understand their reason, for Cuthbert had money in abundance, and would +pay a round sum to be set at liberty; but who under the sun cared +whether he, Eli Perkins, lumber-jack from the Michigan pine woods, were +free or a prisoner, living or dead?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span></p> + +<p>And poor Eli was wrestling with these puzzling questions as he trudged +wearily after Stackpole; nor did he seem to get any nearer a solution, +though approaching the matter from all sides.</p> + +<p>Darkness overtook them while they were still tramping through the woods, +having covered some miles since leaving the spot where the deer was +shot.</p> + +<p>And then by degrees Eli began to guess what they had in view in holding +him.</p> + +<p>It would be only natural for the two worthies to try and hide their +trail when thus passing through the woods and bound for the place where +according to Stackpole the other had some sort of a dugout or shack.</p> + +<p>To the surprise of Eli not only did they fail to take any precautions in +this respect but on the contrary actually seemed to leave as plain a +trail as possible.</p> + +<p>It took Eli some time to understand the meaning of this, and then it +broke upon him like a thunderclap—these fellows were laying a trap, and +expected Cuthbert to walk into the same just as the fly enters the web +of the spider.</p> + +<p>Of course in due time Cuthbert and Owen would feel it necessary to look +him up, and as the latter was a good trailer they would follow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> the +course now being taken by himself and his captors, follow it until the +door of the trap was sprung shut, making them also prisoners.</p> + +<p>Eli grunted his disgust when he saw all this spread out before him.</p> + +<p>Eli was so utterly helpless to prevent it.</p> + +<p>And while he walked he was busying his mind in the endeavor to invent +some clever scheme whereby he might get the better of the twin rascals +and turn the tables upon them.</p> + +<p>But Eli did not possess a very brilliant mind and suggestions came +slowly to him; all his life he had been in the habit of allowing some +one else do his thinking for him, and when thrown upon his own resources +he found it difficult to fully grasp the situation and conjure up any +possible remedy.</p> + +<p>At the same time he was stubborn by temperament and not given over to +despair, no matter how black the circumstances seemed.</p> + +<p>Perhaps presently things might take a turn; all he wanted was to keep +his eyes about him, and his wits sharpened, so that if the occasion +arose he would be in shape to reap the benefit.</p> + +<p>Stackpole must have been joking when he said the shack was close by, or +else they had purposely made a circuit in their walk, for it was a full +hour before they arrived at their destination.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span></p> + +<p>Whoever had originally built the cabin in the wild section where the +rocks cropped up amid the stunted trees, it had evidently been abandoned +many years, until of late Dubois took possession of the same.</p> + +<p>A light through what seemed to be a window without glass was the first +indication they had that they were approaching the end of the trail; Eli +showed some sign of interest when he saw this, for it meant that there +might be another member of the party, and his curiosity was excited.</p> + +<p>Could it be possible that there was a regular league of these lawless +rovers of the great timber belt, organized to prey upon their fellows, +and eager to milk such prizes as Cuthbert Reynolds would prove to be, if +once he fell into their clutches?</p> + +<p>If so, this could hardly be their headquarters, for it was too near the +Hudson Bay post; and from what he had heard about the stern old factor, +he would never allow such an organization to get a footing within his +territory—if he was a martinet and a stickler for fealty to the +company, he was also an honest man, with a hatred for rascality that +made him the terror of evil doers.</p> + +<p>Stackpole brushed open the door and strode within.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span></p> + +<p>"Follow yer leader, kid," ordered the man in the rear, and accordingly +Eli passed over the threshold.</p> + +<p>Once within, the boy was ordered to prepare supper, and knowing the +folly of resistance he obeyed.</p> + +<p>All the time he was on the watch for a chance to do something that would +render the guns of the timber cruisers useless. They were both old style +rifles of the breech-loading type, and given a chance Eli knew how to +fix them so that it would require the assistance of a gunsmith to place +them in serviceable condition again.</p> + +<p>Once Dubois went out and called to Stackpole, evidently desirous of +conferring with his partner over something he did not wish the boy to +overhear.</p> + +<p>Eli saw his chance, and though his heart seemed to be in his mouth, he +carried out his hastily formed plan.</p> + +<p>Stackpole had taken the repeating rifle with him, as if not fully +trusting the prisoner. But Eli could wait. Besides, he was hungry, and +that was his venison, so he felt entitled to some of it.</p> + +<p>While they ate the two men occasionally joked the boy in their rough +way. But Eli<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> only grinned, knowing that his time had almost come.</p> + +<p>"Now git a hustle on and clar up the muss, younker!" said Stackpole, as +he lighted his pipe.</p> + +<p>Eli coolly snatched up the little Marlin repeater. He heard the angry +cries of the men as they reached for their own guns.</p> + +<p>Then Eli laughed.</p> + +<p>"The joke is on you, Stackpole. Couldn't shoot them guns in a week, for +I doctored 'em all right. Stand back now or take the consequences, you!"</p> + +<p>They were cowed by the sudden and complete change. Neither of them dared +move a hand even when Eli opened the door of the cabin, having slung +some of the venison across his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Next time, gents, don't leave a timber boy alone in a cabin with your +guns," he remarked, and waving his hand mockingly he closed the door.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later one of the men ventured to open the door, when a gun +sounded, and the bullet struck so close to him he slammed the barrier +shut again.</p> + +<p>Then Eli hurried off, having taken his bearings. Half an hour later he +discovered the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> glow of the little headlight torch, and to the delight +of his chums hailed them.</p> + +<p>Although Cuthbert and Owen were indignant at the action of the timber +cruisers, they thought best to let the incident pass. No doubt the men +would leave the country now, since they must fear lest their unlawful +act get to the ears of the old factor and cause them trouble.</p> + +<p>So our three boys returned to the camp and spent the remainder of the +night in peace.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV." id="CHAPTER_XIV."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2><h3>WITHOUT AUTHORITY.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Several times during the late afternoon of this day they heard gunshots +ahead, and from this judged that they were drawing very near the post; +which, like all such important places belonging to the great fur +company, must present quite an animated appearance with trappers and +hunters, whites, Indians and halfbreeds, coming and going.</p> + +<p>Few went downstream, since the points of interest and profit were +further up in the wilderness; which accounted for the fact of their +having seen only a couple of boats during the whole afternoon, one of +these being manned by some <i>voyageurs</i> belonging to the post, for they +wore picturesque uniforms, consisting of leather coats lined with +flannel, belts of scarlet worsted, breeches of smoked buckskin, and +moose moccasins, and carried shawls of Scotch plaid, as well as fur caps +with ear-flaps for the cold weather that was liable to visit the +Northwest country at any day now—at the bow of the large boat floated +the well-known blue and white flag of the Hudson Bay Company, showing +that this craft had undoubtedly carried a load of supplies to the post, +and was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> now taking back to civilization packages of belated furs that +had been brought in by trappers from the Arctic regions.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert knew considerable about this vast concern which has had almost +a monopoly of the fur-gathering business in America for two +centuries—really it dates back to 1670, when a license to trade in furs +in the Hudson Bay region was granted to an English company.</p> + +<p>Knowing that he would be likely to come in contact with the agents of +this corporation during his travels in the Saskatchewan country, +Cuthbert had taken pains to learn all he could about what history had to +say of their doings; and he found that in the far past they had been +merciless and unscrupulous in their dealings with their employers; +though, of course, much of this high-handed style of conducting business +is not tolerated nowadays.</p> + +<p>The shadows were beginning to gather as the canoes rounded a bend in the +stream, and the post stood out before them in the clearing, with the +last glow in the western sky as a background.</p> + +<p>The Union Jack had been hauled down with the setting of the sun, for at +these posts along the distant border something of military discipline +has to be maintained, lest those in charge find their rough wards and +employes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> breaking loose from their authority; for they have to deal +with reckless spirits at times, and, of course, liquor frequently brings +about trouble, just as in logging camps and all similar places.</p> + +<p>Their coming had undoubtedly been signaled long before they arrived +within hailing distance of the fort, for there was quite a crowd down at +the landing to see them come in, a mixture of whites, natives and +halfbreeds, all of them no doubt connected in some manner with the great +fur company.</p> + +<p>Some of these gave a noisy greeting to a boat load of Indians landing +about the same time as our friends, after the custom of their kind, +boisterous, but good-natured; but Cuthbert noticed that not one had a +word to say to his little party; which pleased him very much, since he +had worried over what they should do if the crowd proved unruly.</p> + +<p>He understood from what Owen had let fall that the old factor ruled his +camp with a rod of iron, and that there was not a man who dared go +against his expressed wish—doubtless he had given his followers to +understand that they were to keep aloof, and let him do the honors of +the occasion.</p> + +<p>So our young friends shoved their boats upon the shelving beach, sprang +out, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> pulled the canoes up far enough to keep them safe from the +current of the river; Owen had already told them that a code of honor +existed at the post, and whatever they left in the boat would be +perfectly safe, for should so much as a trap be stolen, the vigilant +factor would visit the thief with punishment of a drastic nature—his +Scotch blood would not stand for such a breach of hospitality.</p> + +<p>They knew that it was their duty to seek an audience with the commander +of the post immediately, explain their mission to these wilds, and, if +it could be done in a diplomatic manner, ingratiate themselves in his +favor by making him some sort of a present—Owen had hinted that the +factor's one weakness was a love for tea, which he used at every meal +with quite as much pleasure as the veriest old maid gossip at a sewing +circle; and as luck would have it this happened to coincide with a +leaning of his own, for he had made sure to fetch considerable of the +very finest that money could purchase in New York—Ceylon, Young Hyson +and Orange Pekoe.</p> + +<p>Hence, when he told Eli that it was up to them to make a bee-line for +the headquarters of the factor, and announce their arrival, his first +act was to gather up a package he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span> prepared, consisting of a pound +each of the several kinds of tea carried by the expedition.</p> + +<p>Thus armed and equipped, he sallied forth, under the belief that he was +able to propitiate the powers that be, without a single carnal weapon, +and loaded only with a gentle persuader.</p> + +<p>Owen had pointed out the position of the lodge where the factor had his +office as well as his habitation; and indeed, even had they not a friend +at court, it would have been easy to determine the location of this, +since it turned out to be the largest building within the stockade, and +in front of which arose the tall pole that had evidently held the Union +Jack up to sunset.</p> + +<p>No one followed them, but various were the curious glances cast in that +direction by the many personages who had a connection with the busy +post.</p> + +<p>At the door stood a man, who appeared to be a guard, for he carried a +rifle, and stirred at their approach, as though it might be his business +to make inquiries of those who asked for an audience with the "little +czar" within.</p> + +<p>"Is the factor, Mr. Gregory, in?" asked Cuthbert, pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"He is—walk right inside," came the reply, and they obeyed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span></p> + +<p>The office of the trading post was a sight to Cuthbert, who had often +read of such a place, but never as yet, set eyes on one; a thousand +articles seemed to be crowded into the apartment, so that there was +little spare room on either side of the passage leading straight up to +the great desk, where the factor held his court, flanked by account +books that doubtless would have been rich reading to anyone interested +in figures connected with the prices paid the Indians for furs.</p> + +<p>Through a door Cuthbert could see an adjoining room that was evidently +used for a general audience chamber in the wintry season, perhaps a +bunkroom also, for it had an enormous stove that was well calculated to +warm things when started.</p> + +<p>Only a cursory glance did he bestow upon these inanimate things, for his +attention was immediately wrapped up in the lone figure sitting back of +the big desk, the factor of the whole region, Alexander Gregory, the +mysterious man whose past seemed to be connected in some way with that +of their new Canadian chum, Owen Dugdale.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert rather prided himself on his ability to read faces, and it was +in this spirit that he approached the Scotch resident boss.</p> + +<p>He saw a bearded face, with the sandy hue<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> thickly sprinkled with +gray—a face marked with strong individuality, and passions such as were +common in the days of the Bruce and the Wallace of whom we read; indeed, +just such a sturdy character as he had expected to discover in this +strange man of the Northwest, judging from all the stories he had heard.</p> + +<p>And yet he quickly discerned a bit of a twinkle in the corners of those +cold gray eyes that told Cuthbert the other was not wholly a man of +iron—there was another vein to his character not often seen by his +fellows, but which could be played upon by touching the right chord, if +one but knew what that was.</p> + +<p>In that one moment of time Cuthbert knew that here was a man worthy of +his best efforts in the line of study, and that perhaps before he +quitted this faraway post on the frontier he would be able to see the +strong elements constituting Alexander Gregory's make-up unmasked.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was something of a diplomat, and he knew just how best to +address a man of authority whom he desired to placate; accordingly he +gave his name as well as that of his companion, told of the folly that +had brought him to the wilderness, and that he desired to see a genuine +trading post of the great company, now that he found himself in the +neighborhood,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> and that he was pleased to meet the factor, of whom he +had heard so many things in connection with the building up of the +company's trade.</p> + +<p>Alexander Gregory listened, and it might be noticed that his face seemed +to relax a trifle of its grim aspect; when the precious packets of tea +were placed before him on the desk he could not refrain from smiling, +and thrusting forth his hand, with words of warm welcome that quite +tickled the young diplomat, for he knew that he had won a point in the +game.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV." id="CHAPTER_XV."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2><h3>SCENTS A MYSTERY.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Alexander Gregory was a Scotchman, but he had spent most of his life in +the Canadian bush, and while there was a distinct "burr" in his manner +of speech, he very seldom used any of that broad dialect so +characteristic of his race; and then generally when much excited.</p> + +<p>He seemed particularly amused at the harum-scarum idea that had tempted +our young explorer to these distant fields, for few men knew more about +the fearful difficulties awaiting the venturesome nomad in those lonely +wastes beyond than did the veteran factor, since many a time and oft he +had roamed toward the arctic circle in search of new opportunities, and +had the humor seized him he could have told thrilling stories of what he +had seen and endured there.</p> + +<p>Seldom did he have the chance to interview so fresh and interesting a +character as Cuthbert, for his work brought him into daily contact with +only rough, strenuous men, and in time this had undoubtedly hardened his +own nature more or less.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span></p> + +<p>He asked many questions and examined the lad's charts with interest.</p> + +<p>Just as Owen had done he condemned the map made by the halfbreed, +Dubois, and declared that the fellow had undoubtedly purposely deceived +him, with some object in view that could only be guessed.</p> + +<p>"That's just what Owen said," exclaimed Cuthbert, without stopping to +think, and no sooner had the impulsive words passed his lips than he +remembered that this was supposed to be a tabooed name in the hearing of +the old factor, though just why he had no means of understanding.</p> + +<p>Involuntarily he looked up hastily as if to see what effect the mention +of Owen's name had on his host, but he only discovered a slight start, +followed by a flitting frown, and then a grim smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he did, eh?" he remarked, quietly; "well, it would seem that the +fellow has some sense about him, which I had begun to doubt, after he +refused to meet me half way in burying the bitterness of the past. But +speaking of this Dubois, he is a rascal beyond any doubt, and he appears +to have entered into some sort of partnership with Stackpole, a fellow +of his own stripe, though hardly as bold in his way of doing things. +These scoundrels have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span> playing fast and loose for a long time in +this region, but the worst they've been guilty of up to the present has +been the robbery of traps. Still, they have the spirit in them to +attempt almost any unlawful game, once the opportunity offers, and I +suppose they thought it had appeared in you. I've about made up my mind +that the time has come to drive them out of the region, or hand them +over to the mounted police, who will see to it that they are put in +jail. In this region we often have to take the law in our own hands, you +understand, lad. Aye, I've seen some desperate things done in my day, +and more often than I like they come up before my mind in the still +watches of the night. Mine has been a rough life of it, taken +altogether, and not an enviable one. It is anything but a paradise up +here when the long winter settles down. But it is the only life I know, +and has its charms to a man of my nature, though there be times when I +have longings for civilization and all that it carries with it."</p> + +<p>The factor sighed as he spoke in this meditative way, and Cuthbert could +read between the lines, knowing what a wasted life it must seem to look +back upon, with the monotony broken only by scenes of violence, when +Indians went upon the warpath or halfbreeds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> became rebellious, as +during the great uprising along the Saskatchewan, when the ugly front of +war made this region its battle ground.</p> + +<p>Eli was awed by the frown of the factor, and hardly spoke a word unless +addressed in person; but he, too, felt considerable curiosity concerning +the relation of Owen to this grim personage, and spent much time in +propounding questions to himself with the object of finding out the +truth.</p> + +<p>On the whole Cuthbert was impressed rather favorably.</p> + +<p>He believed that Mr. Gregory, while appearing to be a forbidding +character, was less of an ogre than surface marks would indicate; +indeed, Cuthbert rather took a fancy to the old chap, and could, in a +measure, realize how he must have yearned for the pleasures of that +outer life from which his fate barred him.</p> + +<p>He made up his mind to question Owen at the first opportunity and learn +what it was that stood between this czar of the wilderness and himself, +for the mystery not only piqued his imagination, but he began to feel +that his new-found friend might, in some way, be managing his case +unwisely, and that the advice of a sympathetic comrade would prove of +value in the matter.</p> + +<p>You see, Cuthbert was a bit shrewd and already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> suspected something of +the truth, for he could see through a millstone that had a hole in the +center, and it had flashed upon him suddenly that there was more than an +accidental resemblance between the young Canadian lad and this stern +master of the post.</p> + +<p>Now, it chanced that the American, while devoted to his chosen +profession of wandering through countries where the foot of a white man +had never before trod, had other traits of character, and like most +fellows, liked to dabble in a bit of a mystery, especially when he +thought he could see a chance to improve the conditions surrounding a +friend of his, and accordingly he puckered up his lips as though about +to whistle, though no sound escaped him, and inwardly he was saying +something after the nature of this:</p> + +<p>"By George, I believe I have it now—this old martinet, who rules the +whole country of the Saskatchewan with a rod of iron, and Owen are +related somehow or other, and in the past there must have been trouble +between the two branches of the family—the Scotch are famous for such +things, and can hate just as hard as they can love. Here's a pretty +kettle of fish. Owen's being knocked out of something that is his by +rights, and I'm going to turn my talents to account so as to see that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> +he gets all that's coming to him. What relation could Aleck bear a +youngster like Owen but that of grandpa, eh? Why, it promises to be +about as good as a play. But I mustn't let on that I've guessed the +riddle, for I don't understand why they're at daggers' points—what has +Owen done—why did he skip down the river without even his gun? H'm, +there's lots to unravel even here, and perhaps I'd better get Chum Owen +to confide in me before I go any further."</p> + +<p>The factor was plainly eager to test the virtues of his new tea, for he +put a kettle of cold water on the stove, thereby proving that he was an +adept at the art of brewing the fragrant herb, since it requires fresh +water, brought to a boil, and not stale stuff, to extract the delightful +aroma and flavor.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert took the hint, though Mr. Gregory asked the lads to stay and +drink a cup with him, a common enough invitation across the big pond, +though altogether unknown among Americans, whose invitations are apt to +include something stronger.</p> + +<p>When they declined he bade them consider themselves asked to dine with +him later on that evening, but Cuthbert saw an opportunity to put in an +entering wedge and reluctantly said that they would have to decline, +since they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> had a comrade and would not feel like leaving him alone.</p> + +<p>The factor opened his mouth as if to say something and Cuthbert expected +that he meant to include Owen in his invitation, but he simply nodded +his head, smiled whimsically, and bent over to look at the fire.</p> + +<p>So they passed out.</p> + +<p>Eli was completely muddled up with regard to the state of things, for he +had not the shrewdness of his companion, and as yet saw no reason to +suspect that there was a relationship between those who were so +antagonistic.</p> + +<p>He meant to make friends with some of the halfbreeds who lounged about +the post, and by asking questions anticipated getting close to the +truth; perhaps his way, while less elevated than the plan of Cuthbert, +might bring results in a more speedy manner.</p> + +<p>They found Owen where he had promised to await them, which was in a +corner of the stockade, just outside the main enclosure—a rather +secluded place, which the other evidently knew quite well.</p> + +<p>He had the tent up, and was arranging things for comfort, just as though +unaware how long their stay might be.</p> + +<p>Owen asked no questions, but he looked curiously into Cuthbert's face, +as if he might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> discover something there; but the other had decided to +wait for a more fitting opportunity ere springing the question he had in +mind.</p> + +<p>Some of the loungers gathered around.</p> + +<p>They were naturally curious concerning the outfit of the young explorer, +for he carried things such as they had never in all their lives seen; +some of these were apt to excite the ridicule of such old and rough +campaigners, accustomed to looking upon the earth as their bed, and the +canopy of heaven as their roof; but when in lieu of a cooking fire +Cuthbert set up his little "Juwel" kerosene stove, and in less than ten +minutes had water boiling furiously, when he could make a big pot of +coffee, the remarks in French patois were almost wholly favorable to the +little brass contraption, as both the Americans knew; for these fellows +recognized how handy such an affair must prove on a wet day when it was +almost impossible to find dry wood to burn, and some warm drink was +needed to tone up the system.</p> + +<p>But it was ludicrous when the coffee began to boil to see those chaps +elevate their noses and begin to sniff the fragrance as only wretched +beings may who have long been strangers to the delicious decoction.</p> + +<p>Evidently they had been told by the three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> Indians how the boys had +treated them to a cup of the beverage, and they made bold to hover about +in the hope that history would repeat itself.</p> + +<p>Nor were they disappointed.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was too shrewd a general to miss so good an opportunity to make +many friends out of these rough spirits; so, after the campers had +enjoyed their cup apiece and eaten some supper, Cuthbert deliberately +filled the aluminum receptacle, added condensed milk, with sugar, and +then gravely presented it to the fellow whom he judged was the boss of +the outfit, a big, raw-boned French-Canadian <i>voyageur</i>, with a beard +like a pirate.</p> + +<p>His eyes almost danced with delight, and he allowed the aromatic +compound to gurgle down his capacious throat slowly, while he held back +his head to gaze upward toward the first stars that had appeared in the +blue arch overhead.</p> + +<p>Twice he stopped and looked at his companions with a smirk, unable to +refrain from tantalizing them; and it was ludicrous to see the way in +which they scowled and shook their heads ominously—had it been any one +but this strapping leader he might have found himself in trouble very +soon.</p> + +<p>However, in good time they one and all had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> a chance to taste and enjoy +the results of Cuthbert's brewing; and he realized that his act had been +a masterstroke so far as making friends of the gathering was +concerned—the insidious coffee bean had proven more mighty than an army +in changing the current of their thoughts.</p> + +<p>And yet Cuthbert, who saw everything, could not help but notice that not +one of these men of the post said anything to Owen, though all of them, +from time to time, cast curious glances his way, as though he might be a +puzzle they could not solve.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI." id="CHAPTER_XVI."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2><h3>A LITTLE WITCH.</h3> +</div> + +<p>After that the post loungers had the good sense to leave our young +friends alone, though when they sauntered away most of them either +thanked Cuthbert in a courteous French manner for his little treat, or +else waved a hand to him, with a broad grin that stood for the same +thing in the rough ways of their class.</p> + +<p>Still, Owen asked no questions concerning what they had seen and heard +when at the office of the old factor; it looked as though he were +determined to exhibit not a sign of curiosity, no matter how much he +would like to hear all.</p> + +<p>So Cuthbert took it upon himself to relate much that had been said, even +to the remark made by Mr. Gregory with relation to Owen +himself—watching out of the corner of his eye, he saw the other turn +rosy red and then grit his teeth firmly, as though repressing his +feelings.</p> + +<p>"Evidently he will have to be drawn out, for I can see that nothing +tempts him to open up of his own free will; and yet he said a while back +that he meant to confide his story to us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> Now, this thing has gone +quite far enough, and if we are to be Owen's best friends and chums it's +only right that we know who and what he is, and also how he and the Big +Mogul have fallen out. So here goes while the coast is clear, and no +stragglers around."</p> + +<p>So saying, Cuthbert turned to the Canuck and, smiling, said:</p> + +<p>"Owen, my boy, you promised to tell us something about your troubles +when an opportunity came. Now, I said then that I didn't want to intrude +on your private affairs, but you insisted that we had a right to know; +and since we've taken you into the combine as a fellow chum, and you're +going to wander with me over a good part of this old planet in time, +why, if it's just the same to you, I wouldn't mind hearing all you've +got to say now. I confess your coming to this place has excited my +curiosity, old chap, because I realize that there's been trouble of some +sort between you and Aleck over yonder. Now, he strikes me as not so bad +a tyrant as I had somehow imagined, and perhaps the matter might be +patched up between you. Remember, we don't want to hear anything that +you'd prefer to keep secret—just tell us as much or as little as you +think fit. You know we stand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> ready to give our full sympathy, and back +you up to the limit. Now, hit it up, my boy."</p> + +<p>Owen drew a big breath, as though he had to nerve himself to speak of +these things to strangers; for he had hugged his troubles to his own +breast these many years, and they had evidently become sensitive +subjects with him.</p> + +<p>But the ready sympathy which he saw upon the countenances of his +comrades was a new sensation to the lonely lad, and he had no further +hesitation about opening his heart to them.</p> + +<p>"Don't make any mistake in the start, boys, for the trouble that lies +between Alexander Gregory and myself can never be patched up, though if +he had his way it would be. But I can never forget that his iron will +embittered the whole of my poor mother's life. I've seen her cry many +the time, and under my breath I cursed that hard-hearted old Scotchman, +who, because his daughter married a man against whom he chanced to have +a spite, refused to forgive. He's a cold-blooded monster, that's what he +is, and I would tell him so to his face."</p> + +<p>"I suspected that he bore that relationship to you—grandfather—there's +considerable about your faces that gives the secret away," remarked +Cuthbert.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span></p> + +<p>"I may look like him in face, but thank Heaven I'm a true Dugdale in my +feelings. I know you'll forgive me if I make the story short, because it +rouses up the old feelings inside, and sad memories always make me hate +him more and more.</p> + +<p>"After my mother and father died, which was less than a year ago, he +heard of it somehow, and has tried to make up with me ever since, +sending messages with letters, asking me to come and live with him; but +his repentance came too late, for she was not here to know that he was +sorry; and I utterly refused to even hold any correspondence with the +man who would have let his own child go hungry or freeze to death +because she would not come and ask his forgiveness, something my father +would never hear of.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think, finding that I wouldn't come to him of my own +free will, this domineering ruler of the Saskatchewan sent a party of +his halfbreeds up to the region where I was trapping and kidnapped me +outright—yes, I was carried a prisoner in their boat to this post, and +actually confined in a cabin as if I had been guilty of a crime. He had +the nerve to send me word that it had all been done without his +knowledge, his men thinking they were doing him a favor, and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> he +would see me in the morning, when he hoped explanations might bring +about an understanding between us—if I persisted in my determination to +have nothing to do with him, I would then be at liberty to depart.</p> + +<p>"I never so much as sent him an answer, I was so furious at being +dragged to his post like a wretch who had robbed traps; but during the +night I found a way to escape from the cabin, and taking an old canoe, I +fled down the river. The rest you know already. That is my story in a +nutshell, boys. I could talk for hours, and even then fail to tell you +all I've gone through since I was a little shaver, for I soon learned +the sad story of my mother, and how she had suffered because her father +refused to forgive.</p> + +<p>"My father was only a timber-cruiser, a man with little education, but +an honest man at that. He was never able to make much more than a +living, and we have many times gone hungry, while he was storing up +treasures year by year, to be lavished upon his one other daughter, who +married to please him. But we'd rather died there in the bush than ask a +favor of him, my dad was that proud, and hated Alexander Gregory so for +his injustice.</p> + +<p>"You understand now what I risked in coming<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> back here; but when I +reasoned it all out in cold blood I saw that he could not keep me +against my will, for he's never been appointed my guardian that I know +of; so I determined to come, and stick with you, no matter what +happened."</p> + +<p>"You mentioned another daughter—is she with him still?" asked Cuthbert, +who had a reason for the question.</p> + +<p>"No, I understand that she was also taken away several years ago; her +husband turned out to be a bad man, and had to get out of the country, +because Mr. Gregory had sworn to shoot him on sight for good reasons. +So, you see, that stubborn will of his, that wanted to bend everything +his way, has not brought him very much of happiness. Still, it's just +what he deserves, and I'm not sorry one bit."</p> + +<p>"Did the other daughter have any children?" pursued Cuthbert.</p> + +<p>"I don't know; but what makes you ask?" said Owen, raising his eyes +quickly, to look his comrade in the face.</p> + +<p>"Because, unless I am very much mistaken, I heard a girl's laugh in that +big cabin where he has his home, a merry laugh that somehow made me feel +as if I wanted to join in with a ha-ha of my own. If that is so she's +your cousin, Owen."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span></p> + +<p>That was indeed a master stroke on Cuthbert's part, and well played, +too.</p> + +<p>Owen looked startled.</p> + +<p>"Cousin—a girl—related to me," he muttered, as if unable to quite +grasp the immensity of the thing; then a flush crept over his swarthy +face, as though the new thought was more or less pleasing to him; for, +poor lad, he had of late believed himself to be utterly alone in the big +world, saving this hard-hearted grandfather, whom he refused to +recognize.</p> + +<p>This gave him new food for reflection; and the young philosopher who had +shot the shaft fancied that the intelligence might have more or less +influence in determining his future relations with the factor—the human +heart craves sympathy above all things, and this can seldom come so well +from strangers as from those of the same family—blood is ever thicker +than water.</p> + +<p>Owen went about the preparations for the night, arranging the cots for +his two comrades, and his own humble blanket bed; but evidently he was +wrapped in deep thought, and Cuthbert believed he had set a current in +motion that was bound to have much influence over the other's future.</p> + +<p>If he could only arrange to have Owen meet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> the owner of that merry +laugh, he fancied the rest would be easy.</p> + +<p>With this idea in his mind he sauntered in the direction of the factor's +headquarters, half-meaning to secure another interview with the other, +at which, perhaps, matters might be threshed out, and light let in where +all was darkness now.</p> + +<p>He changed his mind, however, when he saw that Mr. Gregory was busy with +some of his employes, who had come down the river in a big batteau while +the boys were eating their supper, and evidently had brought news of +considerable importance, since they immediately sought an interview with +the chief; and when Cuthbert glanced in through the open door their +heads were close together over some sort of a map which one of them was +explaining.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Cuthbert could not refrain from keeping his eyes about, in +the hope that by a lucky chance he might discover the one who laughed; +and just as he was about to turn back to the camp of his friends he did +catch a sound that immediately fastened his attention, only instead of +merriment, it was rather a lugubrious little song, sung half under the +breath—a song that possibly had the power to bring before the mind of +the singer the face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> of the dear mother who had taught her to sing it, a +song that affected even Cuthbert as he stood with bowed head and +harkened.</p> + +<p>Presently the sound ceased, and he heard a flutter near by, when looking +that way he caught a glimpse of a little figure passing into the rear of +the cabin; as the door was open he could see what appeared to be a girl +of some six or seven, slight of figure, and with the golden hair and the +face of an angel.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert laughed to himself as he looked, for he was thinking of his +friend Owen, and what a change would come over him when he made the +acquaintance of this little fairy of the wilderness.</p> + +<p>He now sauntered over to where some of the trappers and <i>voyageurs</i> had +a fire, at which they had evidently cooked their supper earlier in the +night and about which they were now reclining, smoking pipes, and +exchanging stories connected with the wild life led by all.</p> + +<p>No one paid any particular attention to the lad, save to give him a +place at the fire and offer him a tobacco pouch, which, of course, he +declined, saying to the amazement of these inveterate smokers that he +had never learned the art of indulging in the weed.</p> + +<p>He understood enough of the French <i>patois</i> to follow what was said, and +felt more or less<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> interest in the weird tales they spun concerning the +astonishing wonders of the Great Lone Land, which he, in his audacity, +had been tempted to venture into alone, bent on exploration—he realized +now that it would surely have proven his tomb had he been allowed to +proceed thither, convoyed only by the faithful Eli, who was ready to +follow him to the uttermost parts of the earth without question.</p> + +<p>Presently, when he had broken the ice by becoming a little familiar with +his neighbor on the right, a rather pleasant-faced fellow in the +picturesque uniform of the Hudson Bay Company, he ventured to ask about +the sweet little singer, whose voice had charmed his ear; and, as he +suspected, it turned out that she was a child of the factor's younger +daughter, her name, Jessie (which was Scotch enough to please Cuthbert's +romantic fancy) and that she had always been at the post, a gleam of +sunshine, for whom any of them would willingly have died.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was more than pleased with his discoveries, for he believed +that it would, after all, not be so very difficult to bring about some +sort of a reconciliation between the young Canadian and his ancestor, +the old factor, whose heart had lost much of its flinty nature long +since under the ministrations of this little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> golden-haired witch, and +was really hungering to remedy his conduct of the past as far as +possible.</p> + +<p>If he did nothing more than joining these two, Cuthbert could +congratulate himself that his mission to the great Saskatchewan region +had not been in vain.</p> + +<p>He hunted Eli up at once, determined to form some sort of plan whereby +such a desirable end might be attained.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, Eli was alone in their tent, and when the other questioned +him before speaking, not wishing Owen to hear them discussing his +affairs, Cuthbert learned that the third member of the party had gone +out quite a while before, saying that he would return by the time they +were thinking of retiring.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert fancied that it was the mention of the little cousin that had +affected him so; perhaps even at that moment Owen was hovering about the +headquarters of the factor, in the hope of getting a glimpse of the +owner of the sweet voice.</p> + +<p>So Eli was placed in possession of all the facts as learned by his chum, +and as of old they discussed the situation, for while the boy from the +lumber regions lacked the education and polish that were Cuthbert's +birthright, he did possess a shrewd mind and had homely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> ideas of what +was good and true—this had been the very thing that attracted the +Virginian to him in the start, and the more he saw of Eli the stronger +grew his affection, until it bade fair to become another David and +Jonathan relationship.</p> + +<p>On his part Eli was more excited than usual, because he had made a +discovery during his friend's absence, which was to the effect that +certain specimens of ore which he had somehow managed to pick up and +thrust into his pockets while in the woods were very rich with a +greenish mineral which Eli knew well enough to be virgin copper, and he +felt convinced that he had at last struck the bonanza for which he had +so long been searching—a genuine copper lode.</p> + +<p>When they had partly arranged their intended plan of action and fixed +matters so that on the morrow they could open the game, the two young +conspirators began to get ready for turning in.</p> + +<p>There was certainly no need of keeping watch here, for they were in the +stockade bounds of the fort and within a biscuit toss of the factor's +headquarters; surely no prowler would dare molest them here, and if he +did there would always be the chances of his running up against a 30-30 +from the forceful little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> Marlin repeater that must discourage his +sneaking propensities.</p> + +<p>Once they had heard a great disturbance around on the other side of the +main building, with many loud excited voices chiming in, but Cuthbert, +believing that the affair did not concern them and was probably only a +dispute among some of the unruly employes of the trading company, +restrained the impulsive Eli, who was for bolting out and learning the +cause of the fracas.</p> + +<p>Where could Owen be?</p> + +<p>Surely the boy would not sneak away, after so boldly accompanying them +to the Hudson Bay post—he had as much as promised to stick by them up +to the time they expected to return to civilization, and if Cuthbert was +any judge of human nature Owen Dugdale was not the one to go back on his +word.</p> + +<p>And it was very unlikely that anything could have happened to him off in +the dense forest, where he was so much at home—the men connected with +the post were now aware that the factor frowned upon such a thing as +kidnapping one who showed the utmost reluctance to visit his relative, +and consequently they would leave him severely alone from this time on, +and as for the timber cruiser, he knew the bond of blood existing +between the lad and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> the stern old factor, and with the inevitable +consequences staring him in the face if he raised his hand again toward +Owen, he would not dare arouse the ire of Alexander Gregory for +anything.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII." id="CHAPTER_XVII."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2><h3>SEEN THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Owen Dugdale had been more deeply affected by what his friend had said +about the little witch of the fort than even Cuthbert suspected.</p> + +<p>Somehow the lonely lad had never conceived of such a possibility as +having a cousin to love, and when he heard of it for the first time he +was staggered by the change this seemed to make in affairs.</p> + +<p>Unable to properly ponder over the matter within the tent where Eli +would naturally be wanting to ask ordinary questions that must disturb +his mental scrutiny, he determined to go by himself and spend an hour or +so threshing matters out once and for all.</p> + +<p>This hatred for the old factor had become so much a part of his nature +that he was able to only see one side of the case, and for the first +time in his life he found himself beginning to entertain a slight +suspicion that he had purposely blinded his eyes to facts that might +present a different aspect to things.</p> + +<p>Memories of his sainted mother arose to haunt him; perhaps the incident +of little Sallie and her conception of her "duty" by her brute of a +father, just because she had promised the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> mother who was gone to watch +over him, had awakened these thoughts afresh, for Owen, too, had +promised to try and overcome his hard feelings for the old factor, +though as yet without making any progress.</p> + +<p>Still, tonight he seemed to be in a more amiable mood than for a long +time.</p> + +<p>Before his mind arose the last scene, when he knelt beside his widowed +mother, and heard her whispered prayer that he might grow up to be a +noble man, free from the accursed Gregory spirit that had helped to make +her own life unhappy.</p> + +<p>Had he made an earnest effort that way?</p> + +<p>Owen felt conscience-stricken when he remembered that he never once +thought of his angel mother without a feeling of bitter animosity toward +the unrelenting parent who had driven her forth when she married against +his will.</p> + +<p>And now a new factor had been sprung upon him in the shape of this +cousin!</p> + +<p>Who was she and what could she be like?</p> + +<p>He knew there had been another daughter, just as he had told Cuthbert, +who had married the man her father picked out, only to suffer as all +ill-used wives do; until matters went too far and Alexander Gregory had +driven him out of the region.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span></p> + +<p>This daughter then had enjoyed all that money could secure for her +during the few years she lived after her child came, so that the little +one must be looked upon as the heiress of all the old factor's wealth; +and he was said to have accumulated much of this world's goods during +his life on the Saskatchewan.</p> + +<p>But this interested Owen not a particle, for he was quite free from any +desire to share in the old man's money.</p> + +<p>Whoever this girl might be, she was welcome to all the factor possessed, +for he would never touch a penny, he was bound.</p> + +<p>It made him writhe a little to think, however, that the child of one +daughter was rolling in wealth, so to speak, while he, the only issue of +the other marriage, was like the foxes and had hardly more than a hole +wherein to lay his head.</p> + +<p>Still, she was a girl, while he as a hardy boy felt no need of +comfort—given a gun and some provisions and he feared not the desolate +places of the Great North Land; he had wrested many of Nature's secrets +from her bosom and could hold his own in the blizzard's blast as well as +the animals.</p> + +<p>But he must get by himself to think all this over and fight the battle +again, this time for good and all—it might make a difference if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> there +were some one else besides the stern old factor, in whose veins ran the +same blood; yes, that was something he had never considered before.</p> + +<p>So muttering some sort of an excuse to Eli he had wandered forth into +the night.</p> + +<p>He, too, had heard of the arrival of the batteau from above, and +catching some casual words that were dropped knew there was trouble +ahead for the immediate future, since a company of rival fur gatherers +had swooped down upon ground that came within the jurisdiction of the +Fort Harmony post, though often in dispute, and refused to leave when +threatened by the agents of Gregory.</p> + +<p>That might mean bloody war, for it so happened once in a while; and in +times past scenes of violence had marked many a meeting of these rival +companies.</p> + +<p>Even this fact did not interest Owen to any extent just now.</p> + +<p>At another time he might have felt his pulses thrill with eagerness, for +having spent his whole existence in this region, he was naturally +impregnated with the spirit that dominated the lives of those who +depended upon the gathering of furs for their living, and Owen besides +had inherited some of the Gregory combativeness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span></p> + +<p>He was thinking of that cousin and feeling an eagerness he could not +overcome to set eyes on her for himself.</p> + +<p>What was she like?</p> + +<p>If she looked at all a Gregory he felt sure he could never care for her, +since his feeling of intense dislike toward Alexander the factor was too +deep-rooted to be easily cast out.</p> + +<p>What was to hinder his wandering around near the big house used as an +office and storeroom as well as the residence of the factor?</p> + +<p>If Cuthbert had done so without attracting attention surely he could, +and perhaps he might also be favored with just a little glimpse of the +girl.</p> + +<p>Even while allowing himself to be lured into this sort of thing by some +strange feeling within, Owen was curling his lip sarcastically at the +idea of his ever being reconciled to the grandfather who had ruined the +lives of his parents, making them so much harder and bitter than would +otherwise have been the case.</p> + +<p>But with all his animosity toward Dugdale, the timber cruiser who had +won the heart of his favorite child, the factor had not been able to +fully mar their lives, and Owen knew that true love had reigned in that +humble cabin far away beyond the jurisdiction of old Gregory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> up to the +time death took the father and husband away.</p> + +<p>Presently he found his footsteps had carried him near the large building +and he avoided the office end, as he did not wish it to appear that he +was at all curious concerning the grave news brought in by the scouts +who had come with the batteau from the upper reaches of the river.</p> + +<p>It was in the hope of hearing the same voice which had attracted +Cuthbert that brought him close to the rear of the building, where the +wing was used as a home by Mr. Gregory.</p> + +<p>Lights abounded in various parts of the house, which, being built for +the most part of huge logs, weatherbeaten from long years of service, +but still substantial, gave evidence of being a comfortable abode; and +it was not long ere Owen felt a thrill pass through his being as he +caught a sudden burst of childish song, which ceased almost as quickly +as it had begun, as though the singer just had to give utterance to her +buoyant feelings in such little snatches of music.</p> + +<p>Eagerly he waited, hoping that she would again lift up her sweet voice, +for it had sounded like the trill of birds in the woodland to his +enraptured ear.</p> + +<p>Years had passed since this lad had heard a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> little child's voice in +song; or, indeed, any music, for his mother's sad life had not been +conducive to merry feelings, and one has to be at least fairly happy to +sing.</p> + +<p>And when the child again broke forth and caroled a little French +lullaby, as though singing to her dolly, Owen stood there, nervously +opening and closing his hands, as though enthralled beyond measure.</p> + +<p>When the song had died away he could no longer resist the temptation to +feast his eyes upon the singer.</p> + +<p>This would not be difficult to do, for the door was open, and all that +seemed necessary was for him to move still closer and bend forward.</p> + +<p>He did not fancy being seen in such an act, no matter how honorable his +intention, for these rough dwellers in the wilds have a peculiar code of +their own, and spying of any kind is severely frowned down upon.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless he could not let the opportunity pass unimproved; and so +Owen began to move forward, trying to keep beyond the strongest path of +light that flowed from the open door.</p> + +<p>When he thrust his head forward and saw the interior of the room he +stood there as if frozen into a pillar of ice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span></p> + +<p>If the spectacle of that little witch with the golden locks had held +Cuthbert spellbound, imagine how it affected this lad, who knew he was +looking on the only close relative he had in the wide world, saving the +factor—who did not count, anyway. He felt as though he could not tear +himself away, there was something so fascinating about the small maid +and her cunning ways, as she rocked her dolly and went through all the +necessary operations required to put a real flesh and blood baby to +sleep.</p> + +<p>And what made it all the more entrancing to Owen was the unmistakable +fact that it seemed to him he must be looking upon the face of his own +dearly loved mother when she was a child; for the sister's little one +had, as is often the case, resembled the one so much in her anxious +mind, rather than herself.</p> + +<p>Looking thus upon such a charming picture, was it strange that Owen +found himself thinking along certain lines that up to now he would have +cast from him with scorn, as an evidence of weakening?</p> + +<p>Cuthbert had made no mistake when he concluded that, sooner or later, +through the means of this little peacemaker, must the vendetta existing +between Owen and his grandfather be brought to a close.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span></p> + +<p>When she had laid her doll carefully down and stroked it gently, just as +a real mother might do with her sleeping babe, the child tiptoed about +the room, casting many an anxious glance toward the crib, as though +fearful lest she awaken the inanimate bundle reposing there—it was so +natural that Owen could not smile, even while he was feeling a sudden +yearning to know this charming little relative at closer quarters.</p> + +<p>In that time he stood there all danger of his wanting to fly once more +from the stockade vanished forever; and he even wondered whether his +grandfather may not after all have had some such scheme in mind in +inviting him to visit him, believing that the presence of this midget, +and the fact that she was his own true cousin, would have a wonderfully +soothing effect upon the truculent spirit of the boy.</p> + +<p>Now she approached the door, as though either drawn by some subtle +spirit, or a desire to glance out at the heavens to see what the weather +might be.</p> + +<p>Owen dared not move for fear lest such action must attract the very +attention he was seeking to avoid; so he stood there as though he might +be a post, and awaited the outcome with mingled feelings of anxiety and +delight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span></p> + +<p>It was not long in coming, the discovery.</p> + +<p>He felt, rather than saw, her gaze fall upon him, and she seemed to +stand there in some vague sense of terror at first, as though fearing +that the eavesdropper might mean her harm—afterwards Owen understood +why she should have this feeling better than he did just then, but it +pained him to think that his presence should bring fear to her gentle +little heart, and so he smiled.</p> + +<p>Although he did not know it himself, when Owen smiled, his face took on +an expression that must have given confidence to a skeptic, for as is +the case with all persons naturally grave, his countenance was lighted +up with the sudden burst of radiance that sprang from his very soul.</p> + +<p>The child saw it and immediately her fear seemed to take flight, and she +even smiled back at him.</p> + +<p>"Come in, boy, and see my new dolly," she said, eagerly; and that was an +invitation Owen Dugdale could not have declined under any conditions.</p> + +<p>So he who had sworn never again to set foot under the roof of the +resident factor walked into his house only too willingly.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII." id="CHAPTER_XVIII."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2><h3>OWEN FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER.</h3> +</div> + +<p>The little girl, with that wonderful intuition that leads children to +know who are in full sympathy with their hearts, seemed to need no other +guide than that one look into his smiling face, and she was ready to +trust him fully. Owen held out his hand impulsively.</p> + +<p>"I am your cousin, Owen Dugdale. Perhaps you may have heard of me; and I +want to say I'm awful glad to make your acquaintance, Jessie Ferguson. I +didn't know I even had a cousin until just a short time ago this night; +and I came out on purpose to see what you were like. Look! I carry a +picture of my mother in this little waterproof case fastened around my +neck. That is what she looked like when she was a very little girl; and +you are her image. I'm glad I came back here now; something seemed to +whisper to me that it was best, and I know it was her dear spirit +speaking to my heart."</p> + +<p>The child took the little locket and glanced at the face it contained, +at the same time uttering a cry of delight.</p> + +<p>"Why, it is my picture. But you said it was your mother—that must have +been my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> Aunt Jessie! And you are my cousin, then? I have heard +grandpapa speak of you. But you don't look bad, and he said——" and +there she suddenly stopped, while Owen's face flushed angrily with a +sudden wave of resentment.</p> + +<p>"What did he say—I want you to tell me?" he asked imperiously.</p> + +<p>"I wish I hadn't spoken—he said you were a willful, headstrong +boy—there; but I think he didn't know you," she answered, clinging to +his hand in a confiding way that gave Owen the joy of his life.</p> + +<p>With that he laughed, this time aloud.</p> + +<p>"I guess he knows the Gregory spirit all right. I am headstrong; yes, +and willful, too, for I wouldn't be a Gregory otherwise. But don't let +us talk any more about that. Show me your new dolly. I don't know +anything about dolls, and never had one in my hands in all my life, for +you see we didn't have a little girl in our home, and the neighbors were +miles off. But I'd like to know your dolly. I heard you singing her to +sleep. Ain't you afraid all this talking might wake her up?" he went on.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. She sleeps so soundly you see. I can do anything with her and +she never cries. There, take her for a little while, Cousin Owen. How +funny it is to know a real and true cousin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> I never met one before; but +I wanted to. I get awful lonely sometimes, for you see it's only me and +grandpapa at the table; and he is so busy he can't play much with a +little girl like me. Won't you stay here and be my real cousin? I don't +think I'd mind it much if there was only somebody like you to talk with +me. I get so tired being alone; and dolly won't answer me; she lets me +do all the talking."</p> + +<p>This ingenuous manner of speech, perhaps a trifle oldish in its way for +a wee lassie of less than eight, acted like magic upon the heart of the +desolate boy, who had known no home ever since his mother passed over to +the Far Beyond; he then and there mentally vowed that he would settle +this business before he turned in that night; and it was already a +foregone conclusion as to what his decision must be—he could not bear +the thought that he would never see this little fairy again.</p> + +<p>"I'll think of it, Jessie—you'll let me call you cousin, won't you?" he +said.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course; we are cousins, ain't we? And you must be sure to say +you'll stay, because I know grandpapa wants you; he told me so. He is +getting old, and we worries a lot about me, just as if anybody would +want to run away with a poor little child like me; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> I heard him say +that if Owen was only here to be with me he'd feel so much more +contented. So you see you must stay, because grandpapa wants you to, and +I want you ever so much, and dolly—don't hold dolly that way, boy. All +the blood will run to her head, poor thing. I'll show you how you must +do it," and like a wise little mother she took the imperiled one in her +arms, held her close to her heart and began crooning so sweetly that +Owen was enraptured more than ever. Here was a revelation, and it had +come upon him as suddenly as a shooting star bursts upon the vision of +the night watcher, and goes swiftly speeding down the heavens amid the +spangled hosts of other worlds.</p> + +<p>Owen had not felt so happy in the whole course of his life, for he saw +before him a wonderful change in his miserable existence, and a future +home amid surroundings so pleasant that he could hardly believe it could +be meant for him.</p> + +<p>Having quieted the imaginary disturbed dolly she tucked the object of +her anxious care into its crib, as if doubting the expediency of +allowing her in the clumsy grip of this newly found cousin until he had +been given a few lessons on the way to hold little girls' babies.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said, having patted the clothes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> that covered the object of +her solicitude with a careful hand, "we can talk a little, if you will +be sure not to speak too loud. Grandpapa often wakes her when he comes +in, his voice is so awful gruff; but then he never means to and is +always so sorry. He grabs us both up, but he kisses me more than he does +my poor dolly."</p> + +<p>Owen thought grandpapa was a very sensible old man, after all, and that +given the opportunity he believed, indeed, he knew, that he would show +the same partiality.</p> + +<p>He was not quite ready to face the old factor as yet; before that came +about he wanted to be by himself and look the matter calmly in the face, +so as to decide once and for all, though deep down in his soul the boy +knew that this self-scrutiny must be pretty much of a farce, since he +would never be content to go away now and see this cunning little fairy +cousin no more.</p> + +<p>Still, he did not want Alexander Gregory to come in suddenly and find +him there, so he considered that, having made the acquaintance of +Jessie, he had better leave.</p> + +<p>If she chose she could tell the old man of his visit and that would +break the matter gently, so that when it came time for Owen to face his +grandfather the factor would be prepared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> to extend the olive branch, if +so inclined.</p> + +<p>"Now I must be going, Cousin Jessie; I'm glad to have made the +acquaintance of your wonderful dolly, but more than that to know you, +and I hope to see you again tomorrow. Kiss your dolly for me when she +wakes, won't you?" he said, with another of those smiles that had quite +won the heart of the demure little maid.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course, if you give me one for her," she remarked, without the +slightest affectation, and as if it were the most natural thing for one +cousin to thus salute another on parting.</p> + +<p>Well, he did, with the greatest pleasure he had ever known without any +exception, and if the kiss were a bit bunglingly given that could be +excused on the plea of lack of experience.</p> + +<p>And with the pressure of those rosebud lips against his went the last +lingering gleam of Owen's former resolution to hold resentment against +the factor, because of his harsh treatment of the mother whose memory he +treasured.</p> + +<p>So he went out again into the night air, but it was no longer the same +Owen as of yore who looked up to the star-bedecked sky—many a time and +oft he had found sighs welling from his heart as he contemplated the +heavens<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> and speculated upon what little of hope the future held for +him; but now he was thrilled with joy and peace such as he had never +known.</p> + +<p>He sauntered around for a time trying to collect his thoughts, but there +were so many things to distract his attention within the great stockade +that he concluded it would be advisable to walk outside, where he could +be really alone with his reflections.</p> + +<p>Before doing so, however, he could not resist the temptation to steal +back once more for another glimpse of the little fairy under the +factor's roof, so that he could carry the picture with him while he +settled the momentous question.</p> + +<p>Perhaps he felt a vague sense of its all having been a dream, and wished +to thus reassure himself as to the reality.</p> + +<p>Be that as it might, some subtle power took him back to the vicinity of +the door through which he had first caught his glimpse of Jessie, the +flower of Fort Harmony. For the first time he believed the post to be +well named, after all.</p> + +<p>All seemed to be quiet in that part of the stockade, and as he did not +wish any one to see what he was doing, Owen carefully made out to avoid +contact with such of the habitues<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> of the post who might still be +wandering about.</p> + +<p>Thus he came to where he could look through the still open door.</p> + +<p>The child was there, and seemed to be holding her precious dolly in her +arms as she rocked to and fro in a little chair; and Owen smiled to see +that every now and then the diminutive maid would bend down and kiss the +inanimate face with the greatest vigor.</p> + +<p>Perhaps she was keeping her word and giving dolly the salute this new +and "awfully nice" cousin had left for her.</p> + +<p>The picture was something worth while carrying with him as he went out +to commune with his thoughts and decide on his future.</p> + +<p>Owen was just about tearing himself away, much against his will, when he +became aware of a strange thing.</p> + +<p>Apparently some one else was hovering around that darkened part of the +stockade with the express purpose of peeping in at the door and feasting +their eyes on the pretty picture disclosed, for he discovered a head +between himself and the opening and which certainly did not belong to +the old factor by any means.</p> + +<p>The man wore a skin cap and must belong to the brigade of trappers +working for the company, else why should he be here; but what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> right had +he prowling around at the back of the factor's dwelling at this time of +night?</p> + +<p>Owen felt indignation taking hold of him, and this was increased tenfold +when to his surprise he saw that the individual was actually beginning +to glide noiselessly through the doorway.</p> + +<p>It may be all very right for a <i>cousin</i> to do this, especially when +invited by the little lady of the room to enter and make the +acquaintance of her new doll, but in another it must appear a crime.</p> + +<p>So Owen stood there, quivering with suspense and indignation, hardly +knowing what he ought to do under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>Who was this individual and by what right did he dare to enter here?</p> + +<p>When the light fell upon his face Owen saw that so far as he was +concerned the other was a stranger, and a man with gray streaks in his +beard; but that put the boy no wiser than before.</p> + +<p>Unconsciously Owen began to advance closer to the open door, as if he +believed it might devolve upon him to act as the child's protector, +although in one sense it seemed ridiculous to suspect that danger could +menace her, here in the domain of her grandfather, the factor, whose +word was law.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span></p> + +<p>The man glided forward and seemed to speak to the child, for Owen saw +her turn and survey him wonderingly; then it seemed as if she shrank +back when the man put out his arms, still speaking in a wheedling tone, +and Owen could see Jessie shaking her little head in a decided negative +in answer to his questions—evidently the intruder was well known to +her, but at the same time she seemed to have no good opinion of him, and +again and again repulsed his advances, each time more decidedly, until +the man lost all discretion and proceeded to show a different side to +his nature.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIX." id="CHAPTER_XIX."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2><h3>FOR SO IT WAS WRITTEN.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Without warning the man suddenly sprang forward and seized the child in +his arms; evidently fearing lest she scream and betray his presence, he +instantly clapped one hand over her mouth.</p> + +<p>She struggled desperately, but was as an infant in his clutch; and +turning, he started to leave the room, evidently expecting to be able to +get out of the stockade without being seen, since the hour to close the +big gates would not arrive for some little time.</p> + +<p>Owen, bursting with indignation and anger, sprang to intercept the man, +who up to this very moment had not been aware of the fact that his +attempt at kidnapping had been witnessed.</p> + +<p>When he felt the hands of the boy upon him the fellow uttered a low but +venomous oath, and seeing that he could not defend himself against this +enemy with both his hands employed in holding the child, who had now +swooned in her terror, he dropped little Jessie to the floor and turned +upon his antagonist like an enraged lynx.</p> + +<p>Owen was only a half-grown lad, but he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> lived a strenuous life, and +his muscles were developed to a point where he was almost equal to a man +in strength, so that it was no weakling the fellow tackled when he thus +fiercely tried to tear himself free so that he could escape ere the +factor or some of his minions arrived upon the scene, attracted by the +sound of the scuffle.</p> + +<p>He struggled desperately, but Owen still clung to him like a leech, bent +upon holding him until help came, for he believed this wretch should be +punished for his vile attempt to kidnap the sweet child.</p> + +<p>Finding that he was having more trouble to break away than he had +expected the man resorted to other means of influencing the boy besides +brute strength.</p> + +<p>"Let go of me, you fool! I am that child's father, Angus Ferguson, d'ye +hear? Is it a crime for me to want to see my own? Let go, or by heaven +I'll murder you, boy. I know you—I heard the men talking about you, +Owen Dugdale, and ye should be the last to try and hold me for that +devil, Alexander Gregory. Let go, I say! Do ye not hear them coming? +Shall I kill ye here and now?" he cried, hoarsely, as he put forth all +his great power to break the other's hold.</p> + +<p>Yes, Owen did hear them coming, men on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> the run, men who were calling +out to each other and to the factor to hasten; and he was more than ever +determined that this wretch should not escape.</p> + +<p>What if he were the father of little Jessie, she and her mother had long +ago repudiated him, and his mission here could not but menace the child +with evil.</p> + +<p>No matter who he was, he must remain to give an account of his +intentions to the czar of the region around the Saskatchewan.</p> + +<p>So Owen continued to hang on, harkening not to the grumbled threats of +the desperate man with whom he wrestled.</p> + +<p>All the other now considered was escape, and to that end he was exerting +every atom of strength he possessed; twice had he brought his clenched +fist into contact with the boy's head; but at such close quarters the +blow was not nearly so effective as it would have otherwise been, and at +any rate, it only caused him to clench his hands the more rigidly, until +it seemed that, like the grip of the bulldog, only death could make him +let go.</p> + +<p>And it was thus they were found when several men belonging to the +company rushed in at the door, headed by the factor himself.</p> + +<p>They precipitated themselves upon the struggling couple immediately and +tore them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> apart, the factor staring hard first at Owen and then at the +other, who was breathing hard from his exertions, yet glaring in rage at +the grizzled Scotchman.</p> + +<p>One look Gregory took at the figure of little Jessie on the floor and he +seemed to comprehend the whole of the man's iniquity.</p> + +<p>"Angus Ferguson here! And ye would have kidnapped the child given to me +by the court's decree, ye villain! It's nae gude ye would have been +intendin' to the wee bairn. I thought ye dead ere now, but its scotched +and not killed ye must hae been by that forest fire twa year back. But +now I'll see to it that ye do no mair harm in this section. I hae got ye +whar I want ye at last, ye contemptible dog," exclaimed the factor, +unconsciously in his excitement reverting back in some degree to his +brogue.</p> + +<p>"Can ye blame the fatherly instinct that urged me to come here, knowing +as I did that I took my life in my hand?" growled the other, sullenly.</p> + +<p>"Fatherly instinct be hanged. Ye never knew what it was in the past. +Always hae ye been a rogue, with a double tongue in your head. Fatherly +instinct, in faith, I hae a gude idea ye meant to carry off the child, +if naething more than to stab me, whom ye hate like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> poison?" said +Gregory, and his words burned like a scorpion's sting, for the man burst +out into a string of oaths.</p> + +<p>"And I would have succeeded if it hadn't been for this meddling young +fool, this son of the daughter you thrust out of your flinty heart. He +held me here, curse him! I defy you, Gregory! Do your worst with me. Not +another word do you get out of me now," and he shut his teeth hard as if +the tortures of the Inquisition might not force him to speak.</p> + +<p>The factor shot one look at Owen, a look that was benign, even full of +hearty thanksgiving, and it was evident that by his act of that night +the lad had fully bridged the gulf that had lain between them; he held +the whip hand now, and it would be his grandfather who would be suing +for forgiveness ere another sun had gone down.</p> + +<p>"Fatherly love ye say, Angus Ferguson? I do not believe it. There was +another motive that brought ye here the night. My scouts hae told me +that ye were with the crowd that camps on our land, and so I know ye are +hand and glove with those who are at war with me. It was as a spy ye +came here to see what we meant to do. If it were war times ye should +meet death for such an act; as it is, the law has a claim on ye, and +I'll do my best to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> that it is satisfied. Ye shall be kept close in +the dungeon under this house until I have a chance to send ye to the +headquarters of the mounted police. Men, take him away and see that he +is properly searched before ye leave him. I would not put it past the +scoundrel to fire the house and burn us all in our beds if so be he +could."</p> + +<p>While some of the hardly trappers were dragging the prisoner away to +confine him according to the directions they had received, Gregory bent +over the form of the little girl, whom he took tenderly in his arms and +kissed with a passion that told of the hold she had upon his heart.</p> + +<p>Jessie was coming to and opened her blue eyes at this moment, shrinking +closer to her grandfather and hugging her arms about his neck; then she +peeped timidly around as if in search of the bad parent who had tried to +get her to desert this precious home she loved so well.</p> + +<p>Owen, seeing that she was unharmed, turned to leave, but her eyes caught +sight of him and she called his name.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Owen, please get my dolly for me; she's afraid to be alone," she +said; and obediently the lad stepped forward to obey, while old Gregory +smiled to see that the little queen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> of the post had found another loyal +subject who was ready to cater abjectly to her petty whims.</p> + +<p>"Boy," he said, as Owen flashed him a glance ere going out; "I must see +you in the morning. You must not think of going hence, for here you +belong to this little girl and to me! Stay with us; let us show by our +love what sorrow for the past has done for me. Your act this night has +bound you to us in chains that must not be lightly broken. Owen, lad, +you will find that the old iron spirit can be easily bent now. Do not +leave us; we need you, both Jessie and I."</p> + +<p>Owen felt a lump in his throat, and tears in his eyes, which seemed to +him such a childish sensation that he could not bear they should notice +it; so abruptly wheeling he dashed from the room. But as he went he +heard that sweet childish voice calling after him:</p> + +<p>"Cousin Owen, say you will stay, please; we want you, dolly and me!"</p> + +<p>He was shaking with the emotion that had almost overpowered him and yet +his boyish heart seemed to be filled with satisfaction and delight over +the way all things had come about.</p> + +<p>That strong and desperate man had not been able to make him yield an +inch, and yet here he was ready to fall down and admit himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> a +prisoner, simply because a child had called him "cousin."</p> + +<p>He felt that he could not go back to the tent while in such a disturbed +state of mind, and accordingly wandered away to where he might be alone, +with the quiet stars looking down upon him from above.</p> + +<p>How many times in the past had he stood under this same starry heavens +and wrestled with the problems that beset his way; but never with the +tingling sensation of new-found happiness that now filled his whole +being.</p> + +<p>As he stood there in the stillness some distance away from the outer +walls of the grim stockade Owen seemed to feel that the spirit of his +gentle mother was with him again, and he knew she would approve of the +resolve he had made since learning about the cousin, of whose existence +up to now he had never known.</p> + +<p>And while he stood there a star swept like a glorious meteor across the +wide expanse of the night sky, filling his soul with awe, for it seemed +to him as though he had thus been given a sign from heaven that his +course met with approval there among the shining ones above.</p> + +<p>Long he stood there and pondered, not that he had need to take himself +to task, because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> his course was already mapped out, but the gates of +the past had been opened by these discoveries, and he could in +imagination see his mother walking about these scenes she had so often +described to him, a fair young girl, with golden hair and blue eyes, so +like the cherub who was doubtless still in the loving arms of her doting +grandfather, the stern czar of the Hudson Bay post.</p> + +<p>So had it all come out right, events being guided by some mysterious +power that shaped them to the best end, and Owen was satisfied.</p> + +<p>When he finally turned about, since the hour was getting very late, and +started to once more enter through the gates which would soon be closed, +he heaved a sigh, but not of anxiety or grief; rather did his spirit +rejoice that the long battle with his better nature was over at last and +that the right had won out.</p> + +<p>How wonderful were the ways of Providence after all, and how small must +the plans of mortal man seem in comparison; he had been brought back to +the post really against his will, and yet see what had come of it; +already had he been enabled by his presence to save the sweet child from +falling into the hands of her unscrupulous father, and thus won the +heart of the old factor as he could have done in no other way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span></p> + +<p>And Owen had not a single regret as he turned in at the gate, and headed +for that corner of the stockade where the tent that was to serve them as +a shelter had been erected earlier in the evening.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XX." id="CHAPTER_XX."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2><h3>THE TENT DWELLERS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Somehow Cuthbert could not get to sleep.</p> + +<p>He was constantly thinking of Owen and his fortunes, weaving castles in +the air that might be fulfilled, providing the sturdy young Canuck could +be convinced that it was right and proper for him to become reconciled +with his grandfather, and let bygones be forgotten.</p> + +<p>So an hour or two passed.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert finally arose and cast his blanket aside, for he had not made +use of his sleeping bag on this night.</p> + +<p>Stepping out of the tent he looked around; the night was fair and not a +sign of trouble could be detected in atmosphere or sky, for the heavenly +monitors shone overhead with their usual brilliancy, and there was not +much of a tang in the drowsy night wind.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert thought it suspiciously quiet, knowing how it often grows calm +before a storm.</p> + +<p>Really he was beginning to feel worried a bit about the non-appearance +of Owen, when he caught the soft sound of footsteps and the object of +his solicitude appeared close by.</p> + +<p>"Hello, keeping watch?" he asked, a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> surprised to find one of his +companions up and looking around.</p> + +<p>"No, I just happened to wake up, and not finding you in the shack, crept +out to take a peep around, and see if there was any sign of your coming. +I had begun to fear our mutual friends, Stackpole and Dubois, might have +waylaid you, old fellow; but now I see I was wrong. You've been taking a +bit of exercise, no doubt—didn't get enough on our way here, eh? It did +me up, all right, and I was glad to drop down and rest. Now you're in +camp I'll resume my nap," answered Cuthbert, leaving it to the other as +to whether he wanted to explain.</p> + +<p>Owen seemed a trifle confused, but he was a straightforward fellow and +without a trace of guile in his make-up.</p> + +<p>"To confess the truth, Cuthbert, I hung around for a long time to get a +glimpse of that little cousin you spoke of, and fortune was kind enough +to let me see her several times. Just as you say, she looks like a fairy +and somehow made me think of a picture I have of my mother when she was +young. I had quite a little talk with her, too, which made it very +pleasant. And while I'm about it I might as well own up that the sight +of her, together with the thoughts swarming into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> my mind, caused me to +finally wander off into the woods, where alone I could fight the whole +thing out and come to such a conclusion as the mother I loved would have +had me do. It's been a hard tussle, I tell you, but I think I've won +out," he said, with a quiver in his voice, and it was easy to see that +the lad had been recently racked by emotions that for some time he had +succeeded in keeping under restraint.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert understood better than words could have told him what the +nature of that battle under the stars must have been, and to show his +sympathy for this new but dear chum he impulsively thrust out his hand +and gripped that of Owen.</p> + +<p>"I'm awful glad to know it—say no more, old fellow, for I can give a +pretty good guess how it turned out. Come, tumble into your blankets and +get some of your beauty sleep. There's another day coming, when I hope +all of these twists and misunderstandings may be smoothed out and +everything look bully. Now, crawl in and feel for your nest—it's on the +side to the right, first blanket."</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit," said Owen, "there's something else you ought to know. +Perhaps you heard all that racket awhile ago. Well, I was partly the +cause of that," and then he went on to tell the wondering Cuthbert what +a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> strange thing had occurred while he was still lingering near the room +that held Jessie Ferguson.</p> + +<p>The Virginia lad was also pleased, because he knew the reconciliation +could not be much longer delayed, and presently he lay down once more to +sleep.</p> + +<p>Owen was accustomed to turning in all standing, as a sailor would +say—that is, with simply pulling off his boots or moccasins, whichever +he chanced to be wearing, for a life in the woods does not allow of the +customary preparations for bed; even the other two boys only removed +their outer garments, though when the weather had been milder Cuthbert +had indulged in the delight of pajamas; but the first frost had chilled +his ardor in that line, and he had gradually come to copying Eli, who +had the habits of the loggers of the great Michigan woods and waived all +ceremony.</p> + +<p>When ten minutes had passed Cuthbert fancied from the regular breathing +that came from the spot where the Canadian lad lay that he was far along +the road to the Land of Nod, and giving a satisfied grunt, he himself +turned over, to let himself slip away on the tide.</p> + +<p>Those who spend much time in the woods, in camps are restless during the +night, and rarely sleep through without once or twice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> arousing, lifting +their head to listen through habit or caution, or even crawling out to +renew the fire.</p> + +<p>True, there was no need of these things now with our boys, but +nevertheless Cuthbert seemed to rest under the impression that it would +not be a good thing to break a settled habit, and so along about one +o'clock in the morning he poked his head out of the tent to take a +perfunctory look around, just as an old and tarry sailor, from habit, +jerks his head up while passing along the street of a city, not so much +to survey the skyscrapers that tower above him, but from sheer habit of +glancing aloft at the shivering sails of the old hooker upon which he +labors twenty hours of the day.</p> + +<p>He found that the sky was covered with clouds, and there was beginning +to be quite some wind—indeed, it may have been a corner of the tent +which was whipping monotonously in each rising gust that had aroused +him.</p> + +<p>Anyhow, he bent down and secured the flapping end, so that it would not +awaken the others with its antics, after which he took another survey of +the situation and again crawled under cover, convinced that by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> dawn +they might anticipate a storm of some kind.</p> + +<p>It was a bit pleasant to know that they were now in such a decent sort +of shelter and could keep quite dry, no matter how the rain came down, +and if it so happened that the first real touch of winter was sprung +upon them, why surely it would not be hard to keep cozy, with plenty of +wood to burn and a storehouse so close at hand, from which any amount of +provisions could be obtained, since he possessed the "open sesame" in +the way of cash.</p> + +<p>He thought he heard Owen move as he crawled back into the tent again, +but was not quite positive, and he did not want to arouse both of the +others, in case they were asleep, by asking questions.</p> + +<p>The last he remembered after that for some time was of lying there and +listening to the increasing moan of the wind among the tops of the great +hemlocks that stood close by the corner of the stockade; it seemed after +a time like a lullaby soothing him to sleep, for Cuthbert was too old a +hand at this sort of game to allow himself to grow nervous over the +coming of a little whirl, such as this no doubt would prove to be.</p> + +<p>Then he lost consciousness and slept heavily,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> unmindful of the wind, +the mournful hoot of a great northern owl in the dead tree nearby, or +even the howls of big gray timber wolves grown bold with the nearness of +winter.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2><h3>AT DEAD OF NIGHT.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Some one, violently shaking him, brought Cuthbert once more to his +senses, and he aroused to the fact that it was Eli, who kept shouting in +his ear:</p> + +<p>"Wake up—wake up, there's the dickens to pay—pile out and help, old +man—they need us bad—get up, I say, get up!"</p> + +<p>That was certainly quite sufficient to thoroughly arouse any one, no +matter if he had been a sluggard, and surely Cuthbert could never be +called that; so, with a toss of the blankets, he scrambled to his feet; +then, remembering that he was in his socks, he hastened to snatch up his +boots and pull them on.</p> + +<p>All this only took a few seconds of time, but during the brief period +Cuthbert was dazed with the awful clamor that was making the welkin ring +without, for it seemed as though every known sound had been accumulated +to help carry out the idea that Gabriel was blowing his last trumpet, +with the end of the world close at hand.</p> + +<p>He knew men were shouting madly, and from the voices it was plain that +those who thus gave tongue were both Cree Indians and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> Canadian +<i>voyageurs</i>, for the latter had gone back to their French tongue with +the advent of excitement—then it struck the Virginia lad that another +sound which he had heard was very much along the line of the roaring +flames, and immediately the conviction forced itself upon him that in +some manner the forest close by had been fired, perhaps by some enemy of +the factor, such as Dubois or Stackpole, and that there was danger of +the conflagration leaping the barrier and attacking the houses within +the compound.</p> + +<p>No sooner had he thrust his nose outside the tent than he gave utterance +to an exclamation of mingled surprise and consternation.</p> + +<p>It was a fire all right, but not of the species he had suspected—the +roaring sound was produced by the wind whipping the flames into the +angry flood, but it was hewn timber, not erect trees, that were ablaze, +one of the houses, in fact, with an end a seething mass of flames.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert knew not what to think, save that possibly some enemy had done +this; but he was quick to lend his aid to save whatever the contents +might be.</p> + +<p>Accordingly he hastened in that quarter.</p> + +<p>Already he had discovered that while he slept a storm had swept down +upon the region of the Saskatchewan, and was howling through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span> the forest +and over the waters with demoniac glee, though as yet not a drop of rain +had fallen, or a flake of snow descended, though one or the other must +come in time.</p> + +<p>But that mad breeze was a bad thing for a fire, since it would whip the +flames until they tore loose from all human control, to carry ruin in +their train.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was not alone in his rush toward the burning building, since +from various directions human figures were to be seen centering in that +quarter, for the employes of the fur company were certainly loyal and +willing to do all that men might in order to save property or lives.</p> + +<p>At first Cuthbert imagined that it was the storehouse, and while the +burning of its contents might cause some inconvenience, there was still +time to replenish the stock before winter set in fully, so that it +seemed to be only a question of a money loss at the most.</p> + +<p>But as he advanced, his eyes trying to pierce the cloud of smoke that +hung all about the burning building, he began to sense the import of the +wild cries that were being uttered about him, a Cree shouting to a +<i>voyageur</i>, or it might be one of the French halfbreeds to a fellow, and +as the nature of their shouts broke in upon his intelligence, he felt a +new thrill of alarm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span></p> + +<p>It was not the store building, but the residence portion that was afire, +and Cuthbert remembered like a flash that the little cousin of Owen had +her quarters there, as well as the old factor.</p> + +<p>He looked around hurriedly, expecting to see both close by, but to his +horror failed to do so.</p> + +<p>What could it mean—where was the sturdy head of the post, the +Scotchman, who, despite his age, had seemed to the boys so like an +oak—was it possible, after all, there could be something fiendish back +of this conflagration, and that Alexander Gregory had been first of all +stricken in his house before the match was applied?</p> + +<p>It was an awful thought, enough to make Cuthbert's blood run cold, but +before he could communicate his fears to any one he heard a roar as of a +lion, and saw the factor come tumbling through smoke and flame—he +rolled over upon the earth once or twice, while the Virginia lad fairly +held his breath in suspense, fearing that the valiant old chap might +have received his death wound while battling with the flames; then, to +the delight of Cuthbert, the factor struggled to his feet and began to +hobble around as if he had a broken leg, meanwhile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span> shouting out orders +in that foghorn voice that made men spring to obey.</p> + +<p>But the little one. Where was she? The factor evidently believed Jessie +must have come forth some time back, for he was not ordering the men to +<i>try</i> and save the stricken building, but to devote their energies +toward keeping the flames away from the storehouse.</p> + +<p>Even as Cuthbert watched as in a dream he saw the factor try to walk, +but immediately fall down, to be assisted to his feet again by a couple +of the men.</p> + +<p>Then came a flying figure up to his side—it was Owen, who had once +vowed never to speak to this relative again so long as he lived, but +whom Cuthbert knew had just recently repented of this resolution and was +ready to meet his grandfather half way in the morning.</p> + +<p>He seemed to seize upon the old man and shout something at him—just +what it was Cuthbert could not hear, so furious was the whoop of the +wind and the roar of the sweeping flames; but he guessed it to the dot, +for he knew beyond a doubt that the Canadian lad was demanding to be +told where the girl slept, for she had not been seen since the fire +broke out.</p> + +<p>Old Gregory became a frantic man on the spot, for his whole life was +wrapped up in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> the little fairy; he tried to rush forward himself, but +went down in a heap, struggled to his knees, with Owen gripping his arm +fiercely and continuing to shrill that question into his ear, until at +last in despair the old factor thrust out his hand and with quivering +finger pointed at the end of the burning domicil, being utterly unable +to frame a single word, speech failing him.</p> + +<p>It was quite enough for Owen.</p> + +<p>Like an arrow shot from the bow he sped straight into the smoke and +flame.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert gave a gasp and feared he had seen the last of his new chum, +but he felt a thrill of admiration because of the daring act—it was +worth while to realize that his first estimation of the Canadian lad had +been correct, and that when the occasion called for an exhibition of +valor Owen had risen to meet it in a way that must excite admiration +among all men who honored true bravery.</p> + +<p>The picture was one that would never fade from the mind of +Cuthbert—leaning up against one of the palisades Alexander Gregory +seemed turned into stone, as he watched the spot where the lad had +vanished, wringing his hands in the intensity of his anxiety—twice he +made a spasmodic movement as though intending to hobble forward and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span> +plunge into that vortex of fierce flame himself, but each time a groan +was forced from his lips when he discovered that his leg was really +useless, the sprain being serious.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert wished he knew of something that he could do to assist, but +since the other had vanished there was no sign, and to simply follow +after him would mean a triple tragedy, an altogether useless sacrifice.</p> + +<p>Eli was at his elbow and together they pushed as close to the burning +walls as possible, eagerly scanning the windows above for the first sign +of Owen and meanwhile shouting at some halfbreeds, who were staggering +under the weight of a ladder which they had found close by and guessed +might be useful in some sort of an emergency.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert held his breath.</p> + +<p>He really had very little hope of ever seeing his new friend again, for +there did not seem to be one chance in a dozen for any one to issue +forth from that fiery furnace alive, since this was not the day of +miracles.</p> + +<p>It was like an age to him, though in all probability but a minute had +really crept by since Owen vanished through the doorway, and yet during +that interval the fire had gained more headway, despite all efforts of +the gathered employes of the Hudson Bay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span> Company to smother it with +water, pumped through a hose and by means of an old hand engine kept +against just such an emergency.</p> + +<p>A hand gripped Cuthbert's arm and turning his head quickly he found that +it was Eli who had thus unconsciously caught hold of him—possibly the +tremendous excitement had weakened the backwoods lad, so that he +clutched at support; but he was staring upward toward one of the +windows, as though some movement might have caught his attention there.</p> + +<p>His campmate naturally enough cast his eyes in the same quarter, as if +sudden hope had sprung into existence; but it was to see the flames +shoot out of the window in a manner that must have utterly precluded the +possibility of Owen making an exit there.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert groaned aloud, filled with dismay—it was a horrible thought +thus thrust upon his mind, for there is something unusually agonizing in +a death by fire; and it seemed as though the last chance had gone when +the demon of the flames thrust his grinning visage out of that window.</p> + +<p>Then Eli gave vent to a sudden shout close to his ear, so that he heard +what was said even above the frightful roar of the wind and crackle of +flames:</p> + +<p>"The roof—look up yonder over the eaves—hurra,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> he's got her—bully +for Owen, I say!" was what Eli shrieked.</p> + +<p>Wonderful to say, the brave Canadian lad had indeed pushed out through +some sort of trap or scuttle in the sloping roof, the presence of which +seemed to be unknown to him; and just as Eli had declared, he was +carrying a little limp figure in his stout and willing arms, none other +than his cousin Jessie, the darling of the old factor's heart.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was stricken dumb for the moment, it all seemed so like the +hand of Providence directing things so that the wandering boy might come +into his own.</p> + +<p>Gregory gave out a cry that was more like a roar of exultation, for he +had been down in the depths of despair, and the sight of his lissome +lassie still in the land of the living acted like a spur upon him—he +stretched out his arms in the direction of those upon the roof, and +again endeavored to hasten toward them, only to fall over once more +helpless upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Then Cuthbert awoke to the fact that while his chum had done a bold +thing, and for the moment cheated the flames of their intended +sacrifice, he was not yet safe, for all around the flashing tongues of +fire gathered for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> last effort at accomplishing the dread work, so +that the twain above seemed hemmed in.</p> + +<p>So Cuthbert shouted to those who carried the hose, and forced them to +turn the stream of water upon one spot where the fire was weakest; +rushing at those who were staggering forward bearing the ladder, he +seized hold of the blessed thing and urged them to raise it against the +wall at that particular point.</p> + + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;'> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXII." id="CHAPTER_XXII."></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2><h3>CONCLUSION.</h3> +</div> + +<p>Eli was determined to be in the game, too, and while his chum was thus +engaged in creating a chance for the escape of the two upon the roof, +the boy from the timber region hustled several men forward, bearing +armfuls of pelts that others had just drawn from the lower floor of the +house—they were especially costly skins, and the lot might be worth a +duke's ransom; but at the moment, with those two precious lives in +peril, to the anxious factor they were as dross, and he would only too +willingly have stood the loss of the whole kit could he by this means +have saved the one so dear to his old heart.</p> + +<p>With these Eli meant to fashion some sort of buffer, that would break +the fall should the couple above find themselves compelled to jump; and +it was a splendid scheme to be formed on the spur of that dreadful +moment, one that Cuthbert never could forget, or cease to praise.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, he was pretty busily employed at his own affair, placing the +ladder against the building, and directing those who had held<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> the hose +to keep the stream of water chasing up and down that particular quarter.</p> + +<p>Owen could not see everything that was being tried; but he knew fairly +well what they intended he should do, and once assured of the presence +of the ladder, he did not hesitate about using the same.</p> + +<p>What if the fiery fingers did snatch after him as if furious at being +cheated of their prey—the blessed stream of water, cold with the frosty +breath of the approaching winter, showered about him, and saved them +both from even a serious burn.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert was waiting at the foot of the ladder, ready to spring up and +render quick assistance if it was necessary; but Owen still remained in +possession of his powers, and gripped the little girl securely in his +arms.</p> + +<p>It was as if a new life had suddenly opened up to the lonely lad—this +one whom he had saved from the deadly gas and fire was his own kith and +kin, daughter of his mother's sister; and the very touch of the girl's +senseless form was able to send a thrill of exultation through him.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert did not attempt to take the burden from him, for he understood +just what it meant for Owen to bring the girl to her grandfather by +himself; so he fell in behind,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> calling to the men to desist with their +stream, to turn it upon the storehouse, while others gathered up the +costly skins that had been thrown down with such good intent.</p> + +<p>Alexander Gregory had struggled to his feet again—little did he heed +the pains that accompanied his sprain, even though the misadventure +crippled him for the time being, and rendered it difficult to stand +without help; for his attention was wholly taken up with that still +little form that Owen was hugging in his stalwart and affectionate arms.</p> + +<p>Jessie had been almost smothered by the smoke; but her rescuer, knowing +how perilous such a thing might be, had been careful to wrap something +around her head, so that after that the atmosphere reached her less +permeated by noxious gases; and when Owen gained the ground she had so +far recovered as to struggle enough to free her head from this +enveloping mantle, and make a movement as though desirous of being +released.</p> + +<p>But Owen, partly overcome himself by the smoke he had taken into his +lungs, did not fully understand, and staggering up to the old factor he +held out his burden, gasping:</p> + +<p>"Here she is, grandfather, safe and sound!"</p> + +<p>Cuthbert held his breath, and then suddenly gave vent to a shout of joy; +for just as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> hoped, even if he did not wholly expect it to occur, the +factor, wild with delight and thankfulness, simply stretched his arms +and gathered into his embrace both girl and lad.</p> + +<p>Owen was a wanderer no more; but had found his own in the heart of his +grandsire. It was a splendid ending to the little forest drama, and +Cuthbert was the happiest fellow on the face of the earth at that +moment; for he had in the short time he had known Owen grown to feel +very warmly toward the manly young Canadian, and nothing that could have +happened to himself might have given him one-half the pleasure that this +final scene did.</p> + +<p>Eli was a demonstrative chap, and he just squatted down on the spot and +cried for very joy; while he did not know the satisfaction of a home +himself, still he could rejoice over the fact that his friend had ceased +to belong to the grand order of nomads.</p> + +<p>There was still considerable to do, in order to keep the fire within +bounds, for while the living quarters of the factor had gone too far to +be saved, there remained other buildings, some containing stores of +great value, and unless the employes of the company were smart the post +would be practically wiped out.</p> + +<p>So Cuthbert led them to the assault, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span> fought fire as valiantly as +ever any member of an engine company in a crack tournament could have +done in order that his town might win the grand prize offered.</p> + +<p>The hose proved valuable enough; but only for the assistance of the wind +possibly there might have been another story to tell when the fire +finally ceased its mad antics through lack of fuel—it chanced that the +breeze was blowing away from the other buildings, and while the stockade +caught, it could be easily extinguished.</p> + +<p>Of course the factor had met with quite a serious loss; but he seemed to +care mighty little about this, since his precious darling had been +spared; as far as the other things went they could be easily duplicated +before the rigor of winter had fully settled down upon the Saskatchewan +country, and he was well able to stand the penalty in dollars and cents.</p> + +<p>Then there was the pride he took in the valiant rescue work of Owen; his +eyes were continually turning toward the lad with a softened light in +their depths, and it was evident that his heart had become exceedingly +tender with respect to this wandering son of his daughter.</p> + +<p>He several times called Owen to him to ask<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span> if he were certain that he +had not received serious burns while within the blazing house; to +Cuthbert it was plain that this was in part a subterfuge to have the +other near him, since his sprained ankle prevented him from moving +about.</p> + +<p>When morning came he would have a heart-to-heart talk with the lad, and +never again must there be a cloud allowed to rise between them—these +three were all that were left of the family, now, and they must stick +together.</p> + +<p>The factor told Cuthbert what might be done to insure them some degree +of comfort during the remainder of the night, and with the assistance of +the other lads he saw that it was carried out.</p> + +<p>An hour later the excitement had all died away; the spot where the house +of the factor had stood only contained a pile of ruins, still +smouldering, with an occasional tongue of fire shooting upward; but ere +dawn this was fully extinguished by a fall of rain.</p> + +<p>They never fully settled how the fire had caught; it may have been an +accident, but there were those who believed that the prisoner had taken +a hint from Alexander Gregory's bitter words and really fired the house; +at any rate he had disappeared utterly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> whether finding safety in +flight or meeting death in the flames none could say.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gregory was well enough inside of a week to accompany the boys down +the big Saskatchewan to the nearest town where he could obtain those +supplies which were needed to replace what the fire had devoured; they +had a fine time of it swinging along with a couple of great batteaus, +manned by the French-Canadian <i>voyageurs</i>, who sang their boat songs as +they rowed, and made things merry around the fire at night time.</p> + +<p>Cuthbert and Eli hated to part from the chum who had so quickly won his +way to their hearts, and they readily promised to come back again to +this charming country, when another year rolled around—Eli had his mind +set upon working that copper mine, and Cuthbert had promised to see that +the necessary capital was secured with which to provide all the +paraphernalia such as is used to advantage—if his chum was of the same +mind after he had roamed around the world with him.</p> + +<p>Owen's little cousin had accompanied grandpa to town, since a "woman's +judgment" was considered essential in choosing some of the household +effects; and the last glimpse our twain had of dear old Owen, the +erstwhile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> lad, was standing with his arm about Jessie, while the proud +factor beamed upon them both, and waved his hat with just as much +enthusiasm as the youngsters.</p> + +<p>Eli after all never found a chance to develop his copper mine, but with +such a chum as Cuthbert ever with him there promised to be small need of +his looking to that source as a means of travel; together they have seen +nearly all the countries on the map of the world, and at present are +doing South America.</p> + +<p>Stackpole and Dubois had sense enough to cruise in other timber than +that surrounding the trading post.</p> + +<p>So Cuthbert after all had found much pleasure in the great Saskatchewan +region, even though he failed to map out a new route to Alaska, or learn +any of the wonderful secrets hidden in the wide stretches of barrens +between the country of the Crees and the Chippewas, and the lonely +Hudson Bay.</p> + +<p>Many times would his memory go back to the scenes that embraced Owen, +the stern old factor, and sweet little Jessie; and again he would live +over those days and nights when they were "Canoemates in Canada."</p> + +<p style='text-align:center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 3em;'>THE END</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Canoe Mates in Canada, by St. George Rathborne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CANOE MATES IN CANADA *** + +***** This file should be named 19489-h.htm or 19489-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/4/8/19489/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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