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diff --git a/old/30349-h/30349-h.htm b/old/30349-h/30349-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d88caa1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30349-h/30349-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9764 @@ +<!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 The Peace of Roaring River, by George Van Schaick.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; text-indent: 0; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + blockquote {display:block; margin:.75em 5%; font-size:90%;} + h1 {font-size:1.6em;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h2 {font-size:1.4em;} + h3 {font-size:1.2em;} + p.tp {font-size:1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:center;} + + .caption {font-size: 90%; text-align:center;} + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center; width: auto;} + .figtag {height: 1px;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + hr.toprule {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + p.center {text-align: center !important;} + p.ralign {text-align: right !important;} + span.rindent2 {margin: 0; padding:0; text-indent:0; width: 0.8em; display: block; float: right;} + span.rindent4 {margin: 0; padding:0; text-indent:0; width: 1.6em; display: block; float: right;} + span.rindent8 {margin: 0; padding:0; text-indent:0; width: 3.2em; display: block; float: right;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + td.chalgn {text-align:right; margin-top:0; padding-right:1em;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Peace of Roaring River, by George van Schaick + +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: The Peace of Roaring River + +Author: George van Schaick + +Illustrator: W. H. D. Koerner + +Release Date: October 28, 2009 [EBook #30349] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEACE OF ROARING RIVER *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>THE PEACE OF ROARING RIVER</h1> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/f0004-img.jpg' alt='' title='' width='389' height='546' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“God bless you, Madge,” said the man. “I will come soon.” <i>See page 306</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<table style='margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border: black 2px solid;' summary=""> + <tr><td> + <table style='width:22em; margin: 3px 3px; border: black 1px solid;' summary=""> + +<tr><td> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:2.2em;margin-bottom:30px;margin-top:15px;'>THE PEACE OF<br />ROARING RIVER</p> +<p class='tp' >BY</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:20px;'>GEORGE VAN SCHAICK</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:0.7em;margin-bottom:5px;'>AUTHOR OF</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:50px;font-size:0.8em;'>SWEET APPLE COVE,<br />THE SON OF THE OTTER,<br />A TOP-FLOOR IDOL, ETC.</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>W. H. D. KOERNER</p> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td> +<div style='margin:20px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/f0005-img.png' /> +</div> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;'>NEW YORK</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.1em;'>GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;margin-bottom:15px;'>PUBLISHERS</p> +</td></tr> + + </table> + </td></tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:0.9em;font-style:italic;'>Copyright, 1918</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:0.9em;font-variant:small-caps;'>BY SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:0.8em;margin-bottom:10px;'>(INCORPORATED)</p> +<p class='tp' >Second Printing</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Woman Scorned</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_THE_WOMAN_SCORNED'>13</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>What Happened to a Telegram</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_WHAT_HAPPENED_TO_A_TELEGRAM'>26</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Out of a Wilderness</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_OUT_OF_A_WILDERNESS'>42</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>To Roaring River</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_TO_ROARING_RIVER'>71</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>When Gunpowder Speaks</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_V_WHEN_GUNPOWDER_SPEAKS'>102</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Deeper in the Wilderness</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI_DEEPER_IN_THE_WILDERNESS'>124</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Carcajou Is Shocked</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII_CARCAJOU_IS_SHOCKED'>152</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Doubts</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII_DOUBTS'>165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>For the Good Name of Carcajou</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX_FOR_THE_GOOD_NAME_OF_CARCAJOU'>189</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Stefan Runs</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_X_STEFAN_RUNS'>211</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Visit Cut Short</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI_A_VISIT_CUT_SHORT'>223</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Help Comes</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII_HELP_COMES'>237</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Widening Horizon</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII_A_WIDENING_HORIZON'>251</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Hoisting</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV_THE_HOISTING'>279</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Peace of Roaring River</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV_THE_PEACE_OF_ROARING_RIVER'>290</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<col style='width:75%;' /> +<col style='width:25%;' /> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“God bless you, Madge,” said the man. “I will come soon.” <i>See page 306</i></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Truth flashed upon her! In a few moments she would see for the first time the man she was to marry</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>98</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“I’m glad you were not hurt. Rather unexpected, wasn’t it”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>122</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>He put out a brown hand and touched the girl’s arm</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>270</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p style='text-align:center; margin-top:2em;font-size:1.4em;'>THE PEACE OF ROARING RIVER</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></div> +<p style='text-align:center; margin-top:2em;font-size:1.4em;'>THE PEACE OF ROARING RIVER</p> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_THE_WOMAN_SCORNED' id='CHAPTER_I_THE_WOMAN_SCORNED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>The Woman Scorned</span></h3> +</div> +<p>To the village of Carcajou came a young +man in the spring. The last patches of +snow were disappearing from under the protecting +fronds of trees bursting into new leaf. +From the surface of the lakes the heavy ice +had melted and broken, and still lay in shattered +piles on the lee shores. Black-headed +chickadees, a robin or two, and finally swallows +had appeared, following the wedges of +geese returning from the south on their way +to the great weedy shoals of James’ Bay.</p> +<p>The young man had brought with him a +couple of heavy packs and some tools, but this +did not suffice. He entered McGurn’s store, +after hesitating between the Hudson’s Bay +Post and the newer building. A newcomer +he was, and something of a tenderfoot, but he +made no pretence of knowing it all. A gigantic +Swede he addressed gave him valued advice, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +and Sophy McGurn, daughter of the +proprietor, joined in, smilingly.</p> +<p>She was a rather striking girl, of fiery locks +and, it was commonly reported, of no less +flaming temper. To Hugo Ennis, however, +she showed the most engaging traits she possessed. +The youth was good-looking, well +built, and his attire showed the merest trifle +of care, such as the men of Carcajou were unused +to bestow upon their garb. The bill +finally made out by Sophia amounted to some +seventy dollars.</p> +<p>“Come again, always glad to see you,” +called the young lady as Hugo marched out, +bearing a part of his purchases.</p> +<p>For a month he disappeared in the wilderness +and finally turned up again, for a few +more purchases. On the next day he left once +more with Stefan, the big Swede, and nothing +of the two was seen again until August, when +they returned very ragged, looking hungry, +their faces burned to a dull brick color, their +limbs lankier and, if anything, stronger than +ever. The two sat on the verandah of the +store and Hugo counted out money his companion +had earned as guide and helper. +When they entered the store Miss Sophia +smiled again, graciously, and nodded a head +adorned with a bit of new ribbon. There +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +were a few letters waiting for Hugo, which +she handed out, as McGurn’s store was also +the local post-office. The young man chatted +with her for some time. It was pleasant to be +among people again, to hear a voice that was +not the gruff speech of Stefan, given out in a +powerful bass.</p> +<p>“More as two months ve traipse all ofer,” +volunteered the latter. “Ye-es, Miss Sophy, +ma’am, ve vork youst like niggers. Und it’s +only ven ve gets back real handy here, by de +pig Falls, dat ve strike someting vhat look +mighty good. Hugo here he build a good +log-shack. He got de claim all fix an’ vork +on it some to vintertime. Nex spring he say +he get a gang going. Vants me for foreman, +he do.”</p> +<p>This was pleasant news. Hugo would be a +neighbor, for what are a dozen miles or so in +the wilderness? He would be coming back +and forth for provisions, for dynamite, for +anything he needed.</p> +<p>“We had a fine trip anyway, and saw a lot +of country,” declared Hugo, cheerfully.</p> +<p>“Ve get one big canoe upset in country +close in by Gowganda,” said Stefan again. +“Vidout him Hugo I youst git trowned.”</p> +<p>“That wasn’t anything,” exclaimed Hugo, +hastily.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span></div> +<p>“It was one tamn pig ting for me, anyvays,” +declared Stefan, roaring out with contented +laughter.</p> +<p>Miss Sophy was not greatly pleased when +Hugo civilly declined an invitation to have +dinner with her ma and pa. The young man +was disappointing. He spoke cheerfully and +pleasantly but appeared to take scant notice +of her new ribbon, to pay little heed to her +grey-blue eyes.</p> +<p>After this, once or twice a week, Hugo +would come in again, for important or trifling +purchases. It might be a hundred pounds of +flour or merely a new pipe. He was the only +man in Carcajou who took off his cap to her +when he entered the store, but when she would +have had him lean over the counter and chat +with her he seemed to be just as pleased to +gossip with lumberjacks and mill-men, or +even with Indians who might come in for +tobacco or tea and were reputed to have vast +knowledge of the land to the North. Once +he half promised to come to a barn-dance in +which Scotty Humphrey would play the +fiddle, and she watched for him, eagerly, but +he never turned up, explaining a few days +later that his dog Maigan, an acquisition of a +couple of months before, had gone lame and +that it would have been a shame to leave the +poor old fellow alone.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></div> +<p>Sophy met him in the village street and he +actually bowed to her without stopping, as if +there might be more important business in the +world than gossiping with a girl. She began +to feel, after a time, that she actually disliked +him. The station agent, Kid Follansbee, admired +her exceedingly, and had timidly ventured +some words of hopeful flirtation as a +preliminary to more serious proposals. Two +or three other youths of Carcajou only needed +the slightest sign of encouragement, and there +was a conductor of the passenger train who +used to blow kisses at her, once in a while, +from the steps of the Pullman. In spite of all +this Sophy continued to smile and talk softly, +whenever he entered the store, and he would +answer civilly and cheerfully, and ask the +price of lard or enquire for the fish-hooks +that had been ordered from Ottawa. He +would pat the head of the big dog that was +always at his heels, throw a coin on the +counter, slip his change in his pocket and go +out again, as if time had mattered, when, as +she knew perfectly well, he really hadn’t +much to do. The poor fellow, she decided, +was really stupid, in spite of his good looks.</p> +<p>The worst of it all was that some folks had +taken notice of her efforts to attract Hugo’s +attention. The people of Carcajou were good-natured +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +but prone to guffaws. One or two +asked her when the wedding would take +place, and roared at her indignant denials.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile Hugo was utterly ignorant +of the feelings that had arisen in Miss +Sophy McGurn’s bosom. He worked away +at a great rocky ledge, and loud explosions +were not uncommon at the big falls of Roaring +River. Also he cut a huge pile of firewood +against the coming of winter, and, from +time to time, would take a rod and lure from +the river some of the fine red square-tailed +trout that abounded in its waters. A few +books on mining and geology, and an occasional +magazine, served his needs of mental +recreation. A French Canadian family settled +about a mile north of his shack soon grew +friendly with him. There were children he +was welcomed by, and a batch of dogs that +tried in vain to tear Maigan to pieces, until +with club and fang they were taught better +manners. To the young man’s peculiar disposition +such surroundings were entirely satisfactory. +There was a freedom in it, a sense +of personal endeavor, a hope of success, that +tinted his world in gladdening hues.</p> +<p>When autumn came he shouldered his rifle +and went out to the big swampy stretches of +the upper river, where big cow moose and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +their ungainly young, soon to be abandoned, +wallowed in the oozy bottoms of shallow +ponds and lifted their heads from the water, +chewing away at the dripping roots of lily-pads. +There were deer, also, and he caught +sight of one or two big bull-moose but forebore +to shoot, for the antlers were still in velvet +and there was not enough snow on the +ground to sledge the great carcasses home. +He contented himself with a couple of bucks, +which he carried home and divided with his +few neighbors, also bringing some of the meat +to Stefan’s wife at Carcajou. Later on he +killed two of the big flathorns, hung the huge +quarters to convenient trees and went back to +Papineau’s, the Frenchman’s place, for the +loan of his dog-team.</p> +<p>After this came the winter with heavy falls +of snow and cold that sent the tinted alcohol +in the thermometer at the station down very +close to the bulb. Carcajou and its inhabitants +seemed to go to sleep. The village street +was generally deserted. Even the dogs stayed +indoors most of the day, hugging the cast-iron +stoves. At this time all the Indians were away +at their winter hunting grounds, and many of +the lumberjacks had gone further south where +the weather did not prevent honest toil. The +big sawmill was utterly silent and the river, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +wont to race madly beneath the railroad +bridge, had become a jumbled mass of ice and +rock.</p> +<p>The only men who kept up steady work in +and near Carcajou formed the section gang +on the railroad. One day, in the middle of +winter, and in quickly gathering shadows, +Pete Coogan, their foreman, was walking the +track back towards the village and had +reached the big cut whose other end led to +the bridge at Carcajou. The wind bit hard +as it howled through the opening in the hill +and the man walked wearily, pulling away at +a short and extinct pipe and thinking of little +but the comfort that would be his after he +reached his little house and kicked off his +heavy Dutch stockings. A hot and hearty +meal would be ready for him, and after this +he would light another pipe and listen to his +wife’s account of the village doings. Since +before daylight he had been toiling hard with +his men, in a place where tons of ice and snow +had thundered down a mountainside and covered +the rails, four or five feet deep. The +work had been hurried, breathless, anxious, +but finally they had been able to remove the +warning signals after clearing the track in +time to let the eastbound freight thunder by, +with a lowing of cold, starved cattle tightly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +packed and a squealing of hogs by the legion. +A frost-encased man had waived a thickly-mittened +hand at them from the top of a lumber +car, and the day’s work was over, all but +clearing a great blocked culvert, lest an unexpected +thaw or rain might flood the right +of way. To these men it was all in the day’s +work and unconscious passengers snored away +in their berths, unknowing of the heroic toil +their safety required.</p> +<p>So Pete walked slowly, his grizzled head +bent against the blast as he struggled between +the metals, listening. At a sudden shrieking +roar he moved deliberately to one side, his +back resting against a bank of snow left by the +giant circular plough whose progress, on the +previous day, had been that of a slow but irresistible +avalanche. A crashing whistle tore +the air and the wind of the rushing train +pulled at his clothes and swirled sharp flakes +into his eyes. Yet he dimly saw something +white flutter down to his feet and he picked it +up. It chanced to be a paper tossed out by +some careless hand, a rather disreputable +sheet printed some thousand miles away, one +of the things that lie like scabs on the outer +hide of civilization. It was much too dark +and cold for him to think of removing a mitten +and searching for the glasses in his coat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +pocket. But the respect is great, in waste +places, for the printed word. There news of +the great outside world trickles in slowly, and +he carefully stuffed the thing between two of +the big horn buttons of his red-striped +mackinaw.</p> +<p>There were but a few minutes more of toil +for him. At last he passed over the bridge, in +a flurry of swirling ice-crystals, and finally +made his way into McGurn’s store, which is +across the way from the railway depot.</p> +<p>“Cold night,” he announced, stamping his +feet near the door.</p> +<p>“Follansbee he says they report fifty below +at White River,” a man sitting by the stove +informed him.</p> +<p>Coogan nodded and approached the counter.</p> +<p>“Give me a plug, Miss Sophy,” he told the +girl who sat at a rough counter, adding figures. +“The wind’s gettin’ real sharp and I +got the nose most friz off’n my face.”</p> +<p>The girl rose, with a yawn, and handed him +the tobacco. She swept his ten-cent piece in a +drawer and sat down again. One of the men +lounging about the great white-topped stove +in the middle of the room pointed to Coogan’s +coat.</p> +<p>“Ye’re that careless, Pete,” he said. “I +’low that’s a bundle o’ thousand dollar bills +as is droppin’ off’n yer coat.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span></div> +<p>The old section foreman looked down.</p> +<p>“Oh! I’d most forgot. This here’s some +kind o’ paper I picked up on the track. Beats +anything how passengers chucks things off. +Mike Smith ’most got killed last week with +an empty bottle. Lucky he had his big muskrat +cap on. May be ye’d like to see it, Miss +Sophy? Guess my old woman wouldn’t have +no use for it as it don’t seem to have any +picters in it.”</p> +<p>He was about to place it on the counter +when one of the men took it from his hand +and held it under the hanging oil lamp.</p> +<p>“Why!” he chuckled, somewhat raspingly. +“It’s just what Sophy needs real bad. Ye +wants ter study that real careful, Sophy. +It’ll show ye as there’s just as good fish in the +sea as was ever took out of it.”</p> +<p>The girl leaned far out over the counter +and snatched the paper away from him.</p> +<p>“Yes, there’s just as good fish as that there +Ennis lad,” repeated the man.</p> +<p>A single glance had acquainted Sophy with +the title. It was the <i>Matrimonial Journal</i>. +She flung it down to her feet, angrily.</p> +<p>“You get out of here with your Ennis!” +she cried. “I wouldn’t––wouldn’t marry +him if he was the last man on earth. I––I +just despise him!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span></div> +<p>“And that’s real lucky for ye,” snickered +the man. “I heard him say––lemme see––yes, +’bout three-four days ago, as he wasn’t +nowise partial ter carrots. It’s a wegetable +as he couldn’t never bear the sight of.”</p> +<p>The girl’s hand went up to her fine head of +auburn hair and a deep red rose from her +cheeks to its roots. Her narrow lips became a +mere slit in her face and her steely eyes +flashed.</p> +<p>“And––and he’s the kind as thinks himself +a gentleman!” she hissed out. “Get out +o’ here, all of ye! There ain’t a man in Carcajou +as I’d wipe my boots on. Clear out o’ +here, I tell ye!”</p> +<p>The three men left, Pete silently and disapprovingly, +the other two guffawing.</p> +<p>“I don’t believe as how that lad Ennis ever +said anything o’ the kind,” declared the foreman. +“He’s a fine bye, he is, and it ain’t like +him.”</p> +<p>“Of course he didn’t,” the village joker +assured him. “But ’twas too much of a +chance ter get a rise out er Sophy for me to +lose it. Ain’t she the hot-tempered thing? +Just the same she wuz dead sot on gettin’ him, +we all know that, an’ she’s mad clear +through.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t see as yer got any call ter +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +rile the gal, just the same,” ventured Pete. +“Like enough she can’t help herself, she can’t, +and just because she got a temper like a sorrel +mare ain’t no good reason ter be hurtin’ her +feelin’s.”</p> +<p>But the other two chuckled again and +started towards the big boarding-house, whose +ceilings and walls were beautifully covered +with stamped metal plates guaranteed to last +for ever and sell for old iron afterwards. Its +corrugated iron roof, to most of Carcajou’s +population, represented the very last word in +architectural glory.</p> +<p>Within the store Miss Sophy was biting her +nails, excitedly, and felt all the fury of the +woman scorned.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_WHAT_HAPPENED_TO_A_TELEGRAM' id='CHAPTER_II_WHAT_HAPPENED_TO_A_TELEGRAM'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>What Happened to a Telegram</span></h3> +</div> +<p>Customers were rare on such terribly cold +nights. For a long time Sophy McGurn +held her chin in the palm of her hand, staring +about her from time to time, without seeing +anything but the visions her anger evolved. +Presently, however, she took up the small bag +of mail and sorted out a few letters and +papers, placing them in the individual boxes. +But while she worked the heightened color of +her face remained and her teeth often closed +upon her lower lip. There was a postal card +addressed to Hugo Ennis. She turned it over, +curiously, but it proved to be an advertisement +of some sort of machinery and she threw it +from her, impatiently.</p> +<p>“Supper’s ready, Sophy,” cried a shrill +voice. “Train’s in and father’ll be here in a +minute. Get the table fixed.”</p> +<p>“I’m coming,” she answered.</p> +<p>For a minute she busied herself putting +down plates and knives and forks. She heard +her father coming in. He had been away on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +some business at the next station. She heard +him kicking off his heavy felt shoes and he +came into the room in his stocking-feet.</p> +<p>“Hello, Ma! Hello, Sophy! Guess ye’ve +been settin’ too close to the hot stove, ain’t ye? +Yer face is red as a beet.”</p> +<p>“My face is all right!” she exclaimed, +angrily. “Them as don’t like it can look the +other way!”</p> +<p>Her mother, a quiet old soul, looked at her +in silence and dished out the broiled ham and +potatoes. The old gentleman snickered but +forebore to add more fuel to the fire. He was +a prudent man with a keen appreciation of +peace. They sat down. Under a chair the +old cat was playing with her lone kitten, sole +remnant of a large litter. An aggressive clock +with a boldly painted frame was beating +loudly. Beneath the floor the oft-repeated +gnawing of a mouse or rat went on, distractingly. +From the other side of the road, in +spite of double-windows and closed doors, +came the wail of an ill-treated violin.</p> +<p>“One of these days I’m goin’ over to Carreau’s +an’ smash that fiddle,” suddenly asserted +Sophy, truculently. “It’s gettin’ on +my nerves. Talk o’ cats screechin’!”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t do that, Sophy,” advised her +mother, patiently. “Not but what it’s mighty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +tryin’, sometimes, for Cyrille he don’t ever +get further’n them two first bars of ‘The +Campbells are comin’.’”</p> +<p>Sophy sniffed and poured herself out strong +tea. She drank two cups of it but her appetite +was evidently poor, for she hardly touched +her food. Her father was engaged in a long +explanation of the misdeeds of a man who +had sold him inferior pork, as she folded her +napkin, slipped it into her ring, and went +back into the store. Here she sat on her stool +again, tapping the counter with closed +knuckles. Her eyes chanced to fall upon the +paper she had thrown down on the floor, and +she picked it up and began to read. Pete +Coogan, when he had brought it into the store, +unknowingly had set big things in motion. +He would have been amazed at the consequences +of his act.</p> +<p>Presently Sophy became deeply interested. +The pages she turned revealed marvelous +things. Even to one of her limited attainments +in the way of education and knowledge +of the world the artificiality of many of the +advertisements was apparent. Others made +her wonder. It was marvelous that there +were so many gentlemen of good breeding +and fine prospects looking hungrily for soul-mates, +and such a host of women, young or, in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +a few instances, confessing to the early thirties, +seeking for the man of their dreams, for +the companion who would understand them, +for the being who would bring poetry into +their lives. Some, it is true, hinted at far more +substantial requirements. But these, in the +brief space of a few lines, were but hazily revealed. +Among the men were lawyers needing +but slight help to allow them to reach +wondrous heights of forensic prosperity. +There were merchants utterly bound to +princely achievement. Also there was a +sprinkling of foreign gentlemen suggesting +that they might exchange titles of high nobility +for some little superfluity of wealth. Good +looks were not so essential as a kindly, liberal +disposition, they asserted, and also hinted that +youth in their brides was less important than +the quality of bank accounts. The ladies, as +described by themselves, were tall and handsome, +or small and vivacious. Some esteemed +themselves willowy while others acknowledged +Junoesque forms. But all of them, of +either sex, high or short, thin or stout, appeared +to think only of bestowing undying +love and affection for the pure glory of giving, +for the highest of altruistic motives. Other +and more trivial things were spoken of, as a +rule, in a second short paragraph which, to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +the initiated, would have seemed rather more +important than the longer announcements. +At any rate, that which they asked in exchange +for the gifts they were prepared to lavish always +appeared to be quite trivial, at first sight.</p> +<p>Sophy McGurn, as she kept on reading, +was not a little impressed. Yet, gradually, a +certain native shrewdness in her nature began +to assert itself. She had helped her father in +the store for several years and knew that +gaudy labels might cover inferior goods. She +by no means believed all the things she read. +At times she even detected exaggeration, lack +of candor, motives less allowable than the +ones so readily advanced.</p> +<p>“Guess most of them are fakes,” she finally +decided, not unwisely. “But there’s some of +them must get terribly fooled. I––I wonder....”</p> +<p>Her cogitations were interrupted by a small +boy who entered and asked for a stamped envelope. +A few people, later on, came in to +find out if there was any mail for them. But +during the intervals she kept on poring over +those pages. One by one the lights of Carcajou +were going out. Carreau’s fiddle had +stopped whining long before. The cat lay +asleep in the wood-box, near the stove, with +the kitten nestled against her. Old McGurn +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +called down to her that it was time for bed, +but the girl made no answer.</p> +<p>Yes, it was a marvelous idea that had come +to her. She saw a dim prospect of revenge. +It was as if the frosted windows had gradually +cleared and let in the light of the stars. +Hugo Ennis had made a laughing-stock of +her. He didn’t like carrots, forsooth! She +was only too conscious of the failure of her +efforts to attract him. But he had noticed +them and commented on them to others, evidently. +It was enough to make one wild!</p> +<p>The oil in the swinging lamp had grown +very low and the light dim by the time she +finished a letter, in which she enclosed some +money. Then she stamped it and placed it in +the bag that would be taken up in the morning, +for the eastbound express. Finally she +placed the heavy iron bar against the front +door and went up the creaking stairs to her +room as the loud-ticking clock boomed out +eleven strokes, an unearthly hour for Carcajou.</p> +<p>A couple of weeks later a copy of the +<i>Matrimonial Journal</i> was forwarded to +A.B.C., P.O. Box 17, Carcajou, Ontario, +Canada. Miss Sophy McGurn retired with it +to her room, looked nervously out of the window, +lest any one might have observed her, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +and searched the pages feverishly. Yes! +There it was! Her own words appeared in +print!</p> +<blockquote> +<p>A wealthy young man owning a silver mine in Canada +would like to correspond with a young lady who would appreciate +a fine home beside a beautiful river. In exchange +for all that he can bestow upon her he only seeks in the +woman he will marry an affectionate and kindly disposition +suited to his own. Write A.B.C., P.O. Box 17, Carcajou, +Ontario, Can.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>During the next few days it was with unwonted +eagerness that Sophy opened the mail +bags. Finally there came a letter, followed +by five, all in different handwritings and in +the same mail. For another week or ten days +others dribbled in. They were all from different +women, cautiously worded, asking all +manner of questions, venturing upon descriptions +of themselves. Unanimously they proclaimed +themselves bubbling over with affection +and kindliness. The girl was impressed +with the wretched spelling of most of them, +with the evident tone of artificiality, with the +patent fact that the writers were looking for a +bargain. All these letters, even the most +poorly written, gave Sophy the impression +that the correspondents were dangerous +people, she knew not why, and might perhaps +hoist her with her own petard. She studied +them over and over again, with a feeling of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +disappointment, and reluctantly decided that +the game was an unsafe one.</p> +<p>Two days had gone by without a letter to +A.B.C. when at last one turned up. At once it +seemed utterly different, giving an impression +of bashfulness and timidity that contrasted +with the boldness or the caution of the others. +That night, with a hand disguised as best she +could, the girl answered it. She knew that +several days must elapse before she could obtain +a reply and awaited it impatiently. It +was this, in all probabilities, that made her +speak snappishly to people who came to trade +in the store or avail themselves of the post-office.</p> +<p>“I’m a fool,” she told herself a score of +times. “They all want the money to come +here and it must be enough for the return +journey. This last one ain’t thought of it, +but she’ll ask also, in her next letter, I bet. +And I haven’t got it to send; and if I had it I +wouldn’t do so. They might pocket it and +never turn up. And anyway I might be getting +in trouble with the postal authorities. +Guess I better not answer when it comes. I’ll +have to find some other way of getting square +with him.”</p> +<p>By this time she regretted the dollars spent +from her scant hoard for the advertisement, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +but the reply came and the game became a +passionately interesting one. She answered +the letter again, using a wealth of imagination.</p> +<p>“She’ll sure answer this one, but then I’ll +say I’ve changed my mind and have decided +that I ain’t going to marry. Takes me really +for a man, she does. Must be a fool, she must. +And she ain’t asked for money, ain’t that +funny? If she writes back she’ll abuse me +like a pickpocket, anyway. Won’t he be mad +when he gets the letter!”</p> +<p>Sophy’s general knowledge of postal matters +and of some of the more familiar rules of +law warned her that she was skating on thin +ice. Yet her last letter had ventured rather +far. In her first letter she had merely signed +with the initials, but this time she had boldly +used Hugo Ennis’s name. She thought she +would escape all danger of having committed +a forgery by simply printing the letters.</p> +<p>“And besides, there ain’t any one can tell I +ever wrote those letters,” she reassured herself, +perhaps mistakenly. “If there’s ever +any enquiry I’ll stick to it that some one just +dropped them in the mail-box and I forwarded +them as usual. When it comes to her +answers they’ll all be in Box 17, unopened, +and I can say I held them till called for, according +to rules. I never referred to them in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +what I wrote. Just told her to come along +and promised her all sorts of things.”</p> +<p>Again she waited impatiently for an +answer, which never came. Instead of it +there was a telegram addressed to Hugo Ennis, +which was of course received by Follansbee, +the station agent, who read it with eyes +rather widely opened. He transcribed the +message and entrusted it to big Stefan, the +Swede, who now carried mail to a few outlying +camps.</p> +<p>“It’s a queer thing, Stefan,” commented +Joe. “Looks like there’s some woman comin’ +all the way from New York to see yer friend +Hugo.”</p> +<p>“Vell, dat’s yoost his own pusiness, I tank,” +answered the Swede, placidly.</p> +<p>“Sure enough, but it’s queer, anyways. +Did he ever speak of havin’ some gal back +east?”</p> +<p>“If he had it vould still be his own pusiness,” +asserted Stefan, biting off a chew from +a black plug and stowing away the telegram +in a coat pocket. Hugo Ennis was his friend. +Anything that Hugo did was all right. Folks +who had anything to criticize in his conduct +were likely to incur Stefan’s displeasure.</p> +<p>The big fellow’s dog-team was ready. At +his word they broke the runners out of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +snow, barking excitedly, but for the time being +they were only driven across the way to the +post-office for the mail-bag.</p> +<p>Sophy handed the pouch to him, her face +none too agreeable.</p> +<p>“Dat all vhat dere is for Toumichouan?” +asked the man.</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s all,” answered the girl, snappily. +“There’s a parcel here for Papineau +and a letter for Tom Carew’s wife. If you +see any one going by way of Roaring River +tell him to stop there and let ’em know.”</p> +<p>“You can gif ’em to me, too,” said Big +Stefan. “I’m goin’ dat vay. I got one of +dem telegraft tings for Hugo Ennis.”</p> +<p>Sophy rushed out from behind the counter.</p> +<p>“Let me see it!” she said.</p> +<p>“No, ma’am,” said Stefan, calmly. “It is +shut anyvays, de paper is. Follansbee he +youst gif it to me. I tank nobotty open dat +telegraft now till Hugo he get it.”</p> +<p>He tucked the mail-bag and the parcel under +one arm and went out, placing the former in +a box that was lashed to the toboggan. Then +he clicked at his dogs, who began to trot off +easily towards the rise of ground at the side +of the big lake. It was a sheet of streaky +white, smooth or hummocky according to +varying effects of wind and falling levels. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +Far out on its surface he saw two black dots +that were a pair of ravens, walking in dignified +fashion and pecking at some indistinguishable +treasure trove. At the summit of +the rise he clicked again and the dogs went +on faster, the man running behind with the +tireless, flat-footed gait of the trained traveler +of the wilderness.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile old McGurn was busy in +the store and Sophy put on her woollen <i>tuque</i> +and her mitts.</p> +<p>“I’m going over to the depot and see about +that box of Dutch socks,” she announced.</p> +<p>“’T ain’t due yet,” observed her father.</p> +<p>“I’m going to see, anyway,” she answered.</p> +<p>In the station she found Joe Follansbee in +his little office. The telegraphic sounder was +clicking away, with queer sudden interruptions, +in the manner that is so mysterious to +the uninitiated.</p> +<p>“Are you busy, Joe?” she asked him, +graciously.</p> +<p>“Sure thing!” answered the young fellow, +grinning pleasantly. “There’s the usual +stuff. The 4.19 is two hours late, and I’ve +had one whole private message. Gettin’ to be +a busy place, Carcajou is.”</p> +<p>“Who’s getting messages? Old man Symonds +at the mill?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></div> +<p>“Ye’ll have to guess again. It’s a wire all +the way from New York.”</p> +<p>“What was it about, Joe?” she asked, in +her very sweetest manner.</p> +<p>Indeed, the inflection of her voice held +something in it that was nearly caressing. +Kid Follansbee had long admired her, but of +late he had been quite hopeless. He had observed +the favor in which Ennis had seemed +to stand before the girl, and had perhaps been +rather jealous. It was pleasant to be spoken +to so agreeably now.</p> +<p>“We ain’t supposed to tell,” he informed +her, apologetically. “It’s against the rules. +Private messages ain’t supposed to be told to +anyone.”</p> +<p>“But you’ll tell me, Joe, won’t you?” she +asked again, smiling at him.</p> +<p>It was a chance to get even with the man he +deemed his rival and he couldn’t very well +throw it away.</p> +<p>“Well, I will if ye’ll promise not to repeat +it,” he said, after a moment’s hesitation. “It’s +some woman by the name of Madge who’s +wired to Ennis she’s coming.”</p> +<p>“But when’s she due, Joe?”</p> +<p>“It just says ‘Leaving New York this evening. +Please have some one to meet me. +Madge Nelson.’”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span></div> +<p>“For––for the land’s sakes!”</p> +<p>She turned, having suddenly become quite +oblivious of Joe, who was staring at her, and +walked back slowly over the hard-packed +snow that crackled under her feet in the intense +cold.</p> +<p>“I––I don’t care,” she told herself, doggedly. +“I––I guess she’ll just tear his eyes +out when she finds out she’s been fooled. +She’ll be tellin’ everybody and––and they’ll +believe her, of course, and––and like enough +they’ll laugh at him, now, instead of me.”</p> +<p>During this time Stefan rode his light +toboggan when the snow was not too hummocky, +or when the grade favored his bushy-tailed +and long-nosed team. At other times +he broke trail for them or, when the old tote-road +allowed, ran alongside. With all his +fast traveling it took him nearly three hours +to reach the shack that stood on the bank, just +a little way below the great falls of Roaring +River. Here he abandoned the old road that +was so seldom traveled since lumbering operations +had been stopped in that district, owing +to the removal of available pine and spruce. +At a word from him the dogs sat down in +their traces, their wiry coats giving out a thin +vapor, and he went down the path to the log +building. The door was closed and he had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +already noted that no film of smoke came from +the stove-pipe. While it was evident that +Ennis was not at home Stefan knocked before +pushing his way in. The place was deserted, +as he had conjectured. Drawing off his mitt +he ascertained that the ashes in the stove were +still warm. There was a rough table of axe-hewn +boards and he placed the envelope on it, +after which he kindled a bit of fire and made +himself a cup of hot tea that comforted him +greatly. After this it took but a minute to +bind on his heavy snowshoes again and he rejoined +his waiting dogs, starting off once more +in the hard frost, his breath steaming and +once more gathering icicles upon his short and +stubby yellow moustache.</p> +<p>It was only in the dusk of the short winter’s +day that Hugo Ennis returned to his home, +carrying his gun, with Maigan scampering +before him. It was quite dark within the +shack and he placed the bag that had been on +his shoulders upon the table of rough planks. +After this he drew off his mitts and unfastened +his snowshoes after striking a light and +kindling the oil lamp. Then he pulled a +couple of partridges and a cold-stiffened hare +out of the bag, which he then threw carelessly +in a corner. Whether owing to the dampness +of melting snow or the stickiness of fir-balsam +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +on the bottom of the bag, the envelope Stefan +had left for him stuck to it and he never saw +the telegram that had been sent from the far-away +city.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_OUT_OF_A_WILDERNESS' id='CHAPTER_III_OUT_OF_A_WILDERNESS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>Out of a Wilderness</span></h3> +</div> +<p>A couple of days before Sophy’s advertisement +appeared in the <i>Matrimonial +Journal</i> a girl rose from her bed in one of the +female wards of the great hospital on the +banks of the East River, in New York. On +the day before the visiting physician had +stated that she might be discharged. She was +not very strong yet but the hospital needed +every bed badly. Pneumonia and other diseases +were rife that winter.</p> +<p>A kindly nurse carried her little bag for +her down the aisle of the ward and along the +wide corridor till they reached the elevator. +Madge Nelson was not yet very steady on her +feet; once or twice she stopped for a moment, +leaning against the walls owing to slight attacks +of dizziness. The car shot down to their +floor and the girl entered it.</p> +<p>“Good-by and good luck, my dear,” said +the kindly nurse. “Take good care of yourself!”</p> +<p>Then she hurried back to the ward, where +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +another suffering woman was being laid on +the bed just vacated.</p> +<p>Madge found herself on the street, carrying +the little bag which, in spite of its light +weight, was a heavy burden for her. The air +was cold and a slight drizzle had followed the +snow. The chilly dampness made her teeth +chatter. Twice she had to hold on to the iron +rails outside the gates of the hospital, for a +moment’s rest. After this she made a brave +effort and, hurrying as best she could, reached +Third Avenue and waited for a car. There +was room in it, fortunately, and she did not +have to stand up. Further down town she got +out, walked half a block west, and stopped +before a tenement-house, opening the door. +The three flights up proved a long journey. +She collapsed on a kitchen chair as soon as she +entered. A woman who had been in the front +room hastened to her.</p> +<p>“So you’re all right again,” she exclaimed. +“Last week the doctor said ’t was nip and +tuck with you. You didn’t know me when I +stood before ye. My! But you don’t look +very chipper yet! I’ll make ye a cup of hot +tea.”</p> +<p>Madge accepted the refreshment gratefully. +It was rather bitter and black but at +least it was hot and comforting. Then she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +went and sought the little bed in the dim hall-room, +whose frosted panes let in a yellow and +scanty light. For this she had been paying a +dollar and a half a week, and owed for the +three she had spent in the hospital. Fortunately, +she still had eleven dollars between +herself and starvation. After paying out +four-fifty the remainder might suffice until +she found more work.</p> +<p>She was weary beyond endurance and yet +sleep would not come to her, as happens often +to the overtired. Before her closed eyes a +vague panorama of past events unrolled itself, +a dismal vision indeed.</p> +<p>There was the coming to the great city, +after the widowed mother’s death, from a village +up the state. The small hoard of money +she brought with her melted away rather fast, +in spite of the most economical living. But +at last she had obtained work in a factory +where they made paper boxes and paid a +salary nearly, but not quite, adequate to keep +body and soul together. From this she had +drifted to a place where they made shirts. +Here some hundreds of motor-driven sewing-machines +were running and as many girls +bent over the work, feverishly seeking to exceed +the day’s stint and make a few cents +extra. A strike in this place sent her to another, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +with different work, which kept her +busy till the hands were laid off for part of +the summer.</p> +<p>And always, in every place, she toiled doggedly, +determinedly, and her pretty face +would attract the attention of foremen or even +of bosses. Chances came for improvement in +her situation, but the propositions were nearly +always accompanied by smirks and smiles, by +hints never so well covered but that they +caused her heart to beat in indignation and +resentment. Sometimes, of course, they +merely aroused vague suspicions. Two or +three times she accepted such offers. The +result always followed that she left the place, +hurriedly, and sought elsewhere, trudging +through long streets of mercantile establishments +and factories, looking at signs displayed +on bits of swinging cardboard or pasted to +dingy panes.</p> +<p>Throughout this experience, however, she +managed to escape absolute want. She discovered +the many mysteries which, once revealed, +permit of continued existence of a +sort. The washing in a small room, that had +to be done on a Sunday; the making of small +and unnutritious dishes on a tiny alcohol +stove; the reliance on suspicious eggs and +milk turned blue; the purchase of things +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +from push-carts. She envied the girls who +knew stenography and typewriting, and those +who were dressmakers and fitters and milliners, +all of which trades necessitate long apprenticeship. +The quiet life at home had not +prepared her to earn her own living. It was +only after the mother’s death that an expired +annuity and a mortgage that could not be +satisfied had sent her away from her home, to +become lost among the toilers of a big city.</p> +<p>For a year she had worked, and her clothing +was mended to the verge of impending +ruin, and her boots leaked, and she had grown +thin, but life still held out hope of a sort, a +vague promise of better things, some day, at +some dim period that would be reached later, +ever so much later, perhaps. For she had +still her youth, her courage, her indomitable +tendency towards the things that were decent +and honest and fair.</p> +<p>At last she got a better position as saleswoman +in one of the big stores, whereupon +her sky became bluer and the world took on +rosier tints. She was actually able to save a +little money, cent by cent and dime by dime, +and her cheerfulness and courage increased +apace.</p> +<p>It was at this time that typhoid struck her +down and the big hospital saw her for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +first time. For seven long weeks she remained +there, and when finally she was able to return +to the great emporium she found that help +was being laid off, owing to small trade after +the holidays. She sought further but the same +conditions prevailed and she was thankful to +find harder and more scantily paid work in +another factory, in which she packed unending +cases with canned goods that came in a +steady flow, over long leather belts.</p> +<p>So she became thinner again, and wearier, +but held on, knowing that the big stores would +soon seek additional help. The winter had +come again, and with it a bad cough which, +perforce, she neglected. One day she could +not rise from her bed and the woman who +rented a room to her called in the nearest doctor +who, after a look at the patient and a swift, +understanding gaze at the surroundings, ordered +immediate removal to the hospital.</p> +<p>So now she was out of the precincts of suffering +again, but the world had become a very +hard place, an evil thing that grasped bodies +and souls and churned them into a struggling, +crying, weeping mass for which nothing but +despair loomed ahead. She would try again, +however. She would finish wearing out the +soles of her poor little boots in a further hunt +for work. At last sleep came to her, and the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +next morning she awoke feeling hungry, and +perhaps a bit stronger. Some sort of sunlight +was making its way through the murky air. +She breakfasted on a half-bottle of milk and +a couple of rolls and went out again, hollow-eyed, +weary looking, to look for more work.</p> +<p>For the best part of three days she staggered +about the streets of the big city, answering +advertisements found in a penny paper, looking +up the signs calling for help, that were +liberally enough displayed in the manufacturing +district.</p> +<p>Then, one afternoon, she sank down upon a +bench in one of the smaller parks, utterly +weary and exhausted. Beside her, on the seat, +lay a paper which she picked up, hoping to +find more calls for willing workers. But +despair was clutching at her heart. In most +of the places they had looked at her and +shaken their heads. No! They had just found +the help they wanted. The reason of her +disappointments, she realized, lay in the fact +that she looked so ill and weary. They did +not deem her capable of doing the needed +work, in spite of her assurances.</p> +<p>So she held up the paper and turned over +one or two pages, seeking the title. It was the +<i>Matrimonial Journal</i>! It seemed like a scurrilous +joke on the part of fate. What had she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +to do with matrimony; with hopes for a +happy, contented home and surcease of the +never-ending search for the pittance that +might keep her alive? She hardly knew why +she folded it and ran the end into the poor +little worn plush muff she carried. When +she reached her room again she lighted the +lamp and looked it over. It was merely something +with which to pass a few minutes of the +long hours. She read some of those advertisements +and the keen instinct that had become +hers in little less than two years of hard +city life made her feel the lack of genuineness +and honesty pervading those proposals +and requests. When she chanced to look at +that far demand from Canada, however, she +put the paper down and began to dream.</p> +<p>Her earlier and blessed years had been +spent in a small place. Her memory went +back to wide pastures and lowing cattle, to +gorgeously blossoming orchards whose trees +bent under their loads of savory fruit, long +after the petals had fallen. She felt as if she +could again breathe unpolluted air, drink +from clear springs and sit by the edges of +fields and watch the waves of grain bending +with flashes of gold before the breezes. Time +and again she had longed for these things; +the mere thought of them brought a hunger +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +to her for the open country, for the glory of +distant sunsets, for the sounds of farm and +byre, for the silently flowing little river, bordered +with woodlands that became of gold +and crimson in the autumn. She could again +see the nesting swallows, the robins hopping +over grasslands, the wild doves pairing in the +poplars, the chirping chickadees whose tiny +heads shone like black diamonds, as they +flitted in the bushes. The memory of it all +brought tears to her eyes.</p> +<p>What a wonderful outlook this thing presented, +as she read it again. A home by a +beautiful river! A prosperous youth who +needed but kindliness and affection to make +him happy! Why had he not found a suitable +mate in that country? She remembered hearing, +or reading somewhere, that women are +comparatively few in the lands to which men +rush to settle in wildernesses. And perhaps +the women he had met were not of the education +or training he had been accustomed to.</p> +<p>The idea of love, as it had been presented +by the men she had been thrown with, in factory +and office, was repugnant to her. But, +if this was true, the outlook was a different +one. Not for a moment did she imagine that +it was a place wherein a woman might live +in idleness and comparative luxury. No! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +Such a man would require a helpmeet, one +who would do the work of his house, one who +would take care of the home while he toiled +outside. What a happy life! What a wondrous +change from all that she had experienced! +There were happy women in the +world, glorying in maternity, watching eagerly +for the home-coming of their mates, +blessed with the love of a good man and happy +to return it in full measure. It seemed too +good to be true. She stared with moistened +eyes. If this was really so the man had doubtless +already received answers and chosen. +There must be so many others looking like +herself for a haven of safety, for deliverance +from lives that were unendurable. Who was +she that she should aspire to this thing? To +such a man she could bring but health impaired, +but the remnants of her former +strength. In a bit of looking-glass she saw +her dark-rimmed eyes and deemed that she +had lost all such looks as she had once +possessed.</p> +<p>Yet something kept urging her. It was +some sort of a fraud, doubtless. The man +was probably not in earnest. A letter from +her would obtain no attention from him. A +minute later she was seated at the table, in +spite of all these misgivings, and writing to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +this man she had never seen or heard of. She +stated candidly that life had been too hard +for her and that she would do her best to be +a faithful and willing helper to a man who +would treat her kindly. It was a poor little +despairing letter whose words sounded like a +call for rescue from the deep. After she had +finished it she threw it aside, deciding that it +was useless to send it. An hour later she +rushed out of the house, procured a stamp at +the nearest drug-store, and threw the letter in +a box at the street-corner. As soon as it was +beyond her reach she would have given anything +to recall it. Her pale face had become +flushed with shame. A postman came up just +then, who took out a key fastened to a brass +chain. She asked him to give her back her +letter. But he swept up all the missives and +locked the box again, shaking his head.</p> +<p>“Nothing doing, miss,” he told her, gruffly.</p> +<p>Before her look of disappointment he +halted a few seconds to explain some measure, +full of red-tape, by which she might perhaps +obtain the letter again from the post-office. +To Madge it seemed quite beyond the powers +of man to accomplish such a thing. And, +moreover, the die was cast. The thing might +as well go. She would never hear from it +again.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span></div> +<p>The next day she found work in a crowded +loft, poorly ventilated and heated, and came +home to throw herself upon her bed, exhausted. +Her landlady’s children were making +a terrible noise in the next room, and the +racket shot pains through her head. On the +morrow she was at work again, and kept it up +to the end of the week. When she returned on +Saturday, late in the afternoon, with her +meagre pay-envelope in her ragged muff, she +had forgotten all about her effort to obtain +freedom.</p> +<p>“There’s a letter for ye here, from foreign +parts,” announced Mrs. MacRae. “Leastwise +’t ain’t an American stamp.”</p> +<p>Madge took it from her, wondering. A +queer tremor came over her. The man had +written!</p> +<p>Once in her room she tore the envelope +open. The handwriting was queer and irregular. +But a man may write badly and still +be honest and true. And the words she read +were wonderful. This individual, who +merely signed A. B. C., was eager to have her +come to him. She would be treated with the +greatest respect. If the man and the place +were not suited to her she would naturally be +at liberty to return immediately. It was unfortunate +that his occupations absolutely prevented +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +his coming over at once to New York +to meet her. If she would only come he felt +certain that she would be pleased. The hosts +of friends he had would welcome her.</p> +<p>Thus it ran for three pages and Madge +stared at the light, a tremendous longing tearing +at her soul, a great fear causing her heart +to throb.</p> +<p>She forgot the meagre supper she had +brought with her and finally sat down to write +again. Like the first letter it was a sort of +confession. She acknowledged again that life +no longer offered any prospect of happiness +to her. After she looked again in the little +glass she wrote that she was not very good-looking. +To her own eyes she now appeared +ugly. But she said she knew a good deal +about housekeeping, which was true, and was +willing to work and toil for a bit of kindness +and consideration. Her face was again red +as she wrote. There was something in all this +that shocked her modesty, her inborn sense of +propriety and decency. But, after all, she +reflected that men and women met somehow, +and became acquainted. And the acquaintance, +in some cases, became love. And the +love eventuated in the only really happy life +a man or a woman could lead.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></div> +<p>Nearly another week went by before the +second answer arrived. It again urged her to +come. It spoke of the wonderful place Carcajou +was, of the marvel that was Roaring +Falls, of the greatness of the woodlands of +Ontario. Indeed, for one of her limited attainments, +Sophy’s letter was a remarkable +effort. This time the missive was signed in +printed letters: HUGO ENNIS. This +seemed queer. But some men signed in very +puzzling fashion and this one had used this +method, in all likelihood, in order that she +might be sure to get the name right. And it +was a pleasant-sounding name, rather manly +and attractive.</p> +<p>The letter did not seem to require another +answer. Madge stuffed it under her pillow +and spent a restless night. On the next day +her head was in a whirl of uncertainty. She +went as far as the Grand Central Station and +inquired about the price of a ticket to Carcajou. +The man had to look for some time before +he could give her the information. It +was very expensive. The few dollars in her +pocket were utterly inadequate to such a journey, +and she returned home in despair.</p> +<p>On the Monday morning, at the usual hour, +she started for the factory. She was about to +take the car when she turned back and made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +her way to her room again. Her mind was +made up. She would go!</p> +<p>She opened a tiny trunk she had brought +with her from her country home and searched +it, swiftly, hurriedly. She was going. It +would not do to hesitate. It was a chance. +She must take it!</p> +<p>She pulled out a little pocketbook and +opened it swiftly. Within it was a diamond +ring. It had been given to her mother by her +father, in times of prosperity, as an engagement +ring. And she had kept it through all +her hardships, vaguely feeling that a day +might come when it might save her life. She +had gone very hungry, many a time, with that +gaud in her possession. She had felt that she +could not part with it, that it was something +that had been a part of her own dear mother, +a keepsake that must be treasured to the very +last. And now the moment had come. She +placed the little purse in her muff, clenched +her hand tightly upon it, and went out again +into the street.</p> +<p>She looked out upon the thoroughfare in a +new, impersonal way. She felt as if now she +were only passing through the slushy streets +on her way to new lands. From the tracks of +the Elevated Road dripped great drops of +turbid water. The sky was leaden and an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +easterly wind, in spite of the thaw, brought +the chill humidity that is more penetrating +than colder dry frost.</p> +<p>She hastened along the sidewalk flooded +with the icy grime of the last snowfall. It +went through the thin soles of her worn boots. +Once she shivered in a way that was suggestive +of threatened illness and further resort +to the great hospital. Before crossing the +avenue she was compelled to halt, as the great +circular brooms of a monstrous sweeper shot +forth streams of brown water and melting +snow. Then she went on, casting glances at +the windows of small stores, and finally +stopped before a little shop, dark and uninviting, +whose soiled glass front revealed odds +and ends of old jewelry, watches, optical +goods and bric-a-brac that had a sordid aspect. +She had long ago noticed the ancient +sign disposed behind the panes. It bore the +words:</p> +<p>“We buy Old Gold and Jewelry”</p> +<p>For a moment only she hesitated. Her +breath came and went faster as if a sudden +pain had shot through her breast. But at once +she entered the place. From the back of the +store a grubby, bearded, unclean old man +wearing a black skullcap looked at her keenly +over the edge of his spectacles.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span></div> +<p>“I––I want to sell a diamond,” she told +him, uneasily.</p> +<p>He stared at her again, studying her poor +garb, noticing the gloveless hands, appraising +the worn garments she wore. He was rubbing +thin long-fingered hands together and shaking +his head, in slow assent.</p> +<p>“We have to be very careful,” his voice +quavered. “We have to know the people.”</p> +<p>“Then I’ll go, of course,” she answered +swiftly, “because you don’t know me.”</p> +<p>The atmosphere of the place was inexpressibly +distasteful to her and the old man’s +manner was sneaking and suspicious. She +felt that he suspected her of being a thief. +Her shaking hand was already on the doorknob +when he called her back, hurrying +towards her.</p> +<p>“What’s your hurry? Come back!” he +called to her. “Of course I can’t take risks. +There’s cases when the goods ain’t come by +honest. But you look all right. Anyway +’t ain’t no trouble to look over the stuff. Let +me see what you’ve got. There ain’t another +place in New York where they pay such good +prices.”</p> +<p>She returned, hesitatingly, and handed to +him a small worn case that had once been +covered with red morocco. He opened it, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +taking out the ring and moving nearer the +window, where he examined it carefully.</p> +<p>“Yes. It’s a diamond all right,” he admitted, +paternally, as if he thus conferred a +great favor upon her. “But of course it’s +very old and the mounting was done years +and years ago, and it’s worn awful thin. +Maybe a couple of dollars worth of gold, +that’s all.”</p> +<p>“But the stone?” she asked, anxiously.</p> +<p>“One moment, just a moment, I’m looking +at it,” he replied, screwing a magnifying glass +in the socket of one of his eyes. “Diamonds +are awful hard to sell, nowadays––very hard, +but let me look some more.”</p> +<p>He was turning the thing around, estimating +the depth of the gem and studying the +method of its cutting.</p> +<p>“Very old,” he told her again. “They +don’t cut diamonds that way now.”</p> +<p>“It belonged to my mother,” she said.</p> +<p>“Of course, of course,” he quavered, repellently, +so that her cheeks began to feel hot +again. She was deeply hurt by his tone of +suspicion. The sacrifice was bad enough––the +implication was unbearable.</p> +<p>“I don’t think you want it,” she said, +coldly. “Give it back to me. I can perhaps +do better at a regular pawnshop.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span></div> +<p>But he detained her again, becoming +smooth and oily. He first offered her fifty +dollars. She truthfully asserted that her +father had paid a couple of hundred for it. +After long bargaining and haggling he finally +agreed to give her eighty-five dollars and, +worn out, the girl accepted. She was going +out of the shop, with the money, when she +stopped again.</p> +<p>“It seems to me that I used to see pistols, +or were they revolvers, in your show window,” +she said.</p> +<p>He lifted up his hands in alarm.</p> +<p>“Pistols! revolvers! Don’t you know +there’s the Sullivan law now? We ain’t allowed +to sell ’em––and you ain’t allowed to +buy ’em without a license––a license from +the police.”</p> +<p>“Oh! That’s a pity,” said Madge. “I’m +going away from New York and I thought it +might be a good idea to have one with me.”</p> +<p>The old man looked keenly at her again, +scratching one ear with unkempt nails. Finally +he drew her back of a counter, placing a +finger to his lips.</p> +<p>“I’m taking chances,” he whispered. +“I’m doing it to oblige. If ye tell any one +you got it here I’ll say you never did. My +word’s as good as yours.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span></div> +<p>“I tell you I’m going away,” she repeated. +“I––I’m never coming to this city again––never +as long as I live. But I want to take +it with me.”</p> +<p>When she finally went out she carried a +cheap little weapon worth perhaps four dollars, +and a box of cartridges, for which she +paid him ten of the dollars he had handed +out to her. It was with a sense of inexpressible +relief that she found herself again +on the avenue, in spite of the drizzle that was +coming down. The air seemed purer after +her stay in the uninviting place. Its atmosphere +as well as the old man’s ways had made +her feel as if she had been engaged in a very +illicit transaction. She met a policeman who +was swinging his club, and the man gave her +an instant of carking fear. But he paid not +the slightest heed to her and she went on, +breathing more freely. It was as if the great +dark pall of clouds hanging over the city was +being torn asunder. At any rate the world +seemed to be a little brighter.</p> +<p>She went home and deposited her purchase, +going out again at once. She stopped at a +telegraph office where the clerk had to consult +a large book before he discovered that +messages could be accepted for Carcajou in +the Province of Ontario, and wrote out the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +few words announcing her coming. After +this she went into other shops, carefully consulting +a small list she had made out. Among +other things she bought a pair of stout boots +and a heavy sweater. With these and a very +few articles of underwear, since she could +spare so little, she returned to the Grand Central +and purchased the needed ticket, a long +thing with many sections to be gradually torn +off on the journey. Berths on sleepers, she +decided, were beyond her means. Cars were +warm, as a rule, and as long as she wasn’t +frozen and starving she could endure anything. +Not far from the house she lived in +there was an express office where a man +agreed to come for her trunk, in a couple of +hours.</p> +<p>Then she climbed up to Mrs. MacRae’s.</p> +<p>“I’m going to leave you,” announced the +girl. “I––I have found something out of +town. Of course I’ll pay for the whole +week.”</p> +<p>The woman expressed her regret, which +was genuine. Her lodger had never been +troublesome and the small rent she paid +helped out a very poor income mostly derived +from washing and scrubbing.</p> +<p>“I hope it’s a good job ye’ve found, child,” +she said. “D’ye know for sure what kind o’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +place ye’re goin’ to? Are you certain it’s all +right?”</p> +<p>“Oh! If it isn’t I’ll make it so,” answered +Madge, cryptically, as she went over to her +room. Here, from beneath the poor little +iron bed, she dragged out a small trunk and +began her packing. For obvious reasons this +did not take very long. It was a scanty trousseau +the bride was taking with her to the other +wilderness. After her clothes and few other +possessions had been locked in, the room +looked very bare and dismal. She sat on the +bed, holding a throbbing head that seemed +very hot with hands that were quite cold. +After a time the expressman came and removed +the trunk. There was a lot of time +to spare yet and Madge remained seated. +Thoughts by the thousand crowded into her +brain––the gist of them was that the world +was a terribly harsh and perilous place.</p> +<p>“I––I can’t stay here any longer!” she +suddenly decided, “or I’ll get too scared to +go. I––I must start now! I’ll wait in the +station.”</p> +<p>So she bade Mrs. MacRae good-by, after +handing her a dollar and a half, and received +a tearful blessing. Then, carrying out a small +handbag, she found herself once more on the +sidewalk and began to breathe more freely. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +The die was cast now. She was leaving all +this mud and grime and was gambling on a +faint chance of rest and comfort, with her +dead mother’s engagement ring, the very last +thing of any value that she had hitherto managed +to keep. It was scarcely happiness that +she expected to find. If only this man might +be good to her, if only he placed her beyond +danger of immediate want, if only he treated +her with a little consideration, life would become +bearable again!</p> +<p>As she walked along the avenue the pangs +of hunger came to her, keenly. For once she +would have a sufficient meal! She entered a +restaurant and ordered lavishly. Hot soup, +hot coffee, hot rolls, a dish of steaming stew +with mashed potatoes, and finally a portion of +hot pudding, furnished her with a meal such +as she had not tasted for months and months. +A sense of comfort came to her, and she placed +five cents on the table as a tip to the girl who +had waited on her. She was feeling ever so +much better as she went out again. She had +spent fifty cents for one meal, like a woman +rolling in wealth. At a delicatessen shop she +purchased a loaf of bread and a box of crackers, +with a little cold meat. She knew that +meals on trains were very expensive.</p> +<p>As she reached the station she felt that she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +had burned her bridges behind her. She +could never come back, since the few dollars +that were left would never pay for her return.</p> +<p>“But I’m not coming back,” she told herself +grimly. “I’m my own master now.”</p> +<p>She felt the bottom of her little bag. Yes, +the pistol was there, a protector from insult +or a means towards that end she no longer +dreaded.</p> +<p>“No! I’ll never come back!” she repeated +to herself. “I’ll never see this city +again. It––it’s been too hard, too cruelly +hard!”</p> +<p>The girl was glad to sit down at last on one +of the big benches in the waiting-room. It +was nice and warm, at any rate, and the seat +was comfortable enough. Her arm had begun +to ache from carrying the bag, and she +had done so much running about that her legs +felt weary and shaky. A woman sitting opposite +looked at her for an instant and turned +away. There was nothing to interest any one +in the garments just escaping shabbiness, or +in the pale face with its big dark-rimmed eyes. +People are very unconscious, as a rule, of the +tragedy, the drama or the comedy being +enacted before their eyes.</p> +<p>Gradually Madge began to feel a sense of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +peace stealing over her. She was actually +beginning to feel contented. It was a chance +worth taking, since things could never be +worse. And then there was that thing in her +bag. Presently a woman came to sit quite +close to her with a squalling infant in her +arms and another standing at her knee. She +was a picture of anxiety and helplessness. +But after a time a man came, bearing an old +cheap suit-case tied up with clothes-line, who +spoke in a foreign tongue as the woman +sighed with relief and a smile came over her +face.</p> +<p>Yes! That was it! The coming of the man +had solved all fears and doubts! There was +security in his care and protection. With a +catch in her breathing the girl’s thoughts flew +over vast unknown expanses and went to that +other man who was awaiting her. Her vivid +imagination presented him like some strange +being appearing before her under forms that +kept changing. The sound of his voice was a +mystery to her and she had not the slightest +idea of his appearance. That advertisement +stated that he was young and the first letter +had hinted that he possessed fair looks. Yet +moments came in which the mere idea of him +was terrifying, and this, in swiftly changing +moods, changed to forms that seemed to bring +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +her peace, a surcease of hunger and cold, of +unavailing toil, of carking fear of the morrow.</p> +<p>At times she would look about her, and the +surroundings would become blurred, as if she +had been weeping. The hastening people +moved as if through a heavy mist and the +announcer’s voice, at intervals, boomed out +loudly and called names that suggested nothing +to her. Again her vision might clear and +she would notice little trivial things, a bewildered +woman dragging a pup that was +most unwilling, a child hauling a bag too +heavy for him, a big negro with thumbs in +the armholes of his vest, yawning ponderously. +For the hundredth time she looked at +the big clock and found that she still had over +an hour to wait for her train. Again she lost +sight of the ever-changing throngs, of the +massive structure in which she seemed to be +lost, and the roar of the traffic faded away in +the long backward turning of her brain, delving +into the past. There was the first timid +yet hopeful coming to the big city and the +discovery that a fair high-school education, +with some knowledge of sewing and fancywork, +was but poor merchandise to exchange +for a living. Her abundance of good looks, +at that time, had proved nothing but a hindrance +and a danger. Then had come the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +bitter toil for a pittance, and sickness, and the +hospital, and the long period of convalescence +during which everything but the ring had +been swept away. She had met the sharp +tongues of slatternly, disappointed landladies, +while she looked far and wide for work. At +first she had been compelled to ask girls on +the street for the meaning of cards pasted on +windows or hanging in doorways. Words +such as “Bushel girls on pants” or “Stockroom +assistants” had signified nothing to her. +Month by month she had worked in shops +and factories where the work she exacted +from her ill-nourished body sapped her +strength and thinned her blood. Nor could +she compete with many of the girls, brought +up to such labor, smart, pushing, inured to an +existence carried on with the minimum of +food and respirable air.</p> +<p>The red came to her cheeks again as she +remembered insults that had been proffered +to her. It deepened further as she thought of +that paper picked up on a bench of a little +city square. The fear of having made a terrible +mistake returned to her, more strongly +than ever. Her efforts towards peace now +seemed immodest, bold, unwomanly. But +that first vision had been so keen of a quiet-voiced +man extending a strong hand to welcome +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +and protect as he smiled at her in pleasant +greeting! Her vague notions of a far +country in which was no wilderness of brick +and mortar but only the beauty of smiling +fields or of scented forests had filled her heart +with a passionate longing. And the last thing +the doctor had told her, in the hospital, was +that she ought to live far away from the city, +in the pure air of God’s country. It was with +a hot face and a throbbing heart that she now +remembered the poor little letters she had +written. Even the sending of that telegram +now filled her with shame. And yet....</p> +<p>With clamorous voice the man was announcing +her train. After a heart-rending +moment’s hesitation she hastened to where a +few people were waiting. The gates opened +and she was pushed along. It was as if her +own will could no longer lead her, as if she +were being carried by a strong tide, with +other jetsam, towards shores unknown.</p> +<p>At last she was seated in an ordinary coach, +than which man has never devised sorrier +accommodation for a long journey. Finally +the train started and she sought to look out of +the window but obtained only a blurred impression +of columns and pillars lighted at +intervals by flickering bulbs. They made her +eyes ache. But presently she made out, to her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +left, the dark surface of a big river. A few +more lights were glinting upon it, appearing +and disappearing. Vaguely she made out the +outlines of a few vessels that were battling +against the drifting ice, for she could see +myriad sparks flying from what must have +been the smokestacks of tugs or river steamers.</p> +<p>Her fellow passengers were mostly laborers +or emigrants going north or west. The +air was tainted with the scent of garlic. Children +began to cry and later grew silent or +merely fretful. Finally the languor of infinite +weariness came over the girl and she lay +back, uncomfortably, and tried to sleep. At +frequent intervals she awoke and sat up again, +with terror expressed in her face and deep +blue eyes. Once she fell into a dream and +was so startled that she had to restrain herself +from rushing down the aisle and seeking to +escape from some unknown danger that +seemed to be threatening her.</p> +<p>Again she passed a finger over the blurred +glass and sought to look out. The train +seemed to be plunging into strange and grisly +horrors. Overwrought as she was a flood of +tears came to her eyes and seemed to bring her +greater calm, so that at last she fell into a +deeper sleep, heavy, visionless, no longer attended +with sudden terrors.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_TO_ROARING_RIVER' id='CHAPTER_IV_TO_ROARING_RIVER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>To Roaring River</span></h3> +</div> +<p>At last the morning came and Madge +awoke. At first she could not realize +where she was. Her limbs ached from their +cramped position and a pain was gnawing at +her, which meant hunger. In spite of the +heaters in the car a persistent chilliness had +come over her, and all at once she was seized +by an immense discouragement. She felt that +she was now being borne away to some terrible +place. Those people called it Roaring +River. Now that she thought of it the very +name represented something that was gruesome +and panicky. But then she lay back and +reflected that its flood would be cleaner and +its bed a better place to leap into, if her fears +were realized, than the turbid waters of the +Hudson. She knew that she was playing her +last stake. It must result in a life that could +be tolerated or else in an end she had battled +against, to the limit of endurance.</p> +<p>She quietly made a meal of the provisions +she had brought. Her weary brain no longer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +reacted to disturbing thoughts and vague fears +and she felt that she was drifting, peacefully, +to some end that was by this time nearly indifferent +to her. The day wore on, with a +long interval in Ottawa, where she dully +waited in the station, the restaurant permitting +her to indulge in a comforting cup of +coffee. All that she saw of the town was from +the train. There was a bridge above the +tracks, near the station, and on the outskirts +there were winding and frozen waterways on +which some people skated. As she went on +the land seemed to take an even chillier aspect. +The snow was very deep. Farms and +small villages were half buried in it. The +automobiles and wheeled conveyances of New +York had disappeared. Here and there she +could see a sleigh, slowly progressing along +roads, the driver heavily muffled and the +horse traveling in a cloud of vapor. When +night came they were already in a vast region +of rock and evergreen trees, of swift running +rivers churning huge cakes of ice, and the +dwellings seemed to be very few and far between. +The train passed through a few fairly +large towns, at first, and she noted that the +people were unfamiliarly clad, wearing much +fur, and the inflections of their voices were +strange to her. By this time the train was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +running more slowly, puffing up long grades +and sliding down again with a harsh grinding +of brakes that seemed to complain. When +the moon rose it shone over endless snow, +broken only by dim, solid-looking masses of +conifers. Here and there she could also +vaguely discern rocky ledges upon which +gaunt twisted limbs were reminders of devastating +forest fires. There were also great +smooth places that must have been lakes or +the beds of wide rivers shackled in ice overlaid +with heavy snow. Whenever the door of +the car was opened a blast of cold would +enter, bitingly, and she shivered.</p> +<p>Came another morning which found her +haggard with want of sleep and broken with +weariness. But she knew that she was getting +very near the place and all at once she began +to dread the arrival, to wish vainly that she +might never reach her destination, and this +feeling continued to grow keener and keener.</p> +<p>Finally the conductor came over to her and +told her that the train was nearing her station. +Obligingly he carried her bag close to the +door and she stood up beside him, swaying a +little, perhaps only from the motion of the +car. The man looked at her and his face expressed +some concern but he remained silent +until the train stopped.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span></div> +<p>Madge had put on her thin cloak. The +frosted windows of the car spoke of intense +cold and the rays of the rising sun had not yet +passed over the serrated edges of the forest.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid you’ll find it mighty cold, +ma’am,” ventured the conductor. “Hope +you ain’t got to go far in them clothes. Maybe +your friends ’ll be bringing warmer things for +you. Run right into the station; there’s a +fire there. Joe ’ll bring your baggage inside. +Good morning, ma’am.”</p> +<p>She noticed that he was looking at her with +some curiosity, and her courage forsook her +once more. It was as if, for the first time in +her life, she had undertaken to walk into a +lion’s cage, with the animal growling and +roaring. She felt upon her cheeks the bite of +the hard frost, but there was no wind and she +was not so very cold, at first. She looked +about her as the train started. Scattered +within a few hundred yards there were perhaps +two score of small frame houses. At +the edge of what might have been a pasture, +all dotted with stumps, stood a large deserted +sawmill, the great wire-guyed sheet-iron pipe +leaning over a little, dismally. A couple of +very dark men she recognized as Indians +looked at her without evincing the slightest +show of interest. From a store across the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +street a young woman with a thick head of +red hair peeped out for an instant, staring at +her. Then the door closed again. After this +a monstrously big man with long, tow-colored +wisps of straggling hair showing at the edges +of his heavy muskrat cap, and a ragged beard +of the same color, came to her as she stood +upon the platform, undecided, again a prey +to her fears. The man smiled at her, pleasantly, +and touched his cap.</p> +<p>“Ay tank you’re de gal is going ofer to +Hugo Ennis,” he said, in a deep, pleasant +voice.</p> +<p>She opened her mouth to answer but the +words refused to come. Her mouth felt unaccountably +dry––she could not swallow. +But she nodded her head in assent.</p> +<p>“I took de telegraft ofer to his shack,” the +Swede further informed her, “but Hugo he +ain’t here yet. I tank he come soon. Come +inside de vaiting-room or you freeze qvick. +Ain’t you got skins to put on?”</p> +<p>She shook her head and he grasped her bag +with one hand and one of her elbows with the +other and hurried her into the little station. +Joe Follansbee had a redhot fire going in the +stove, whose top was glowing. The man +pointed at a bench upon which she could sit +and stood at her side, shaving tobacco from a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +big black plug. She decided that his was a +reassuring figure and that his face was a good +and friendly one.</p> +<p>“Do you think that––that Mr. Ennis will +come soon?” she finally found voice to ask.</p> +<p>“Of course, ma’am. You yoost sit qviet. +If Hugo he expect a leddy he turn up all +right, sure. It’s tvelve mile ofer to his place, +ma’am, and he ain’t got but one dog.”</p> +<p>She could not quite understand what the +latter fact signified. What mattered it how +many dogs he had? She was going to ask for +further explanation when the door opened +and the young woman who had peeped at her +came in. She was heavily garbed in wool +and fur. As she cast a glance at Madge she +bit her lips. For the briefest instant she hesitated. +No, she would not speak, for fear of +betraying herself, and she went to the window +of the little ticket-office.</p> +<p>“Anything for us, Joe?” she asked.</p> +<p>“No. There’s no express stuff been left,” +he answered. “Your stuff’ll be along by +freight, I reckon. Wait a moment and I’ll +give you the mail-bag.”</p> +<p>“You can bring it over. It––it doesn’t +matter about the goods.”</p> +<p>She turned about, hastily, and nodded to +big Stefan. Then she peered at Madge again, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +with a sidelong look, and left the waiting-room.</p> +<p>As so often happens she had imagined this +woman who was coming as something entirely +different from the reality. She had evolved +vague ideas of some sort of adventuress, such +as she had read of in a few cheap novels that +had found their way to Carcajou. In spite of +the mild and timid tone of the letters she had +prepared to see some sort of termagant, or at +least a woman enterprising, perhaps bold, one +who would make it terribly hot for the man +she would believe had deceived her and +brought her on a fool’s errand. This little +thin-faced girl who looked with big, frightened +eyes was something utterly unexpected, +she knew not why.</p> +<p>“And––and she ain’t at all bad-looking,” +she acknowledged to herself, uneasily. “She +don’t look like she’d say ‘Boo’ to a goose, +either. But then maybe she’s deceiving in +her looks. A woman who’d come like that +to marry a man she don’t know can’t amount +to much. Like enough she’s a little hypocrite, +with her appearance that butter +wouldn’t melt in her mouth. And my! The +clothes she’s got on! I wonder if she didn’t +look at me kinder suspicious. Seemed as if +she was taking me in, from head to foot.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span></div> +<p>In this Miss Sophy was probably mistaken. +Madge had looked at her because the garb of +brightly-edged blanketing, the fur cap and +mitts, the heavy long moccasins, all made a +picture that was unfamiliar. There was perhaps +some envy in the look, or at least the +desire that she also might be as well fended +against the bitter cold. She had the miserable +feeling that comes over both man and woman +when feeling that one’s garments are out of +place and ill-suited to the occasion. Once +Madge had seen a moving-picture representing +some lurid drama of the North, and some +of the women in it had worn that sort of +clothing.</p> +<p>Big Stefan had lighted his pipe and sought +a seat that creaked under his ponderous +weight. He opened the door of the stove +and threw two or three large pieces of yellow +birch in it.</p> +<p>“Guess it ain’t nefer cold vhere you comes +from,” he ventured. “You’ll haf to put on +varm tings if you goin’ all de vay to Roaring +Rifer Falls.”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid I have nothing warmer than +this,” the girl faltered. “I––I didn’t know +it was so very cold here. And––and I’m +nicely warmed up now, and perhaps I won’t +feel it so very much.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span></div> +<p>“You stay right here an’ vait for me,” he +told her, and went out of the waiting-room, +hurriedly. But he opened the door again.</p> +<p>“If Hugo he come vhile I am avay, you +tell him I pring youst two three tings from +my voman for you. I’m back right avay. So +long, ma’am!”</p> +<p>She was left alone for at least a quarter of +an hour, and it reminded her of a long wait +she had undergone in the reception-room of +the hospital. Then, as now, she had feared +the unknown, had shivered at the thought that +presently she would be in the hands of strange +people who might or not be friendly, and be +lost among a mass of suffering humanity. +Twice she heard the runners of sleighs creaking +on the ground, and her heart began to +beat, but the sounds faded away. Joe, the +station agent, came in and asked her civilly +whether she was warm enough, telling her +that outside it was forty below. Wood was +cheap, he told her, and he put more sticks in +the devouring stove. After she had thanked +him and given him the check for her little +trunk he vanished again, and she listened to +the telegraph sounder.</p> +<p>Stefan, returning, was hailed at the door of +the store by Sophy McGurn.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></div> +<p>“Who’s the strange lady, Stefan?” she +asked, most innocently.</p> +<p>“It’s a leddy vhat is expectin’ Hugo Ennis,” +he answered.</p> +<p>“How queer!” said the girl, airily.</p> +<p>“Ay dunno,” answered the Swede. “Vhen +Hugo he do a thing it ain’t nefer qveer, Ay +tank.”</p> +<p>She turned away and Stefan stepped over +to the depot and opened the door. Madge +looked up, startled and again afraid. It was +a relief to her to see Stefan’s friendly face. +She had feared.... She didn’t know what +she dreaded so much––perhaps a face repellent––a +man who would look at her and in +whose eyes she might discern insult or +contempt.</p> +<p>The big Swede held an armful of heavy +clothing.</p> +<p>“Ye can’t stay here, leddy,” he said. “You +come ofer to my house since Ennis he no coming. +Dese clothes is from my ole vomans. +Mebbe ye look like––like de dooce in dem, +but dat’s better as to freeze to death. An you +vants a big breakfass so you goes vid me along. +Hey dere! Joe! If Ennis he come you tell +him come ofer to me, ye hear?”</p> +<p>A few minutes later Madge was trudging +over the beaten snow by the side of her huge +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +companion. Her head was ensconced within +the folds of a knitted shawl and over her thin +cloak she wore an immense mackinaw of flaming +hues whose skirts fell ’way below her +knees. Over her boots, protestingly, she had +drawn on an amazing pair of things made of +heavy felt and ending in thick rubber feet, +that were huge and unwieldy. Her hands +were lost in great scarlet mitts. It is possible +that at this time there was little feminine vanity +left in her, yet she looked furtively to one +side or the other, expecting scoffing glances. +She felt sure that she looked like one of the +fantastically-clad ragamuffins she had seen in +the streets of New York, at Christmas and +Thanksgiving. But the pair met but one or +two Indian women who wore a garb that was +none too æsthetic and who paid not the slightest +attention to them, and a few men who may +possibly have wondered but, with the instinctive +civility of the North, never revealed their +feelings.</p> +<p>As a matter of fact she had hardly believed +in this cold, at first. The station agent’s announcement +had possessed little meaning for +her. There was no wind; the sun was shining +brightly now; during the minute she had remained +on the station platform she had felt +nothing unusual. As a matter of fact she had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +enjoyed the keen brisk air after the tepid +stuffiness of the cars. But presently she began +to realize a certain tingling and sharp quality +of the air. The little of her face that was +exposed began to feel stiff and queer. Even +through the heavy clothing she now wore she +seemed to have been plunged in a strange atmosphere. +For an instant, after she finally +reached Stefan’s house, the contrast between +the cold outside and the warm living-room, +that was also the kitchen, appeared to suffocate +her.</p> +<p>A tall stout woman waddled towards her, +smiling all over and bidding her a good-day. +She helped remove the now superfluous +things.</p> +<p>“De yoong leddy she come all de vay from +Nev York, vhat is a real hot country, I expect,” +explained Stefan, placidly and inaccurately. +“Sit down, leddy, an haf sometings +to eat. You needs plenty grub, good an’ hot, +in dem cold days. Ve sit down now. Here, +Yoe, and you, Yulia, come ofer an’ talk to de +leddy! Dem’s our children, ma’am, and de +baby in de grib.”</p> +<p>Madge was glad to greet the rosy, round-cheeked +children, who advanced timidly +towards her and stared at her out of big blue +eyes.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></div> +<p>Hesitatingly she took the seat Stefan had +indicated with a big thumb, and suddenly a +ravenous hunger came upon her. The great +pan full of sizzling bacon and fat pork; the +steaming and strongly scented coffee; the +great pile of thick floury rolls taken out of the +oven, appeared to constitute a repast fit for +the gods. Stefan and his family joined hands +while the mother asked a short blessing, during +which the children were hard put to it to +stop from staring again at the stranger.</p> +<p>“And so,” ventured the good wife, amiably, +“you iss likely de sister from Hugo +Ennis, ma’am?”</p> +<p>Madge’s fork clattered down upon her +enamel-ware plate.</p> +<p>“No,” she said. “I––of course I’m not +his sister.”</p> +<p>“Excoose me. He don’t nefer tell nobody +as he vas marrit, Hugo didn’t. Ve vas alvays +tinking he vos a bachelor mans, yoost like most +of dem young mans as come to dese countries.”</p> +<p>“But––but I’m not his wife, either!” +cried Madge, nervously.</p> +<p>“I––I don’t yoost understand, den,” said +the good woman, placidly. “Oh! mebbe you +help grub-stake him vhile he vork at de rocks +for dat silfer and you come see how he gettin’ +along. Ve tank he do very vell.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span></div> +<p>“Yes, Hugo he got some ore as is lookin’ +very fine, all uncofered alretty,” Stefan informed +her. “Und it’s such a bretty place +he haf at de Falls.”</p> +<p>The man doubtless referred to the scenery +but Madge was under the impression that he +was speaking of the house in which this Ennis +lived. It was strange that he had said nothing +to these people, who evidently knew him well, +in regard to the reason of her coming. It was +probably a well-meant discretion that had +guided his conduct, she thought, but it had +caused her some little embarrassment.</p> +<p>“In his letter Mr. Ennis said that I was to +come straight to this place, to Carcajou. He +told me that I would be taken to his house at +Roaring River Falls, that I might see it. I––I +suppose there is a village up there or––or +some houses, where I may stay.”</p> +<p>Stefan stared at her, scratching his touzled +yellow head, and turned to his wife, who was +looking at him as she poised a forkful of fat +bacon in the air, forgetfully.</p> +<p>“Maybe de leddy means Papineau’s,” he +said. “But if Hugo Ennis he say for her to +come then it is all right, sure. Hugo vould +do only vhat is right. He is my friend. He +safe my life. So if he don’t turn up by de time +ve finish breakfast I hitch up dem togs an’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +take you dere real qvick. Mebbe he can’t +come for you, some vay. Mebbe Maigan hurt +or sick so he can’t pull toboggan. You vant +to go, no?”</p> +<p>“I––I suppose so,” faltered the girl. “I––I +must see him, as soon as possible, and––and....”</p> +<p>“Dat’s all right,” interrupted Stefan. “So +long you vants to go I take you up dere. No +trouble for to do anyting for Hugo and his +friends. De dogs is strong an’ fresh. Ve go +up there mighty qvick, I bet you, ma’am.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Olsen was not used to question her +husband’s decisions. There seemed to be +something rather mysterious about all this, +but she was a placid soul who could wait in +peace for the explanation that would doubtless +be forthcoming. Anyway there was +Papineau’s house about a mile away from the +Falls, and the girl could find shelter there. +She smiled at her guest pleasantly and urged +her to eat more. For some minutes Madge’s +appetite had forsaken her. But the temptation +of good food in abundance overcame her +alarm. She felt the comfort of a quiet, God-fearing, +civil-spoken household. They were +rough people, in their way, but they seemed so +genuine, so friendly, so full of the desire to +help her and put her at her ease, that she was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +again reassured. Her hunger assailed her +and she ate what she considered a huge breakfast, +though Stefan Olsen’s family seemed to +wonder at her scanty ability to dispose of the +things they piled upon her plate. When +large brown griddle-cakes were finally placed +before her she could eat but a single one.</p> +<p>“Mebbe,” said the good woman, “in Nev +York you ain’t used to tings like ve country +people have.”</p> +<p>Used to them, forsooth! Indeed she had +not been used to such things. She remembered +the small bottles of bluish milk, the +butter doled out in yellow lumps of strong +taste, the couple of rolls that would make a +meal, the cup of tea or coffee of pale hue, the +bits of meat she could afford but once in several +days. No, indeed she had not been used +to such things, in the last two years.</p> +<p>“Vhen you stays in dis coontry for a vhiles +den you can eat like a goot feller and not like +a little bird,” Stefan assured her, comfortingly. +“Den you get nice and fat, and red +on de cheeks, and strong.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Olsen was still smiling at her, as she +sat with plump hands folded on an ample +stomach. The two children had become used +to her and came near. A seat was given to +her near the stove. Lack of sleep during the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +two hard nights spent on the train caused +her head to nod, once or twice.</p> +<p>“Mebbe you vants to rest a bit before ve +goes,” suggested Stefan. “Dere’s plenty time +if you like.”</p> +<p>But this roused her to alert attention. She +must go, at once, for all this suspense and uncertainty +must be ended. For some happy +moments she had thought no more of the man +who was expecting her. The comfort she had +enjoyed had temporarily banished him from +her thoughts.</p> +<p>“No––oh, no!” she cried. “I––I’ll be +glad to leave as soon as you are ready to take +me!”</p> +<p>At this moment she became keenly puzzled. +She still had a very few dollars in her purse +and wondered whether she ought to offer payment +for her meal. Instinct wisely prompted +her to keep the little pocketbook in her bag. +They would undoubtedly have been surprised +and perhaps offended.</p> +<p>Stefan drew on his great Dutch stockings +and pulled his fur cap over his ears. An instant +after he had left the room Madge heard +loud barking. As she looked out of the window, +scratching off a little of the frost that +covered the panes, she saw the big Swede surrounded +by five large dogs which he was hitching +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +to a toboggan. Then he got on the thing +and the animals galloped away. A few minutes +later he returned, with her small trunk +lashed to the back part of the sled. He entered +the house and took a straw-filled pillow +and a huge bearskin and bore them out.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile Mrs. Olsen was helping +Madge to resume her outlandish garb.</p> +<p>“Mebbe Mr. Ennis he not know you vhen +you come so all wrapped up. Mebbe he tink +it is a bear. Yes, put dis on too, you vants it +all,” she declared. “It’s all of twelve mile +out dere. If you not need de tings no longer, +by and by you send ’em back. It’s all right. +I no need ’em. Yoost keep ’em so long vhat +you like. Didn’t Hugo Ennis tell you bring +varm clothes vid you?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Madge. “I––I don’t think +he spoke of them.”</p> +<p>“Mens is awful foolish some times,” asserted +the good woman. “Dey pay no attention +to tings everybotty knows all about. I +tank Stefan he alretty now, so I say good-by +and come again, ma’am. Alvays happy ter +see you again vhen you comes, sure.”</p> +<p>The little girl came to Madge and rose +upon her toes, for a kiss. More timidly the +boy only proffered a hand. Mrs. Olsen kissed +her pale cheek with a resounding smack.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></div> +<p>“Mens is fonny sometimes,” she said. “If +tings isn’t all right like you expect mebbe at +Papineau’s you come back here soon as you +finish vhat you haf to do at Roaring Rifer. I +haf anodder bed I can fix up in de back room +real easy. Good py, ma’am, and look out +careful for your nose!”</p> +<p>With this incomprehensible bit of advice +Mrs. Olsen opened the door, swiftly, and +closed it just as fast. Madge saw her smiling +at her through the window-pane. Stefan +made her sit down on the pillow, over which +he had laid the bearskin, which he then +wrapped over her shoulders and body and +limbs.</p> +<p>“Now ve starts right off,” he told her. +“Look out careful for your nose, leddy,” he +also advised before calling to his dogs, who +strained away at the long traces and trotted +away, pulling heartily.</p> +<p>Wearing a pair of huge snowshoes Stefan +followed or kept at the side of the toboggan. +They left the road and struck a sort of path +that led them up a hill. To her right hand +she could see a vast expanse of frozen lake +stretching away to the north. In some places +the snow appeared to be quite level while in +others it was deeply wrinkled in ridges caused +by the winds. Presently the trees grew more +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +abundant along the way. They were silvery +birches and the yellow ones, and poplars with +slender branches ending in tiny bare twigs. +The conifers still wore thick coats of dark +green, excepting the tamaracks, that only carried +a few long golden needles. These big +trees were dotted over with great lumps of +snow and ice which occasionally clattered +down through the branches.</p> +<p>Madge looked up and the world seemed to +assume a wondrous new beauty such as she +had never known. The blue above was wonderfully +clear and bright. Over the snow the +sunlight was beating strongly, though it appeared +to give little or no heat. Yet in the +great patches of shadow through which they +passed at times it felt colder still.</p> +<p>“Yoost keep on feelin’ yer nose,” Stefan +told her, as the dogs rested for a moment at +the top of a small hill. “You mustn’t let it +get frost-bited, ma’am. It ain’t such a awful +big nose you got, leddy, but you sure vouldn’t +look so bretty if it drop off. Ha, ha!”</p> +<p>He laughed out loudly, apparently enjoying +his ponderous joke greatly, but she felt +that she must heed his advice and frequently +carried the big mitt Mrs. Olsen had lent her +to her face. They came to a great expanse of +deep forest where, in places, the ground was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +nearly bare of snow. The pulling was hard +here and the dogs toiled along more slowly +and panted as their cloudy breaths rose in +steamy puffs. Madge admired them. They +seemed such strong, willing animals. When +they rested for a moment they would lie down +and bite off the little balls of ice that formed +beneath their toes, but at a word they would +leap up again and throw themselves against +their breast-bands, eagerly. In one difficult +place Madge protested.</p> +<p>“The poor things are working so hard,” +she said. “Couldn’t I get out and walk for a +while? I don’t feel tired at all now, but your +poor dogs do, I’m sure.”</p> +<p>“No, ma’am,” replied Stefan. “They ain’t +tired. They yoost look so because they work +hard. In dis country togs and men has to +work hard or go hoongry. In a moment you +sees how dey run again, vhen dey get good +going. Dem togs can go dis vay all day and +be fresh again to-morrow. Eferybody here +knows vhat my team o’ togs can do, ma’am.”</p> +<p>It was evident that he was proud of them, +and Madge decided that it was with good +reason. They had started again and reached +an expanse of burnt land, upon which the +snow was crusted and the road was on a down +grade. The team that had panted so hard, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +with lolling tongues, threw itself into the collars +and trotted off again, briskly, while Stefan +followed with the short-stepped and effortless +flat-footed run that covers so much ground in +the north. The girl had to balance herself +rather carefully at times, for the surface was +by no means a level one. The toboggan +swayed and bumped over hidden things that +may have been stumps or rocks, or great +buried ruts of the previous fall.</p> +<p>It was all so new and wonderful! A sense +of enjoyment actually stole over her. But for +the feeling of stiffness in her face she felt +comfortably warm. Without ever meeting a soul, +through a country that seemed utterly deserted +of man, they went on for several miles. Once +Stefan stopped the toboggan in order to show +her tracks of a bear. It was wonderful to +think that such animals roamed about her. +The Swede told her that they were utterly +harmless, that they always fled as soon as their +keen eyes or sharp ears revealed the neighborhood +of their enemies, the men who coveted +their thick and long-haired hides worth a +good many dollars. But she saw few living +things; once there was a great snowy owl that +rose heavily and then flew swiftly and in +silence from a stump in a <i>brulé</i>, disappearing +among the trees like an animated shadow, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +yes, a shadow of sudden death to hares and +partridges cowering beneath the fronds of +wide-spreading conifers or in the great tangles +of frost-killed long grasses.</p> +<p>It was altogether another world, strange +and of rugged beauty. She felt as if she had +been transported from the seething city into +the vast peace of some landscape of moon or +stars. Every bit of the old harsh world was +now left behind and there was no longer any +hint of cruelty in the snowy plains and hills +and forest; nothing reminded her of despairing +hunger, of the disbelief that had stolen +upon her in the possibility of eking out much +longer a life that was too hard to sustain. +What if her errand seemed fantastic, unreal, +since this new world also was like some illusion +of a dream? The great stillness appeared +to be friendly––the bent tops of snow-laden +trees surely bowed a welcome to her––the +shining sun and the pure air, in spite of bitter +cold, drove the blood more rapidly through +her veins and she no longer deemed life to be +a mere form of suffering, such as she had undergone +during the last year of her losing +contest in the cruel, pitiless town.</p> +<p>Suddenly, as Stefan trudged behind in a +narrow part of the old tote-road, a big white +hare crossed the path ahead of the dogs, perhaps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +seeking to escape the pursuit of some +marten or weasel. At once the team broke +into a headlong gallop, a helter-skelter pursuit, +while their master roared at them unavailingly. +Down a small declivity they flew. +A moment later one side of the toboggan rose +suddenly and the passenger felt herself being +shot off into the snow. As the sled upset the +little trunk lashed to its back caught into something +and firmly anchored the whole contrivance, +a few yards further on, and perforce +the animals stopped with hanging tongues and +steaming breaths.</p> +<p>An instant later Stefan was helping Madge +arise. He looked at her in deep concern.</p> +<p>“Dem tamn togs!” he roared. “I hope +you ain’t hurted none, leddy?”</p> +<p>With his assistance she rose quickly from +the snow. It is possible that she had scarcely +had time enough to become afraid. At any +rate this new life that had come to her asserted +itself, irresistibly, for there was something in +its essence that would not be denied. In the +heart that had been overburdened something +broke, like a flood bursting its bonds. She +threw up her head and uplifted her hands as +laughter, pealing and rippling unrestrained, +shook her slender frame from head to foot +until tears ran down the now reddened cheeks +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +and turned to tiny globes of ice. She was +making up for weeks and months of sombre +thoughts, of despair, of shrewd suffering.</p> +<p>“Tank gootness!” roared Stefan. “First +I tink dem togs yoost kill you dead. If so I +take de pelts off ’em all alife, de scoundrels!”</p> +<p>“Oh! Please don’t punish them,” she +cried. “It––it was so funny! Oh, dear! +I––I must stop laughing! It––it hurts my +sides!”</p> +<p>She ran off among the dogs and threw herself +down on the crusted snow, passing one +arm over a shaggy back. The animal looked +at her, uncertainly, but suddenly he passed a +big moist tongue over her face. Could he +have realized that her saving grace might +avert condign punishment? The girl petted +him as Stefan turned the toboggan and its +load right side up.</p> +<p>“You ain’t feared of dem togs,” he called +to her. “And you vasn’t afraid vhen dey +dump you out. You’s a blucky gal all right, +leddy!”</p> +<p>A moment later she was again wrapped up +in the bearskin and the dogs, loudly threatened +but unpunished, owing to her intercession, +resumed their journey. They had gone but +a few hundred yards further when Madge +smelled wood-smoke. A few minutes later +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +they came in sight of a low-built shack of +heavy planks evidently turned out in a sawpit +and resting on walls of peeled spruce logs. +The dogs trotted toward it and a woman came +out as Stefan stopped his team.</p> +<p>“I got a letter for you, Mis’ Carew,” he +announced. “I got it dis morning at de post-office +and bring it as I come along dis vay.”</p> +<p>He searched a pocket of his coat while the +woman looked at Madge curiously.</p> +<p>“Won’t you come in and warm yourself a +while?” she asked, civilly. “I can make you +a hot cup of tea in a minute.”</p> +<p>“Thank you! Thank you ever so much,” +answered Madge. “I––I think we’d better +hurry on.”</p> +<p>Stefan had found the letter and handed it +to Mrs. Carew.</p> +<p>“Wait a moment, Stefan, won’t you?” +asked the woman. “There might possibly be +some message you could take for me.”</p> +<p>The man lit his pipe while the woman went +indoors. A moment later she came out, +excitedly.</p> +<p>“Oh! Stefan,” she cried. “I’m so glad +you came. My man’s away with the dogs, +gone after a load of moose-meat, and won’t +be back till to-morrow. And my daughter +Mary’s very sick at Missanaibie and wants +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +me to come right over. Could you take me +over to the depot in time for the afternoon +train west? Are you going back to-day?”</p> +<p>Stefan pulled out a big silver watch and +studied it.</p> +<p>“Yes, ma’am,” he answered. “I’m yoost +goin’ over to Hugo’s wid dis leddy. If I go +real smart I can get back in time, but I got to +hurry a bit. So long! I come right soon back. +Leave a vord for Tom und be ready de moment +I come. I make it, sure!”</p> +<p>With this assurance he started off again, +while the woman was still crying out her +thanks. There was a long bit of good going +now, which they covered at a good pace. +Madge was thinking how helpful all these +people were, how naturally they gave, how +readily they asked for the help that was always +welcome, as far as she could see. Yes, +it was all so very different.</p> +<p>“Won’t the dogs be dreadfully tired,” she +asked, “if you go back so soon?”</p> +<p>“No, leddy,” he asserted. “Twenty-four +miles ain’t much of a trip. Dey make tvice +dat if need come. And me too, sure t’ing!”</p> +<p>As she looked at him she knew that he spoke +the simple truth. Even the people of this +country seemed to be built differently. All of +them looked sturdy, self-reliant, strong to endure, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +and, more than anything, ready to share +everything either with stranger or with friend. +In spite of the weariness she felt after her long +journey and of the ache in her bones that was +coming from the unusual manner of her travelling, +she felt that this was a blessed country, +a haven of rest that held promise of wonderful +peace. All at once they came in sight of a +river, snow-shackled like all the others, except +for black patches where the under-running +flood so hurried in rapid places that the surface +could not freeze. From such air-holes, +as they are called, steam arose that was like +the smoke of fires.</p> +<p>“What is that river?” she called.</p> +<p>“Dat’s de Roaring Rifer, leddy,” Stefan +informed her. “Ve’s only a little vays to go +now. Maybe five minute.”</p> +<p>At this moment, as in a flash, all of her +vague and carking fears returned to the girl, +and her hand went to her breast. It was only +a little way now! And it was no dream––no +figment of her imagination! The beginning +of the real adventure was at hand! Truth +flashed upon her. In a few moments she +would see for the first time the man she was +to marry. She blushed fiery red. Instinctively +she looked about her, like some wild +thing vainly seeking for a way to escape +impending peril. What would he be like? +What would he think of her? Oh! She now +knew that it had all been a frightful mistake! +Her limbs shook with a sudden bitter coldness +that had fallen upon her like one of the +masses that became displaced from the great +trees, and she could not keep her teeth from +chattering. Then, in her ears, began to boom +a strong continuous sound that was ominous, +threatening.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/p0098a-ins.jpg' alt='' title='' width='543' height='390' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +Truth flashed upon her! In a few moments she would see for the first time the man she was to marry<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></div> +<p>“What’s that?” she stammered, trembling.</p> +<p>“Dat’s de noise of dem big Falls of Roaring +River,” answered Stefan.</p> +<p>An instant later, Madge never knew why, +the dogs were snarling in a fight. In a moment +Stefan was among them, wielding his +short-handled and long-lashed whip. A trace +was broken. By the time the damage was +repaired and the dogs pacified some ten minutes +or more had been wasted. The man +looked at his watch.</p> +<p>“I ain’t got so much time left,” he said. +“I got to hurry back for Mis’ Carew. Lucky +ve’re most dere now.”</p> +<p>A few seconds after they had started again +they came to an opening, towards which +Stefan pointed, and the girl’s heart sank +within her.</p> +<p>She saw nothing of the distant falls surrounded +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +by a growth in which every twig +scintillated with the frost lavished by the +river’s vapor. She never noticed the great +circular pool with its deep banks, or the wonderful +view, far across country, of mountains +washed in pale blues and lavenders, of the +sun-flooded bright expanse of open ground, +partly fenced in with axe-hewn rails. She +could only stare at a little shack, the smallest +she had seen in that country, and at the thread +of smoke coming from the length of stove-pipe +protruding from the ice-covered roof, +and to her it looked like the home of misery.</p> +<p>A few yards farther on the team stopped. +From here the hut could only be faintly distinguished +through a growth of birches and +firs.</p> +<p>“You can get off de toboggan now, leddy,” +Stefan told her. “I puts off your trunk too. +Hugo he come and get it. I call to him.”</p> +<p>She rose to her feet, speechless, amazed, +with fear causing a terrible throbbing in her +throat. She would have protested but could +not find her voice. As soon as Stefan had unlashed +the trunk and put it down on the frozen +ground he turned his team around.</p> +<p>“Oh! Hugo!” he bellowed. “Oh! Hugo! +Here’s de leddy.”</p> +<p>For an instant there was no reply, but while +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +Stefan yelled again she saw, through a small +opening in the interlaced branches, that the +door opened. A huge dog came out and +rolled in the snow, barking. The man waved +a hand.</p> +<p>“I can’t vait a moment. Good-by, leddy, I +must go. You tell Hugo why I hurry so.”</p> +<p>The man had jumped on the toboggan and +he was already being borne away, swiftly, by +his team of wild shaggy brutes that seemed +never to have known a weary moment in their +lives. And she stood there, at the foot of a +great blasted pine, terror-stricken, wondering +what further torture of mind and body the +world had in store for her.</p> +<p>But for that hut the place was a frozen +desert, with no other sign of man. And she +was alone––alone with him––and the fierce-looking +dog was now running towards her. +She leaned back against the tree, feeling that +without some support she must collapse at its +foot.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_WHEN_GUNPOWDER_SPEAKS' id='CHAPTER_V_WHEN_GUNPOWDER_SPEAKS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>When Gunpowder Speaks</span></h3> +</div> +<p>Hugo Ennis, a man well under thirty, tall +and spare of form, with the lithe and +active limbs that are capable of hard and prolonged +action, had stood for a time by the +tough door of his little shack. It was a single-roomed +affair, quite large enough for a lone +man, which he had carefully built of peeled +logs. Within it there was a bunk fixed +against the wall, upon which his heavy +blankets had been folded in a neat pile, for +he was a man of some order. Near the other +end there was a stove, a good one that could +keep the place warm and amply sufficed for +his simple cookery. The table was of axe-hewn +cedar planks and the two chairs had +been rustically designed of the same material. +Between the logs forming the walls the spaces +had been chinked with moss, covered with +blue clay taken from the river-bank, above +the falls. Strong pegs had been driven into +the heavy wood and from them hung traps +and a couple of guns, with spare snowshoes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +and odd pieces of apparel. In a corner of +the room there were steel hand-drills, heavy +hammers, a pick and a shovel. Against the +walls he had built strong shelves that held +perhaps a score of books and a varied assortment +of groceries. More of these latter +articles had been placed on a swinging board +hung from the roof, out of reach of thieving +rodents.</p> +<p>He had been looking down, over the great +rocky ledge at one side of his shack, into the +big pool of the Roaring River, which at this +time was but a wild jam of huge slabs of ice +insecurely soldered together by snow and the +spray from the falls. Beneath that jumbled +mass he knew that the water was straining +and groaning and swirling until it found under +the thick ice the outlet that would lead it +towards the big lake to the eastward. Although +the middle of March was at hand +there was not the slightest sign of any breaking +up. He knew that it would take a long +time yet before the snows began to melt, the +ice to become thinner on the lakes and the +waters to rise, brown and turbid with the +earth torn from the banks and the sand ever +ground up in the rough play of turbulent +waters with rolling boulders.</p> +<p>Yet the coming of spring was not so very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +far off now and the days were growing longer. +It would take but a few weeks before the first +great wedges of flying geese would pass high +above him in their journey to the shallows of +the Hudson’s Bay, where they nested in myriads. +And then other birds would follow +until the smallest arrived, chirping with the +joy of the slumbering earth’s awakening.</p> +<p>It was a glorious country, he truly believed. +The winter had been long but the hunting +and trapping had kept him busy enough. +The days had seemed too short to become +dreary and he had slept long during the +nights, seldom awakening at the rumblings +of the maddened pent-up waters or the sharp +explosions of great trees cracking in the fierce +cold. But he was glad of the prospect of renewed +hard work upon his claim, of promising +toil to expose further the great silver-bearing +veins of calcite that wound their way +through the harder rock. He knew that his +find was of the sort that had flooded the +Nipissing and the Gowganda countries with +eager searchers and delvers, and created villages +and even towns in a wilderness where +formerly the moose wandered in the great +hardwood swamps and the deer were often +chased by ravening packs of baying wolves.</p> +<p>His attention had reverted to the great +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +sharp-muzzled dog that had been crouching +at his feet, and he bent down and began to +pull out small porcupine quills that had become +fastened in the animal’s nose and lips.</p> +<p>“Maybe some day you’ll learn enough to +let those varmints alone, Maigan, old boy,” +he said, having become accustomed to long +conversations with his companion. “I expect +you’re pretty nearly as silly as a man. Experience +teaches you mighty little. Dogs and +men have been stung since the beginning of +the world, I expect, and keep on making the +same old mistakes. Hold hard, old fellow! +I know it hurts like the deuce but these things +have just got to come out.”</p> +<p>Maigan is the name of the wolf, in some of +the Indian dialects, and Hugo’s friend seemed +but little removed from a wolfish ancestry. +He evidently did his best to bear the punishment +bravely, for he never whimpered. At +times, however, he sought hard to pull his +muzzle away. Finally, to his great relief, +the last serrated quill was pulled out and he +jumped up, placing his paws on the man’s +shoulders, perhaps to show he held no grudge. +After his master had petted him, an excitable +red squirrel required his immediate attention +and, as usual, led him to a fruitless chase. He +returned soon, scratching at the boards, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +his master let him in and closed the door. A +moment later the animal’s sharp ears pricked +up; the wiry hair on his back rose and he +uttered a low growl.</p> +<p>“Keep still, Maigan!” ordered his master. +“Wonder who’s coming? Maybe one of +Papineau’s young ones.”</p> +<p>The fire was getting low and he put a couple +of sticks of yellow birch in the stove. A few +seconds later he heard a shout that came from +behind the saplings which, in some places, +concealed the old tote-road from his view. +No one but Big Stefan could bellow out so +powerfully, to be sure. He opened the door +and Maigan leaped out. In more leisurely +fashion he followed and stopped, in astonishment, +as he caught sight of the dog-team flying +back towards Carcajou.</p> +<p>“That’s a queer start!” he commented. +“First time I ever knew him not to stop for +a cup of tea and a talk.”</p> +<p>He thought he saw something like a black +box through the branches and went up. It +must be something Stefan had left for him. +He walked up the path in leisurely fashion. +There was evidently no hurry. He was feeling +a little disappointment, for he had become +fond of Stefan during his long prospecting +trip and would have been glad of a chat to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +the invariable accompaniment of the hospitable +tea-kettle. He had just made some pretty +good biscuits, too. It was a pity the Swede +wouldn’t share them with him. He reached +the black box which, to his surprise, turned +out to be a small corded trunk lying on the +hard dry snow, with a cheap leather bag on +top of it. He looked about him in wonder +and stopped, suddenly, staring in astonishment +at the form of a woman, shapeless in +great ill-fitting garments too big for her. She +was leaning back against the great bare trunk +of the old blasted pine and the dog was skulking +around her, curiously. Then he hurried +towards her, calling out a word of warning to +Maigan, who seemed to realize that this was +no enemy. And as he came the woman, +deathly pale, seemed to look upon him as if +he had been some terrifying ghost. She put +out her hands, just a little, as if seeking to +protect herself from him.</p> +<p>“Are––are you Hugo Ennis?” she faltered.</p> +<p>“That’s my name,” he said. “Every one +knows me around here. What––what can +I do for you?”</p> +<p>“My––my name is Madge Nelson,” she +Stammered. “I––I’m Madge Nelson from––from +New York.”</p> +<p>“How do you do, Miss Nelson?” he said, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +quietly, touching his fur cap. “You––I’m +afraid you’ve had a mighty cold ride. +What’s happened to Stefan to make him go +back? Lost something on the road, has he?”</p> +<p>“I––I’m afraid I’m the only lost thing +around here,” she said, seeking to hold back +the tears that were beginning to well up in her +eyes. “Oh! I think––I think I’m becoming +mad!” she suddenly cried out, bitterly. “Is––is +that your––your house, the––the residence +you spoke of?”</p> +<p>“The––the residence!” he repeated. “And +I spoke of it, did I? Well, I suppose that +anything with a roof on it is a residence, if +you come to that. Yes, that’s it, the little +shack among the birches, and you’d better +come in till Stefan gets back, for it’s mighty +cold here and––and if you’re from New +York you’re not used to this sort of thing. +It’s the best I can offer you, but I really never +thought it worth talking about. It’s the +slight improvement on a dog-kennel that we +folks have to be contented with, in these parts. +Come right in; you look half frozen.”</p> +<p>“And––and that is the sort of place you’ve +brought me to?” she cried, her eyes now +flashing at him in anger.</p> +<p>“Well, it seems to me that it’s Stefan that +brought you,” he replied, rather abashed.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span></div> +<p>“That––that’s only a mean quibble,” she +retorted, hotly. “And––and where’s the +town––or the village––and the other people, +the friends who were to greet me?”</p> +<p>The young man was beginning to feel +rather provoked at her questions.</p> +<p>“The nearest settlers are a short mile away,––the +Papineaus, very decent French Canadians. +Tom Carew’s shack you must have +passed on your way here. The only village, +of course, is Carcajou, and that’s twelve long +miles away. But Mrs. Papineau is a real good +old soul, if that’s where you expect to stop. +A dozen kids about the place but they’re jolly +little beggars. Her husband’s trapping now, +I believe, but of course I’ll take you up +there.”</p> +<p>At this she seemed to feel somewhat relieved. +It was evident that she was in no +great peril. Yet she looked again at his shack, +with her lower lip in the bite of her teeth.</p> +<p>“You––you didn’t really believe I’d +come,” she said, her mouth quivering. “You––you +were just making fun of me, I see, with––with +that residence and––and the ladies +who were ready to welcome me. Where are +they?”</p> +<p>Ennis was scratching his head, or the cap +over it, as he stared again at her. He realized +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +that some amazing, terrible mistake must have +been made, as he thought––or that this girl +must be the victim of some dreadful misunderstanding, +if not of a foul plot. He began +to pity her. She looked so weak, so helpless, +in spite of the anger she had shown.</p> +<p>“There––there are no ladies,” he said, +lamely, “except Mrs. Papineau and Mrs. +Carew. They’re first-rate women, both of +’em. And of course Mrs. Papineau is your +only resource till to-morrow, unless Stefan is +coming back for you.”</p> +<p>“He isn’t,” she declared. “I said nothing +about going back.”</p> +<p>“That’s awkward,” he admitted. “You’ll +tell me all about this thing later on, won’t +you, because I might be able to help you out. +But you’ll be all right for a while, anyway. +I’ll take you there.”</p> +<p>“Please start at once,” she cried, desperately. +“I––I can’t stay here for another +instant.”</p> +<p>“I can be ready in a very few minutes,” +he told her, quietly. “But won’t you please +come over to the shack. I’m sure you’re beginning +to feel the cold. You––you’re shivering +and––and I’m afraid you look rather +ill.”</p> +<p>She had insisted on Stefan’s taking back +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +some of the things she had borrowed from his +wife, and had been standing there in rather +inadequate clothing. Ennis pulled off his +heavy mackinaw jacket.</p> +<p>“You must put this on at once,” he told her, +gently enough, “and come right over there +with me.”</p> +<p>Madge shrank from him, as if she feared to +be touched by him, and yet there was something +in the frank way in which he addressed +her, perhaps also in the clear and unembarrassed +look of his eyes, that was gradually +allaying her fears and the fierce repulsion of +the first few moments. Finally, chilled as +she was to the very marrow of her bones, she +consented to accept his offer and submitted to +his helping her on with the coat.</p> +<p>“There’s a good fire in the shack just now,” +he told her. “It’s absolutely necessary for +you to get thoroughly warmed up before you +start off again. A cup of hot tea would do +you a lot of good, too, after that long ride on +Stefan’s toboggan. It’s no joke of an undertaking +for a––a young lady who isn’t used to +such things.”</p> +<p>Madge was still hesitating. The suffering +look that had come into her eyes moved the +young man to greater pity for her.</p> +<p>“I––I give you my word you have absolutely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +nothing to fear,” he assured her, whereupon +she followed him meekly, feeling very +faint now. She half feared that she might +have to clutch at his sleeve, if her footsteps +failed her, for she felt that at any moment she +might stagger and fall. She gasped again as +she looked at the shack they were nearing, +but, as she beheld the scenery of the great +pool, something in it that was very grand and +beautiful appealed to her for an instant. Yet +she felt crushed by it, as if she had been some +infinitesimal insect beside that stupendous +crashing of waters, before the great ledges +whose tops were hirsute with gnarled firs and +twisted jack-pines. She stopped for a moment, +perhaps owing to her weakness, or possibly +because of awe at the majesty of the +scene.</p> +<p>“I just love it,” said the man. “It grows +more utterly splendid every time one looks +at it. See that mass of rubbish on the top of +that great hemlock. It is the nest of a pair of +ospreys. They come every year, I’ve been +told. Last summer I saw them circling high +up in the heavens, at times, and they would +utter shrill cries as if they had been the guardians +of the falls and warned me off. But we +had better hurry in, Miss––Miss Nelson.”</p> +<p>For an instant she had listened, wondering. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +This man did not speak like a common toiler +of city or country. His manner, somewhat +distant, in no way reminded her of the coarse +familiarity she had often been subjected to in +shop and factory. But a moment later such +thoughts passed off and she followed him, +resentfully, feeling that she was to some extent +forced to submit to his will. As Ennis pulled +the door open and held it for her to walk in, +he looked at her keenly. He had suddenly +remembered hearing that exposure to intense +cold had sometimes actually disturbed the +brains of people; that it had brought on some +form of insanity. He wondered whether, +perhaps, this had been the case with her? It +was with greater concern and sympathy that +he felt he must treat her. The vagaries of +her language, the reproaches she seemed to +think he deserved, were doubtless things she +was not responsible for. And then she looked +so weary, so overcome, so ready to collapse +with faintness!</p> +<p>Madge entered the shack. It had been +swept, neatly enough, and everything was arranged +in orderly fashion, except some loose +things piled up in one corner, out of the way. +The little stove was glowing, and the draft +was purring softly. The girl pulled off her +mitts and held her reddened hands to it while +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +Hugo brought her one of his rough chairs. +Then, without a word, he placed a kettle on +the fire, after which he brought out a white +enameled cup and a small pan containing +some of his biscuits. After cogitating for a +moment he also placed on the table a tin of +sardines.</p> +<p>Madge had dropped upon the chair, and +began to feel more unutterably weary than +ever. The heat, close to the stove, became too +great for her and she moved her chair to the +table, a couple of feet away, and placed her +arms upon it. Her head fell forward on them, +and when, a few moments later, Hugo spoke +to her and she lifted up her face he was dismayed +as he saw the tears that were running +down her cheeks. The man could only bite +his lips. What consolation or comfort could +he proffer? It was perhaps better to appear +to take no notice of her distress. But the +weeping of genuine suffering and unhappiness +is a hard thing for a youth to see. The impulse +had come to him to cry out for information, +to beg her to explain, to question her, to +get at the bottom of all this mystery. He was +held from this by the renewed thought that +her mind was probably affected. He might +further irritate her or cause her still deeper +chagrin. Even if he erred in this idea the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +moment was probably ill-chosen. It would +be better for her to tell her tale before others +also. He would wait until after he had taken +her over to Papineau’s. She looked so harmless +and weak that the idea that she might +prove dangerous never entered his head.</p> +<p>The kettle began to sing and a moment later +the water was boiling hard.</p> +<p>“I can’t offer you much of a meal, Miss +Nelson,” he said, seeking to make his voice +as pleasant as possible. “You’ve probably +never tried sour-dough biscuits. Mrs. Papineau’s +are better, but you may be able to manage +one or two of these. That good woman’s +a mighty good cook, as cooking goes in these +parts. Here’s a can of condensed milk; +won’t you help yourself? You must really +try to eat something. Do you think you could +try a little cold corned beef? I have some +canned stuff that’s not half bad. Or it would +take but a moment to broil you a partridge +I got yesterday. But I’ll open these sardines +first.”</p> +<p>He went to work with a large jack-knife, +but she thanked him, briefly, in a low voice, +and refused to accept anything but the tea +and a bit of the biscuit. She wondered why +he didn’t also sit down to eat. It bothered her +to see him hovering over her like some sort of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +waiter. He was probably staring at her, when +her head was turned, and enjoying his dastardly +jest. When she thought of those letters +she had received and of all they contained of +lies, of unimaginable falsehoods, the man began +again to repel her like some venomous +reptile. She could have shrieked out as he +came near. What an actor he was! What +control he held over voice and face as he pretended +to know nothing about her. His effort +had been evident, from the very first instant +they had met, to disclaim the slightest knowledge +of her or of the reasons for her coming! +She felt utterly bewildered. He answered to +that name of Hugo Ennis and had admitted +that this was Roaring River, as Stefan had +also told her. Moreover, the big Swede knew +perfectly well that she was coming and expected. +In word, in action, in every move of +his, this man was lying, stupidly, coarsely, +with features indifferent or pretending concern. +It was unbearable.</p> +<p>She turned and looked at him again, swiftly +but haggardly. She would never have conceived +the possibility of a man dissembling so, +in letters first and lying again in every move +and every tone of his voice. How could +he keep it so tranquil and unmoved? Yet +when he came near her again, insisting on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +filling her cup once more, she seemed for an +instant to forget the rough clothes, the mean +little shack, the strange conspiracy of which +she was the victim and which had aroused her +passionate protests. Over the first mouthfuls +of hot tea she had nearly choked, but she had +found the warm brew welcome and its odor +grateful and pleasant. It mingled in some +way with the scent of the balsam boughs with +which the bunk was covered and over which +the blankets reposed. She had experienced +something like this feeling in the hospital, the +first time she had been an inmate of it. It +was as if again she had been very ill and +awakened in an unfamiliar and bewildering +place. The great weakness she experienced +was something like that which she had felt in +the great ward, where the rows of beds +stretched before her and at either side. Some +were screened, she remembered, and held the +poor creatures for whom there was no longer +any hope. It was as if now a turn of her head +could have revealed a white-capped nurse +moving silently, deftly bringing comfort. +Her hands had become quite warm again; +she passed one of them over her brow as if +this motion might have dispelled some strange +vision.</p> +<p>The big dog, Maigan, came to her and laid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +his sharp head and pointed cold muzzle on +her lap, and she stroked it, mechanically. +This, at any rate, was something genuine and +friendly that had come to her. Again and +again she passed her hand over the rough neck +and head. At this, however, something +within her broke again and her head fell once +more on her arms as she sobbed,––sobbed as +if her heart would break.</p> +<p>“I––I’m afraid you must have gone +through a good deal of––of unhappiness,” +faltered the man, anxiously. “It––it’s really +too bad and I’d give anything if I could....”</p> +<p>But the girl lifted up her hand, as if to +check his words. What right had a man who +was guilty of such conduct to begin proffering +a repentance that was unavailing, nay, contemptible? +Did he think that a few halting +words could atone for his cruelty, could dispel +the evil he had wrought?</p> +<p>At this he kept silent again, during long +minutes, appalled as men always are at the +first sight of a woman’s tears. He felt utterly +helpless to console or advise, and was becoming +more and more bewildered at this interruption +of his lonely and quiet life. Since she +didn’t want him to speak he would hold his +tongue. If she hadn’t looked so dreadfully +unhappy he would have deemed her an infernal +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +nuisance and hurried her departure. +But in this case how could a fellow be brutal +to a poor thing that wailed like a child, that +seemed weaker than one and more in need of +gentle care?</p> +<p>Soon she rose from the table, determinedly, +with some of her energy renewed by the food +and hot drink.</p> +<p>“If you please, let us go now,” she told him, +firmly.</p> +<p>“I’m entirely at your service,” he answered. +“I think you had better let me lend you a +cap. That thing you have on your head can +hardly keep your ears from freezing. I have +a new one that’s never been worn. Wait a +moment.”</p> +<p>His search was soon rewarded. She had +kept on but her inefficient little New York +hat with its faded buds and wrinkled leaves +and now tried to remove it. Her hands +trembled, however, and the strain of travel +had been hard. All at once, as she pulled +away, her coiled hair escaped all restraint of +pins and fell down upon her shoulders, in a +great waving chestnut mass. At this Hugo +opened the door and ran out, returning a +couple of minutes later with the bag that had +been left on the trunk.</p> +<p>“I––I expect you need some of your +things,” he ventured.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></div> +<p>She looked at him with some gratitude. +Most men wouldn’t have thought of it. Nodding +her thanks she opened the thing and was +compelled to pull out various articles before +she could get at her comb and brush. Her +movements were still very nervous. It was +embarrassing to be there before that man +with one’s hair all undone and awry. Something +fell from her hand, striking the edge of +the table and toppling to the floor. There +was a deafening explosion and the shack was +full of the dense smoke of black powder. +When Madge recovered from her terror the +young man, looking very pale, had bent down +and picked up the fallen weapon. For a +moment she thought there was a strange +look in his eyes.</p> +<p>“I––I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed.</p> +<p>“If––if you were to hit a man with that +thing he’d get real mad,” he said, repeating +an age-worn joke. “At any rate I’m glad +you were not hurt. Rather unexpected, +wasn’t it? I really think you’d better let me +take the other shells out. It’s a nasty little +cheap weapon and, I should judge, quite an +unsafe bit of hardware for a lady to handle. +Whoever gave you that thing ought to be +spanked. But––but, then, of course you +didn’t know it was loaded.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span></div> +<p>“I––I did know it was loaded!” cried +Madge. “I––I had the man load it for me! +I––I thought it might protect me from insult, +perhaps, or––or let me take matters in my +own hands, if need be. I––I didn’t know +what sort of place I would be coming to or––or +what sort of man would––would receive +me! I––I felt safer with it!”</p> +<p>Maigan was still ferreting out corners of +the room, having leaped up at the shot as if +the idea had come to him that some rat or +chipmunk must lie dead somewhere. There +nearly always was something to pick up when +his master fired.</p> +<p>“Keep still, boy!” ordered the latter. “I +think we’d better count that as a miss. I’ll +wait outside until you’ve fixed yourself up, +Miss Nelson, and are ready to go. I’ll have +to hitch up Maigan first. As soon as you come +out I’ll wrap you in my blankets; you’ll be +quite comfortable. We haven’t very far to +go, anyway.”</p> +<p>“Thank you––it––it won’t take me a +minute,” she answered, without looking at +him.</p> +<p>She had discovered in a corner of the shack +a bit of looking-glass he used to shave by, and +stood before it, never noticing that he made a +rather long job of drawing on his heavy fur +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +coat. He went out with his dog and got the +sled ready, with a wry look upon his face. +Then, as there was nothing more to do, he sat +down upon the rough bench that stood near +the door. He winced and made a grimace as +his hand went up to his shoulder.</p> +<p>“The little fool,” he told himself. “She +seems to have been loaded for bear. Glad it +was a thirty-two instead of a forty-five Colt. +I didn’t think it was anything, just a bad +scratch, after the first sting of it, but it feels +like fire and brimstone now. It’s an infernal +nuisance. Good Lord! Suppose she’d +plugged herself instead of me. That would +have been a fix for fair!”</p> +<p>This idea evidently horrified him. He had +a vision of blood and tears and screams, of +having to rush off to Carcajou to telegraph +for the nearest doctor. Perhaps people would +even have suspected him. He saw Madge +with her big dark-rimmed eyes and that perfectly +wonderful hair, lying dead or dying on +the floor of his shack. It was utterly gruesome, +unspeakable, and a strong shiver passed +over him.</p> +<p>“But I wonder who the deuce she was +going to shoot with that thing?” he finally +asked himself. “Oh, she must be crazy, the +poor little thing! It’s really too bad!”</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/p0122a-ins.jpg' alt='' title='' width='390' height='480' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“I’m glad you were not hurt. Rather unexpected, wasn’t it”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span></div> +<p>He then thought of what a fool he had been +to give her back that gimcrack pistol. She +probably had more shells. He must contrive +to get them away from her. There was no +saying what an insane person might do.</p> +<p>“I wish Stefan would turn up soon,” he +cogitated. “I’d give a lot to find out what +he knows about her. It was mighty funny his +never stopping here for a minute.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_DEEPER_IN_THE_WILDERNESS' id='CHAPTER_VI_DEEPER_IN_THE_WILDERNESS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>Deeper in the Wilderness</span></h3> +</div> +<p>Within the shack Madge was now ready +to start. Hugo’s big woolen cap was +pulled down well over her ears and she again +wore a coat much too large for her, a thing +which, in other days long gone, might have +made her laugh.</p> +<p>As she moved to the door she hesitated. +Where was she going to? What object was +there in moving there or anywhere else? The +wild dream that had come upon her in the +big city was dispelled and nothing on earth +remained but the end that must come in some +way or other. Of course she had no desire to +remain in this shack, but neither had she any +desire for anything else. What was the use +of anything she might do? By this time she +was stranded high and dry among breakers +innumerable, with never the slightest outlook +towards safety. The few dollars in her pockets +offered no possibility of return. This man +might give her enough to get back, if she +asked him. It was the least he could do. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +she would rather have torn out her tongue +than ask him for money. And it would only +be going back to that dreadful city in which +she had suffered so much. No, it was unthinkable! +Better by far for her to lie down +somewhere in that great forest and die. And +now she was about to see more strangers and +remain over night in new surroundings. +Where would she drift to after that?</p> +<p>She made a gesture of despair. Her down-hanging +arms straightened rigidly at her side, +with the fists clenched as when one seeks to be +brave in the face of impending agony. Her +head was thrown back and her eyes nearly +closed. In that position she remained for a +moment, her brain whirling, her head on fire +with a burning pain. Then the tension relaxed +a little and she cast another look about +her, without seeing anything, after which she +pushed the door open and stepped out upon +the crunching snow.</p> +<p>Hugo rose at once, albeit somewhat stiffly, +and spoke to the dog who stood up, with head +turned to watch the proceedings.</p> +<p>“I don’t think I’d better take the trunk on +this trip,” he explained. “It would make a +rather heavy load for just one dog. We’ll +take your bag, of course, and I can bring the +trunk over to-morrow morning. It will be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +perfectly safe there by the road. We haven’t +any thieves in this country, that I know of. +Now will you please sit down there, in the +middle. Maigan will pull you all right. I’ll +get the blankets.”</p> +<p>“But––couldn’t I walk? You said it was +only a mile. I––I think I could manage +that,” ventured Madge, dully.</p> +<p>“I don’t think you could,” he answered. +“I’m sure you’re quite played out. In some +places the snow is bound to be soft. I could +give you a pair of snowshoes but you wouldn’t +know how to use them and they’d tire you to +death. You’ve already had a pretty hard +day, I know. Maigan won’t mind it in the +least. He’d take the trunk, too, readily +enough, but that would make slow going.”</p> +<p>She obeyed. What did she care? What +difference could it make? He wrapped the +blankets over her, after she had sat down on +an old wolfskin he had covered the sled with. +After this he took a long line attached to the +toboggan and passed it over his right shoulder, +pulling at the side of the dog, who toiled on +briskly. When they reached the tote-road it +seemed rougher than ever and the country +wilder. To her right Madge could see the +river that was nothing but a winding jumble +of snow-capped rocks and grinding ice, with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +here and there patches of inky-looking water, +where the ice-crust had split asunder. Also +she dully noted places where the water seemed +to froth up over the surface, boiling in great +suds from which rose, straight up in the still +air, a cloud of heavy gray vapor. The cold +felt even more intense than earlier in the day. +It impressed the girl as if some tremendous +force were bearing down mightily upon the +world and holding it in thrall. With the lowering +of the sun the shadows had grown +longer. After a time the slight sound of the +man’s snowshoes over the crackling snow, of +the scraping toboggan, of the panting dog, +began to seem to Madge like some sort of +desecration of a stillness in which man was +nothing and only an eternal and vengeful +power reigned supreme. In spite of the +patches of sunlight filtering down through +branches or glaring upon the river there was +now something dismal in all this, and she began +to feel the cold again, penetrating, relentless, +evil in its might.</p> +<p>They had gone about half way when, on the +top of a slight rise, both dog and man stopped +for a moment’s rest. The latter looked quite +exhausted. His face was set hard, in an expression +she could not fathom.</p> +<p>“Really, I think I could walk,” said the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +girl again. “There––there’s no reason you +should work so hard for me. And––and you +look terribly tired.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no!” he disclaimed, hastily. “I––I +could pull you all by myself if––well, it’s +only a short distance away now, and Maigan +is doing nearly all the work, anyway. I––I +don’t think anything I can do for you can +quite make up for all that you seem to have +gone through.”</p> +<p>He looked at her, very gravely, as he sat +down upon a fallen log, close at hand, after +clearing off some snow with a sweep of his +mitt. There was something very sad, she +thought, an expression of pain upon his face +which she noted and which led her into a very +natural error. She was compelled to consider +these things as evidences of regret, of a +conscience that was beginning to irk him +badly. Her head bent down till she was staring +into her lap; she felt that tears were once +more dangerously near.</p> +<p>No thought came to her of appealing to +this man, of suing for pity and charity, but +she began to speak, the words coming from a +full heart that gave her pain were spoken in +low tones, nearly as if she had been talking to +herself.</p> +<p>“I––I’m thinking of the boys who were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +stoning the frog,” she began, haltingly. “You +remember. It was fun for them but death to +the frog. I––I think a good many things +work that way in the world, don’t––don’t +you, Mr. Ennis? You––you don’t really +look like––like a very bad man. If––if you +had a sister or mother you’d––you’d probably +be kind to them. What––what do you +think of it yourself, honestly? A––a girl, +who’s a fool, of course, but after all just a girl, +is dying of loneliness and misery in a big city. +She––she can’t stand it any more, not––not +for another day. And then she finds that +paper and like––like an utter fool she answers +that advertisement. It––it looked like a bare +chance of––of being able to keep body and +soul together, and––and remain honest and +decent, which––which is a hard enough thing +for a girl to do, in––in some places. And +then the man answers back. She––I never +expected he would, but he did, and he offered +all sorts of wonderful things that––that +looked like heaven itself to––to a hungry +failure of a girl to whom life had become too +heavy a burden to bear. And––and so she +answers that letter and––and tries to tell the +truth about herself, and says that––that she is +prepared to carry out her part of the bargain +if––if the man has spoken truly of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +himself––if––if he can respect her––treat her like +a woman who––who is ready to do her best +to––to deserve a little kindness and consideration. +And he tells her again to come––to +come as soon as possible, and––and there was +nothing to detain her for a moment. The city +had been too cruel––too utterly cruel. And +then she comes here and finds that––that it +was all lies––wicked lies––I’m sorry, it’s +the only word I can use.”</p> +<p>Hugo was staring at her, open-mouthed, +but before he could utter a word she began +again:</p> +<p>“The man had never meant it, of course––he +wasn’t awaiting her at all, as he had promised––and +when she finally comes to him he +speaks coldly, cynically, denying his words, +pretending he knows nothing. It––it’s a +rather clumsy way of getting out of it, seems +to me. Anyway he saw that his joke had been +carried too far. It––it hasn’t proved such a +very good one, has it? It––it has turned out +to be pretty poor fun. I––I dare say I deserve +it all. It––it was awful folly on my +part, I see it now, and––and I’m ashamed, +dreadfully ashamed––I feel the redness +mounting to––to the very roots of my hair––and +it overwhelms me. Don’t––don’t you +feel something of––of the same sort, or––or +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +do you still think the joke was a good +one?”</p> +<p>She had grown rather excited and it was +quite true that a deep blush was now mantling +her face. In her halting speech––in the +words that had come slowly at first, and then +had flowed more rapidly, there had been +wounded pride beside the deep resentment +and the pain.</p> +<p>“Do––do you really believe such a +thing?” answered the man, wincing again. +“You speak of something that is an abomination, +that would stink in a decent man’s nostrils. +And––and you speak of shame! Do +you think such a word could express all that +a man would be overwhelmed with if he had +done such a thing? Great Heavens! Miss +Nelson, a man having once committed such a +crime would be humiliated for the rest of his +life, it seems to me. It would be an unpardonable +sin for which there could be no forgiveness, +none surely on the part of the +woman, and none that the man could ever +grant himself. It––it surely isn’t possible +that any such thing has occurred, that any +man could so lower himself beneath all the +dirt that his feet have ever trodden.”</p> +<p>He spoke strongly, his face now also high +in color, his voice tremulous and indignant, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +his hard right fist clenched till the arm vibrated +with the strain.</p> +<p>Madge looked at him again. For a moment +his tone had been convincing and she +had nearly believed that he spoke the truth. +But the evidence against him was too strong.</p> +<p>“That––that big Stefan, your friend, the +man who says that you saved his life, knew +that I was coming,” she faltered, her voice +shaking while her body felt limp with the +infinite discouragement that had returned to +her in full. “He brought you my message, at +least he told me so. What––what is the use +of my saying anything more? I––I think +we might as well be going on, if––if you and +your dog are rested. He––he looks like a +decent fellow, Maigan does. There are things +a dog wouldn’t do, I’m sure.”</p> +<p>“Miss Nelson, as God is my judge, I’m +guiltless in this matter,” the man’s voice rang +out.</p> +<p>“Go on, Maigan, mush on!” he called, and +leaned forward on the rope, passed over one +shoulder. Her last words had brought a +moment of anger and indignation. Save for +the few words he had uttered he felt it useless +to protest his innocence, and the notion of her +insanity returned to him, strongly. But those +were strange things she had said about Stefan +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +and that message. As soon as possible he +would go over to Carcajou and interview his +friend the Swede. The girl’s disordered +mind must have distorted something that he +said. He began to wonder whether there +was any truth at all about her story, whether +she really came from New York, whether she +was not some poor creature escaped from +some place for the care of the insane. But +then how had she got hold of his name and +how had she ever heard of Roaring River? +The more he puzzled over these problems the +more tangled they appeared to be.</p> +<p>“I dare say I’ll find out about it soon +enough,” he told himself, impatiently, for the +pain he suffered began to grow worse with +every step, and an unaccountable weariness +had come over him. That thing on his shoulder +must be a mere scratch, he tried to persuade +himself, in spite of the sharp pangs it +gave him. Manlike he grew more obstinate +as his strength began to fail, and pulled +harder, with the sweat now running down his +clammy forehead and freezing on his face.</p> +<p>Maigan, also, was bending hard to his task, +and they went along steadily and rapidly. +The toboggan was crackling and slithering +over the snow upon which the dark indigo +shadows were throwing uncanny designs. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +The track was smooth and level now and the +dog could manage very well alone, so that +Hugo pulled no longer. Once, as he chanced +to stumble, the girl thought she heard a groan +from him. She began to wish that she had +been able to believe him, but it was utterly +impossible, although she suddenly found it in +her heart to pity him, to extenuate the abomination +of his conduct. Why that last sacrilegious +lie he had uttered? The man was suffering; +it looked as if the iron were entering +his soul. Oh! the pity of it! If he had only +acknowledged his offence and begged her +pardon she might perhaps have forgiven. A +moment later, however, the grim outlook before +her presented itself again. There were +two things for her to choose from; one was +that fitly named Roaring River along whose +bank the road wound its snaky trail and the +other consisted in the cheap little pistol in her +bag. Well, there might be comfort after all +in this wild land, upon the scented fallen +needles of the pines or under that pure white +ice. Her features, which for a moment had +become stony and hard, now softened again. +It was best to endeavor to harbor no more +thoughts of contempt and hatred when one’s +own soul might soon be suing for forgiveness.</p> +<p>They topped another rise of ground beyond +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +which there was a hollow, a tiny valley nestled +among great firs and poplars and birches. In +the middle of it Madge saw another and much +larger shack. It might really have been +called a house, but for its being made of logs. +A film of smoke was rising straight up in the +still air, from a chimney built of rough stones, +and some dogs began to bark loudly. A +woman came out, with a child hanging to her +skirts, and shaded her eyes with her hand +while she scolded the animals, who slunk +away slowly.</p> +<p>“<i>Bonjour</i>,” she called out, cheerfully. +“Ah! It is Monsieur Hugo! How you do, +sare? Glad for see you! Come along quick. +It ees cole again, terrible cole.”</p> +<p>For a second she stared at the young woman +on the toboggan, but her civility came at once +uppermost and she smiled pleasantly, and +rushed up to help Madge arise, brushing off +some of the snow that had fallen on her from +the trees.</p> +<p>“Come inside quick. I have it good hot in +de house. You all perished wid dat cole, +Mees. Now you get varm again and I make +tea <i>tout de suite</i>.”</p> +<p>She had seized Madge’s hands in her own +big and capable ones, with the never-failing +hospitality and friendliness of the wilderness, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +and led her indoors at once. Hugo let Maigan +loose, with a word of warning, for the other +dogs had begun to circle about him jealously, +and growled a little, probably for the sake of +form, for they took good care to keep out of +reach of his long fangs. They had tried him +once before and knew that he was their master. +Hugo, thankful that the journey was +ended, took up the girl’s bag and followed +her into the house, after he had taken off his +snowshoes, a job he accomplished with some +difficulty.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Papineau,” he began, “this young +lady came over to my place, a couple of hours +ago, and––and there’s been some––some +mistake. She thought there was a village +here, I believe. She only expects to remain +with you till to-morrow, I think, and till then +I will be ever so grateful if you will make her +as comfortable as possible. I’m afraid she’s +dreadfully tired and cold. I expect to return +in the morning to take her back to Carcajou, +unless––unless she would prefer to rest a day +or two here.”</p> +<p>“Ver ’appy to see de lady,” declared Mrs. +Papineau, heartily. “Tak’ off you coat, +Monsieur Hugo, an’ sit here by de fire. Hey! +Baptiste, you bring more big piece of birch. +Colette, put kettle on for bile water qvick. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +Tak’ dis seat, lady. I pull off dem blanket. +You no need dem more. Turriple cole now. +Las’ night we ’ear de wolfs ’untin’ along dem +’ardwood ridges, back of de river; it ees always +sign of big cole. And de river she crack +awful, and de trees dey split like guns shoot. +Glad you come an’ get varm, Mees.”</p> +<p>Madge looked about her, after she had +smiled at the woman in thanks. For the +second time that day she had entered a home +of kindly and well-disposed people that +seemed to be built of an altogether different +clay from that which composed the folk of +the big city. In Stefan’s home the atmosphere +had been gentle, one of earnest, quiet toil, +with the simple accompaniment of a kindly +religious belief according to the Lutheran +persuasion. In the dwelling she had now +entered, of fervent French Canadians, she +noted the vivid chromo of a departed pope +facing the still gaudier representation of the +British Royal family, if the printed legend +could be believed. They were shown in all +the colors of the rainbow, as were also some +saints whose glaring portraits hung on either +side of the door, surmounted by dried palms +reminiscent of Easter festivals. There seemed +to be any number of children, from an infant +lying in a homemade cradle of boards, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +one of which displayed an advertisement of +soap, to a bashful youth who looked at Hugo +as if he worshipped him and a freckled, +gawky and friendly-faced girl of fifteen who +stood around, evidently delighted to see +people and anxious to be civil to them.</p> +<p>And this welcome she had received seemed +to be characteristic of all these folks living in +the back of beyond. Everywhere she had met +friendliness; people had seemed actually +eager to help; they smiled as if life had been +a thing of joy in which the good things must +be distributed far and near and enjoyed by all. +They seemed ready to share their possessions +with strangers that chanced within their gates. +It was a spirit intensely restful, consoling, +bringing peace to one’s heart. It gave the girl +a brief vision of something that was heavenly. +She felt that she could so easily have made +her home in this amazing region that opened +its arms and actually welcomed new faces. +But the thought came to her that she had only +been vouchsafed a fleeting glance at it and to +gaze, as Moses did of old, upon a Promised +Land she could never really enter.</p> +<p>“It is no need for to h’ask, Monsieur +Hugo,” Madge heard the woman saying. +“Ve do h’all ve can, sure! It ees a gladness +to see de yong lady an’ heem pretty face, all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +red vid de cole. Come by de fire, mees. +Celestine ’ere she pull aff your beeg Dutch +stockin’. Dey no belong you, sure. Colette, +push heem chair near for de lady. Hippolyte, +put couple steeks now on ze fire. Mees, +I ’ope you mak’ yourself to home now. Monsieur +Hugo, you stop for to h’eat a bite vid us. +Ve haf’ in de shed still one big quarter from +de <i>orignal</i>, de beeg mose vat my man he shoot +two veeks ago. Und dere pleanty <i>patates</i>, +pleanty pork, all you vant.”</p> +<p>“No, thank you ever so much, I––I think +I’d better be going. It will be dark pretty +soon. I know perfectly well that you will +take excellent care of Miss Nelson and so I +think I’ll say good-by now.”</p> +<p>Some of the children trooped around him, +disappointed, and Mrs. Papineau came +nearer, eying him curiously. Suddenly her +keen eyes caught something and she pointed +with a finger.</p> +<p>“Vat de mattaire vid you h’arm?” she +asked, excitedly. “’Ow you get ’urted?”</p> +<p>“Oh! That! That’s nothing,” he answered, +drawing back. “’Tisn’t worth bothering +about. Good-night!”</p> +<p>“You no be one beeg fool, Monsieur +Hugo!” she ordered him, masterfully. “Now +you sit down an’ let me look heem arm right +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +avay quick. Ven de cole strike heem he get +bad sure, dat h’arm.”</p> +<p>In spite of his objections she laid violent +hands on him, insisting on pulling off his coat, +whereupon a dark patch had spread. She +also drew off the heavy sweater he wore +underneath it, which was stained even more +deeply. When she sought to roll up the sleeve +of his flannel shirt it would not go up high +enough, but the remedy was close at hand, in +the form of a pair of scissors, and she swiftly +ripped up a seam. On the outer part of the +shoulder she revealed a rather large and +jagged wound that was all smeared with +blood, which still oozed from it slowly.</p> +<p>“Who go an’ shoot you?” she asked angrily. +“I see de ’ole in de coat an’ de sweater. I +know some one shoot. Vat for he shoot?”</p> +<p>“Well, it was just a silly little accident +with a pistol,” he acknowledged with much +embarrassment. “It––it won’t be anything +after it’s washed off. It feels all right enough +and I wish you wouldn’t bother about it. +I’ll attend to it after I get home. It––it’s +stopped hurting now.”</p> +<p>But he was compelled to submit to the +washing of his injury and to the application +of some sort of a dressing which Mrs. Papineau +appeared to put on rather skilfully. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +Wounds of all sorts are but too common in the +wilderness, unfortunately, and doctors few +and far between. The children had crowded +around him, looking in awe, and their mother +kept ordering them away. Madge had risen +from her seat and looked at the injury, horrified +and trembling. The man had never said +a word when that bullet had found its billet +in his shoulder, and yet it must have hurt him +dreadfully. He––he might have been killed, +owing to her clumsiness, she reflected in consternation. +And now he said nothing to explain +how it had happened––he actually +seemed to be trying to shield her.</p> +<p>“I––I’m dreadfully sorry,” said the girl, +impulsively. “It––it was all my fault, because +I let the revolver fall and it went off. +But I didn’t know he was hurt. He never +told me, and he insisted on pulling at that +sled, with his dog.”</p> +<p>“Yes, it was just a little accident,” admitted +Hugo, “and we’re making altogether too +much fuss about it. It really doesn’t amount +to anything, Miss Nelson, and it feels splendidly +now. I’m ever so much obliged to you, +Mrs. Papineau. And so I’ll say good-night. +I hope you’ll rest well, Miss Nelson. I’ll be +here in good time to-morrow, never fear.”</p> +<p>He shook hands with the housewife, who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +took care to wipe her own upon her apron in +preparation for the ceremony. To the children +he bade a comprehensive farewell, after +which he turned again to Madge, advanced +a step and then hesitated. He had doubtless +meant to shake hands with her also but, at the +last moment, probably feared a rebuff. At +any rate he nodded, bringing a smile to his +features, and opened the door into the bitter +cold. After he had put on his snowshoes +again and hitched up Maigan to the toboggan +he disappeared into the darkness. For an instant +Madge listened, but she heard no sound. +Everything was still outside, but for the rare +crackings of ice and timber. Seeking her +chair again she leaned forward now with her +elbows resting on her knees and her face held +in the hollow of her hands. At this time a +little child came to her and touched her arm. +She looked at it. The little girl had long +straight black hair, great beady eyes and the +prettiest mouth imaginable. The cheeks were +like red apples. She lifted the little thing +to her knees and the child nestled against her +bosom. Madge now looked at the woman, +busily engaged with her few pots and pans, +and a feeling of envy came to her, a longing +for the sweet and kindly motherhood that was +becoming a fierce craving for that beautiful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +peace which appeared to have become so +firmly established in these little houses of the +frozen wilds. She had elsewhere seen love +of children, little ones petted and made much +of, husbands coming home to a cheery welcome, +but it had not seemed the same. The +women so often seemed weary, pale, and +worked beyond their strength. Most of them +became querulous at times, apt to speak loudly +of intolerable wrongs or of ill-doings of neighbors +across the dark hallways. Here it looked +as if quiet order, cheerful obedience, willingness +on the part of all, were ingrained in the +people. Indeed, it was ever so different.</p> +<p>By this time the rough table was set and +Mrs. Papineau deplored the fact that Hugo +had not consented to remain.</p> +<p>“Heem is ’urted more as vat he tink,” she +confided to the girl. “To-morrow somebody +go to de leetle shack an’ fin’ ’ow he is. One +dog heem not much nurse, eh?”</p> +<p>These words made Madge feel uncomfortable. +Once or twice the idea had come to her +that such a man ought to be punished, that he +should be made to suffer, that he deserved +anything that could make him realize how +heinous his conduct had been. But now she +had a vague impression that she was sorry +for him, that it was on her account that he had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +refused to stay and had gone out at once in the +gathering darkness that had come so swiftly. +But in spite of these thoughts and of all the +emotions she had undergone Madge felt again +the besetting pangs of fierce hunger. The +slices of moose-meat sizzling in the pan filled +the place with appetizing odor. The mother +placed her brood at the long table but helped +her guest first, and plentifully. How these +people ate and expected others to eat! Never +could they have heard of the scanty meals of +working girls, of the cups of blue milk, of +bitter tea, or of the little rolls and bits of meat +purchased at so-called delicatessen stores. +The girl ate hungrily and the meal was soon +over, but as soon as it was finished the terrible +weariness came upon her again and she was +thankful to lie down upon a hard mattress +of ticking filled with the aromatic twigs of +balsam fir, beneath heavy blankets and a wonderful +robe of hareskins.</p> +<p>Before she could fall asleep, however, the +experiences of her crowded day passed +weirdly before her eyes; yet her despair +seemed to be contending with a strange feeling +that was certainly not hope. It was perhaps +merely a weak acquiescence to conditions +that her immense fatigue and wearied brain +made her accept, dully, stupidly, since she had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +lost all power of resistance. It was something +like the enforced peace of a wounded thing that +has just been able to crawl back into its burrow +and has found the rest its body craves for.</p> +<p>In the midst of so large a family one could +not aspire to the lone possession of a bed. The +little girl she had held in her lap had been +placed beside her, not without many apologies +from Mrs. Papineau. In the darkness she +could feel the little warm body nestling +against her, and hear the soft and regular +breathing. It was comforting since it brought +a feeling that the little one protected her, in +some strange way, and was leading her in +paths of darkness with a little warm hand and +a heart that was unafraid and confident of the +morrow’s shining sun. Very soon there came +a restless sleep which at first was filled with +uncanny visions, from which she awakened +once or twice in fear. But at last came entire +surcease from suffering as the brain that had +been overwrought ceased to toil.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile Hugo had slowly made +his way back to his shack. If his arm hurt he +had now little consciousness of it. The thing +that disturbed him most was that girl’s unshakable +belief in his villainy. Was she really +insane? He had had no opportunity to communicate +that thought to Mrs. Papineau. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +But then, after her arrival, she had seemed so +absolutely rational in all that she had said +and done that the idea had, for the time being, +passed away from his mind. And what if, at +least in part, she had spoken the truth? What +if some amazing distortion of reality had +truly and honestly given her these beliefs, +through evidence that must be all against +him? The words she had spoken before starting +for the Papineaus’, and the further ones +uttered on the tote-road, while he rested, held +a drama so poignant that it struck a chill to +his heart. She might, after all, have been +speaking the truth as she had been misled +into believing it! But then there must be +some amazing conspiracy at work, some foul +doings whose objects utterly escaped him and +which left him staring at the little lamp now +burning on his table, as if it might perhaps +have revealed some key to the amazing +problem.</p> +<p>Was it possible that a weak and slender +woman could actually be compelled to carry +on a fight against hunger and illness, with +never a friend on earth, until she was finally +so beaten down to the ground that her soul +cried in agony for relief? According to her +she had seized upon the only resource open +to her, in which there was but a dim outlook +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +towards safety. Then she had found herself +the victim of a hellish jest, apparently, or of a +conspiracy so base that one sickened at the +mere thought of it. There was no doubt that +those big eyes of the suffering woman haunted +the man, while the accents of her despair still +rang in his ears and distressed him. The expression +of the crucified had been on that pale +face of hers, which had reddened so deeply +when a sense of shame had overwhelmed her. +It was as if he had beheld a drowning woman +and been utterly prevented from extending a +saving hand to her. More strongly he began +to feel that some one had surely sinned against +that woman, and feelings of vengefulness, +none the less bitter for all their vagueness, +began to obsess him.</p> +<p>Once, on his way back from Papineau’s, +Maigan had pressed close to him, as if for +safety. From the great hardwood ridges of +his right he had heard a long and familiar +sound. It was the one the Frenchwoman had +mentioned, the fitful baying of wolves on the +track of a deer. Picturing to himself the overtaking +and pulling down of the victim, he +shivered, hardened though he was to the unending +tragedies of the wilderness, and hurried +along faster, although he knew he stood +in no danger.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></div> +<p>When he had reached his shack by the +Roaring River he had entered it and lighted +the small lamp. It chanced to be the last +match in his pocket that he used for the purpose. +There was no need to open the big +package that stood on a shelf, since he remembered +having left two or three small boxes in +his hunting bag. He went over to the corner +where he had left it and bent over, somewhat +painfully. As he lifted it from the floor he +saw an envelope and picked it up. It was +addressed to him. Tearing it open he stared +at the words “Starting this evening. Please +have some one meet me. Madge Nelson.”</p> +<p>With clenched fist he struck the table a +blow that startled Maigan, who barked, leaping +up to his feet.</p> +<p>“It’s all right, boy,” said his master. +“Men are pretty big fools, excepting when +they’re nothing but infernal cowards. I tell +you, boy, some one will have to pay heavily +for this. Good Lord! Who would have +thought of such a thing? I––I think I must +be getting crazy! But no––she’s over there +at Papineau’s, and some one wrote to her, and +everything she said was the plain truth, as she +understood it. Great Heavens! It’s no wonder +she looked at me as if I’d been the dirt +under her feet. That thing’s got to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +straightened out, somehow, but first I must +see Stefan, of course.”</p> +<p>For a moment a wild idea came to him of +going over to Carcajou in the darkness. Such +an undertaking was by no means particularly +difficult for a strong man, who knew the way, +but suddenly he realized that he was played +out and would never reach his destination that +night. This irked his soul, unbearably, until +he had recourse to his old briar pipe. In +spite of the fact that his arm was beginning to +hurt him badly he sat near the stove, where +he had kindled a fire again, thinking hard. +He was racking his brain to seek some motive +that could have impelled any one he knew to +play such a frightful joke. One after another +he named every man he had ever known or +even merely met in Carcajou and the surrounding, +sparsely settled country. But they +were nearly all friends of his, he knew, or at +least had no reason to bear him ill-will. +There was one chap he had had quite a scrap +with one day, over a dog-fight in which the +man had urged his animal first and then +kicked Maigan when he saw his brute having +by far the worst of it. But soon afterwards +they had shaken hands and the matter had +been forgotten. Besides, the fellow was now +working in Sudbury, far east down the line. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +No, that wasn’t a trail worth following. The +more he thought the matter over the more +utterly mysterious it seemed to become. But +of one thing he was determined. He was +going to move heaven and earth to get at the +bottom of all this, and when he found out who +was responsible the fur would fly.</p> +<p>It was perhaps fortunate for her that the +idea of the red-headed girl in old McGurn’s +store never entered his head for a moment. +She had always been friendly, perhaps even +a little forward in her attentions to him, +though he had always paid her rather scant +notice. He had never been more than +decently civil to her.</p> +<p>When he sought his bunk, an hour or two +later, a long time elapsed before he could fall +asleep. It seemed to him that his head +throbbed a good deal, and that shoulder was +growing mightily uncomfortable. He hoped +it would be better in the morning. Finally he +fell asleep, restlessly. Upon the floor, +stretched out upon an old deerskin close to +the stove, Maigan was sleeping more profoundly, +though now and then he whined and +sighed in his slumber, perhaps dreaming of +hares and porcupines. A cricket ensconced +beneath the flat stones under the stove began +to chirp, shrilly. Outside a big-horned owl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +was hooting, dismally, while the big falls continued +to roar out their eternal song. And +thus the long night wore out till a flaming +crimson and copper dawn came up, with flashing +rays that stabbed the great rolling clouds +while the trees kept on cracking in the intense +frost and the ice in the big pool churned and +groaned under the torment of waters seeking +to burst their shackles.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_CARCAJOU_IS_SHOCKED' id='CHAPTER_VII_CARCAJOU_IS_SHOCKED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>Carcajou Is Shocked</span></h3> +</div> +<p>After Stefan had started away with Madge, +Miss Sophy McGurn, who had been on +the watch, was delighted to see Mrs. Olsen +coming to the store. She greeted her customer +more pleasantly than ever and served +her with a bag of beans, two spools of black +thread and a pound of the best oleo-butter. +The older woman was nothing loath to talk, +and confirmed the girl’s suspicion that Stefan +had taken that young woman to Hugo’s. Mrs. +Olsen insisted on the fact that her visitor was +a real pretty girl, though awfully thin and +looking as if a breath would blow her over. +She also commented on the lack of suitable +clothing for such dreadful weather, and on +the utter ignorance Madge seemed to display +of anything connected with Carcajou or, in +fact, any part of Ontario. When questioned, +cautiously, she admitted that she knew no +reason whatever for the girl’s coming, but +she hastened to assert that Stefan had said it +was all right, which settled the question, and, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +with her rather waddling gait, started off for +her house again.</p> +<p>As soon as Stefan returned Sophy saw that +he still had a woman on his toboggan. She +hurried to meet him and was grievously disappointed +when she found out it was Mrs. +Carew. But she boldly went up to Stefan.</p> +<p>“Hello! Stefan!” she said. “Where did +you leave your passenger of this morning?”</p> +<p>“Hello! Sophy!” he answered, placidly. +“I leaf de yong leddy vhere she ban going, +I tank.”</p> +<p>“She isn’t coming back to-night?”</p> +<p>“Mebbe yes, mebbe no,” he answered, +grabbing Mrs. Carew’s bag and hurrying +with her into the station, for the engine’s +whistle announced that he had made the journey +with little or no time to spare.</p> +<p>Sophy made her way back to the store, +meeting Mrs. Kilrea on her way. To this +lady she confided that a young woman had +gone up to Hugo Ennis’ shack and had not +returned. Wasn’t it queer? And Mrs. Olsen +had said that she wasn’t Hugo’s wife or sister. +Wasn’t it funny? But of course she supposed +it was all right.</p> +<p>Mrs. Kilrea called on old Mrs. Follansbee, +who told Mrs. McIntosh. This lady was a +Cree Indian that had become more or less +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +civilized. The white women would speak to +her on account of her husband Aleck, who +was really a very nice man. At any rate all +the ladies of Carcajou were soon aware of the +unusual happening, scenting strange news and +perhaps even a bit of scandal.</p> +<p>Big Stefan, having urged his team to their +utmost, now fed them carefully and locked +them up in his shed, a local habit providing +against bloody fights that were objected to +not so much on moral principle as because +these contests often resulted in the disabling +of valuable animals. It also prevented incursions +among the few sheep of the neighborhood +or long hunts in which dogs indulged by +themselves, returning with sore feet and utterly +unable to move for a day or two. The +animals, before falling asleep, were biting off +the crackling icicles that had formed in the +hair growing between their padded toes. The +journey had not exhausted them in the slightest +and on the morrow they would be perfectly +fit for further travel, if need be.</p> +<p>Neither was Stefan weary. After supper +he quietly strolled over to the store where +some of Carcajou’s choicest spirits were gathered, +since the village boasted no saloon. +Here the news was discussed, as spread out by +the few who got a daily or weekly paper from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +Ottawa or Sudbury, or gathered in the immediate +neighborhood by the local gossips.</p> +<p>“Hello, Stefan!” exclaimed Miles Parker, +who was supposed to watch over the sawmill +and see that the machinery didn’t suffer too +much during the long period of disuse. “How +did ye find the travelin’ to-day? See ye didn’t +manage ter freeze them whiskers off’n yer +face, did ye?”</p> +<p>“Dey’re yoost vhere dey belongs, I tank,” +answered Stefan, quietly. “Miss Sophy, if +you haf time I take two plugs Lumberman’s +Joy terbacker.”</p> +<p>“Stefan he’s so all-fired big he got to keep +a chew on each side of his face,” explained +Pat Kilrea, a first-rate mechanic who was then +busy with the construction of a little steamer +that was to help tow down to the mill some +big booms of logs, as soon as the lake opened. +“He ain’t able to get no satisfaction except +from double action.”</p> +<p>At this specimen of local wit and humor the +others grinned but Stefan remained quite unmoved. +Miss Sophy waited on him, scanning +his face, eager to ask more questions, while +she feared to say a word. It may have been +her conscience which made her uneasy. Of +course she believed that the precautions she +had taken rendered it impossible for any one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +to accuse her, or at any rate to prove anything. +Still, a certain anxiety remained, which she +was unable to restrain. She would have given +a good deal to know what had taken place. +Never had she doubted that the scene would +occur right there at the station in Carcajou. +That telegram had badly upset her plans, apparently. +And then it was queer that Hugo +had not come down after receiving it, if only +to try to find out what it meant. Finally, one +of the men, having none of her reasons for +keeping still, came forth with a direct +question.</p> +<p>“I reckon you got out to Roarin’ Falls all +safe with that there pooty gal, didn’t ye?” +he asked.</p> +<p>It was Joe Follansbee who had sought this +information, being only too eager to hint at +something wrong on the part of a man he had +long deemed a rival. At his words, however, +Sophy sniffed and turned up her nose.</p> +<p>“I didn’t see anything very pretty about +her,” she said.</p> +<p>“Well, I didn’t see as how she was so real +awful pretty,” Joe hastened to observe. “She +ain’t the style I admire, by no manner of +means.”</p> +<p>This strategic withdrawal was destined to +meet with entire failure, however. Sophy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +turned to the boxes of plug that were stored +on the shelves and pretended to busy herself +with their order and symmetry. But she was +again listening, eagerly.</p> +<p>“What d’ye say, Stefan?” joined Pat Kilrea. +“How’d she stand the trip? Did ye +see if her nose was still on her face when ye +got there?”</p> +<p>“I tank so,” opened Stefan, gravely, “but +it wouldn’t matter so much vith de leddy. +Maybe she ain’t so much use for it like you +haf for yours, to stick into oder people’s +pusinesses.”</p> +<p>Stefan continued to shave off curly bits +from his plug, while the laughter turned +against the engineer. Carcajou, like a good +many other places, commonly favored the +top-dog when it came to betting. The answering +grin in Pat’s face was a rather sour one. +If any other man had spoken to him thus there +might have been a lively fight, but no one in +Carcajou, and a good many miles around it, +cared to engage in fisticuffs with the Swede. +A story was current of how he had once manhandled +four drunken lumberjacks, in spite +of peavies and sticks of cordwood.</p> +<p>“Well, you’re getting to be a good deal of +a lady’s man, Stefan,” said Aleck McIntosh, +a fellow who was supposed to be a scion of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +Scottish nobility receiving remittances from +his country. The most evident part of his +income, however, appeared to be contributed +by his Cree wife, who took in the little washing +Carcajou indulged in and made the finest +moccasins in Ontario. “Going off with one +and coming back with another. I dare say +you prefer carrying females to lugging the +mails around.”</p> +<p>“Mebbe I likes it better but it’s more hard +on dem togs,” asserted Stefan, judicially.</p> +<p>“And––and ye left her at Hugo’s shack, +did ye?” ventured Pat again, whereat Stefan +nodded in assent and lighted his pipe.</p> +<p>“Did she say she was anyways related to +him? His sister or something like that?” +persisted the engineer.</p> +<p>“Well, I tank she say somethin’ about bein’ +his grandmother,” retorted Stefan, “but I can +tell you something, Pat. If you vant so much +know all about it vhy you not put on your +snowshoes an’ tak’ a run down there. It ban a +real nice little valk.”</p> +<p>As Pat Kilrea suffered from the handicap +of having been born with a club-foot, which +didn’t prevent him from being an excellent +man with machinery but made walking rather +burdensome for him, the others guffawed +again while the Swede opened the door and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +walked off, the crusted snow crackling under +his big feet.</p> +<p>“In course it’s none of my business, like +enough,” said Pat, virtuously, as he scratched +a match on his trousers’ leg, “but such goings +on don’t seem right, nohow. ’Tain’t right an’ +proper, because it gives a bad example. I’ve +knowed folks rid on a rail or even tarred and +feathered for the like of that.”</p> +<p>Carcajou’s sterling sense of propriety, as +represented by half a dozen male gossips, +immediately agreed with him. The matter, +they decided, should be looked into.</p> +<p>“And––and what d’ye think about it, +Miss Sophy?” asked Joe, desirous of opening +conversation again with the young woman and +redeeming himself.</p> +<p>“Things like that is beneath me to talk +about,” she asserted, coldly. “And what’s +more, I don’t care to hear about ’em. It––it’s +time ye got back to the depot, Joe Follansbee +and I’m goin’ to close up anyways and +give ye all a chance to burn your own oil.”</p> +<p>At this delicate invitation to vacate the +premises the men rose and trooped out. Once +outside, however, they felt compelled in spite +of the bitter cold to comment a little further +on the situation.</p> +<p>Sophy McGurn put up the large iron bar +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +that was used to secure the front door, when +the store was closed. Then she put some +papers away in the safe under the counter and +went up to the family sitting room, where her +mother was knitting and her father, with an +open paper on his lap and his spectacles +pushed up over his forehead, was fast asleep +in a big and highly varnished oaken rocker +trimmed with scarlet plush.</p> +<p>“I’m goin’ to bed,” she announced; “good-night.”</p> +<p>The old gentleman awoke with a start and +the mother, looking over her glasses, bade her +good-night and sweet dreams, according to a +long-established formula.</p> +<p>“Don’t know what’s the matter with +Sophy, she’s that restless an’ nervous,” said +her mother.</p> +<p>“She always was, fur’s I know,” answered +McGurn. “If she’s gettin’ the complaint +worse she must be sickenin’ for something.”</p> +<p>The subject of these remarks, once in her +room, was in no hurry to woo the slumber she +had expressed a desire for. In her mind +anxiety was battling with anger and disappointment. +Whether or not she really loved +Ennis, or had turned to him merely because +his general ways and appearance showed him +to be a man of some breeding, with education +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +superior to the usual standard of Carcajou, +such as she would have been glad to marry, +at any rate her brow narrowed, her lips closed +into a thin straight line and her hands were +clenched tight. What she had done would +probably utterly prevent any renewal of the +friendship she had tried to establish, since +Hugo would perhaps be run out of the place. +Moreover, that girl was really very pretty, +in spite of what she had said downstairs, and +this stranger was now over there. Sophy had +expected to see her return with Stefan, perhaps +also with Hugo, and the girl’s face would +have shown marks of tears, and Hugo would +have been in a towering rage, and gradually +the people of Carcajou would have been made +aware, somehow, of what had happened, and +the settler of Roaring Falls would be the butt +of laughter, if not of scurrilous remarks. But +now the dark night had come and Carcajou +was very still under the starlight.</p> +<p>The old cat scratching at her door startled +her. The profound silence that followed appeared +to irk her badly. After a long time +there was the shriek of the night-freight’s +whistle and the great rumbling of the arriving +train, the grinding of brakes, shouts that +sounded harshly, various loud thumps as cars +were shunted off to the siding. And then the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +train started again, groaning and clattering +and heaving up the grade through the cut, +after which the intense stillness returned and +she lay awake, her eyes peering through darkness, +her senses all alert and her nerves +a-quiver, until nearly the coming of dawn.</p> +<p>But the men who had gone out, before scattering +to their homes, had reached a unanimous +conclusion. It was true that excitement +was rare in Carcajou, but this was a +matter of upholding the fair reputation of the +mill and four or five dozen shacks and frame +houses that constituted the village. It was +decided that a committee must go over to the +Falls and investigate.</p> +<p>“I won’t say but what Hugo Ennis he’s +been mostly all right, fur’s we know,” +acknowledged Phil Prouty of the section gang. +“But then he warn’t brought up in these here +parts an’ he can’t be allowed to flout the +morals o’ this community in any sich way. If +it’s like we fears, the gal’ll have ter pack off +an’ him promise ter behave or leave the country. +Them’s my sentiments. We better go to-morrow.”</p> +<p>At this, however, there were some objections. +It might be that on the next day the +young woman would return. Then their trip +would be useless. And then two days later +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +would be Sunday, on which there would be +less interference with their occupations, +especially as it was the off day in church, where +the services were held but twice a month. It +was voted to start then at an early hour. +There was a strong team of horses used to +lumbering that could be trusted to manage +the old tote-road, drawing Sam Kerrigan’s +big sleigh.</p> +<p>“Hosses used ter do it,” asserted the latter, +“and they kin do it again.”</p> +<p>“Maybe Stefan’d take you up with them +dogs of his, Kilrea,” suggested one of the men, +grinning.</p> +<p>“No! And by the way, byes. Ye don’t +want ter let that there Swede know nothin’ of +this. He’s too thick with Hugo, he is, and +we don’t want him around raisin’ any ruction +if there happens to be a bit o’ loud talk. He’d +be liable to raise a rumpus, he would.”</p> +<p>This appeared to be excellent strategy and +it met with unanimous approval. The men +dispersed to their respective shacks and +houses, to discuss the matter further with their +wives, in case any of them were still awake. +One or two of the sturdier ladies at once +volunteered to lend further dignity to the +proceedings with their presence and could not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +be dissuaded from joining the Carcajou +Vigilantes.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile the unconscious objects +of all these plans were happily unaware of +the fate in store for them. Madge, with a +little child that had snuggled into her arms, +had found a forgetfulness that was a blessing. +In spite of her weariness and of the emotions +she had undergone, the good food and pure +air had produced some effect upon her. She +slumbered perhaps more deeply and restfully +than she had for many long months. And +Hugo Ennis, in pain, tossed in his bunk, his +mind racked with uneasy thoughts and his +wounded shoulder throbbing, till he slept also.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_DOUBTS' id='CHAPTER_VIII_DOUBTS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>Doubts</span></h3> +</div> +<p>It was with a violent start that Hugo awoke, +feeling chilled to the bone in spite of his +heavy blankets. His injured shoulder was +so stiff that for some minutes he was scarcely +able to move it. He got out of his bunk, his +whole frame shaking with the cold, and +managed to kindle a fire in the stove. But +presently he felt warm again, rather +unaccountably warm, in fact, and his face grew quite +red. Curiously enough, for a man with the +vast appetite of hard workers in cold regions, +he did not at all feel inclined to eat. Yet he +prepared some food, according to custom, and +sat before a tin pint dipper of strong hot tea. +This he managed to swallow, with some +approach to comfort, but when he tried to eat +the first few mouthfuls satiated him and he +pushed the remainder away.</p> +<p>He had opened the door to let Maigan go +out, and when the dog returned after a good +roll in the snow Hugo swept his breakfast of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +rolled oats and bread into a pan and fed it to +his companion.</p> +<p>“You’re certainly not going hungry because +my own grub doesn’t taste right, old +boy,” he commented.</p> +<p>Men of the wilderness learn to speak to +their dogs, or even to think out aloud, when +no living thing chances to be near. It answers +to the inherited need of speech, to an instinct +so long inbred in man that he must needs, at +times, hear the sound of a voice, even if it be +but his own, or go crazy.</p> +<p>Maigan wagged his tail and gobbled up +the food. When he saw his master fastening +on his snowshoes he barked loudly. Hugo +allowed him to romp about for a few minutes +before hitching him up to the toboggan.</p> +<p>A few minutes later they were on their way +to Papineau’s. An attempt to smoke his pipe +was immediately abandoned by the young +man. For some reason it tasted wretchedly. +While the start was made at a good pace little +more than a couple of hundred yards had been +covered before Hugo realized that he was +going ever so slowly. Maigan was stopping +all the time and waiting for him. What on +earth was the matter? He judged that the +poor night’s sleep had had some ill effect upon +him. It couldn’t be his shoulder. Certainly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +not! The pain in it was no more than any +chap could bear, even if he had to make a wry +face over it at times. He wondered whether +anything he had eaten on the previous day +could have disagreed with him. He decided +that it probably was some canned meat he had +bought at McGurn’s. That explained the +thing quite satisfactorily to him. Anyway, it +was bound to wear off soon. Such things +always did. With this cheering thought he +sought to lengthen his stride again, but a +moment later he was dragging himself along, +dully, wondering what was the matter with +him.</p> +<p>He was anxious to see Madge again. He +must tell her of the finding of her message. +Surely he would be able to talk to her, calmly +and quietly, and to obtain from her all that +she knew of this strange jumble of mysteries. +He hoped that she had been able to rest, that +he would find her less weary and +overwrought. This girl had been badly treated, +sinned against most grievously. If there was +anything he could do he would offer his services +eagerly.</p> +<p>“I expect she’ll want to turn right back to +Carcajou,” he told himself. “I wish I were +feeling more fit for the journey. If Papineau +is home from his trapping he will help me +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +out. But I’ll feel all right soon. This is +bound to pass off. If I get too tired when I +reach Carcajou, Stefan will put me up for the +night. It––it seems a pity that girl will have +to go.”</p> +<p>He trudged along behind the toboggan. +He could have ridden on it, most of the way, +but wanted to keep Maigan fresh for the trip +to Carcajou, for the trunk would have to go +also. The light sled was nothing for the dog +to pull, of course, and sometimes he dashed +ahead so that his pace became too great for +his master. Then he would stop and sit down +in his traces, to wait until he was overtaken. +The road was unaccountably long, that morning, +but at last they came in sight of the +Papineau homestead and the cleared land +upon which some crops of oats and potatoes +had already been raised, amid the short +stumps of the half-cleared land. In summer +the river ran very slowly at this place, and +big trout were ever making rings on the +surface which they broke in their dashes after +all sorts of flies and beetles. On the land +opposite, where there had once been a forest +fire, the red weeds that follow conflagrations +grew strong and rank in the summer time and +little saplings sprouted up among the charred +and wrecked trunks of the <i>brulé</i>. But at this +time it all looked very bleak and desolate.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span></div> +<p>“She couldn’t ever have lived in such a +country,” he told himself, with perhaps a +tinge of regret. “Poor little thing, I wonder +what’s to become of her? The whole thing’s +a shame––a ghastly shame. Wait till Stefan +and I find out all about it. Somebody’s got +to get hurt, that’s all!”</p> +<p>Maigan had already hauled the toboggan +to the door of the big shack, and the other +animals had come near to renew assurances +of armed neutrality. The good woman of the +house appeared just as Hugo came up. She +must have been rather staggered by his +appearance, for she drew back, staring at him +and shaking her head in decided disapproval.</p> +<p>“’Ow many mile you call heem to de depot +at Carcajou,” she asked him, with hands on +her hips and a severe look on her face.</p> +<p>“Why, it’s twelve miles to my shack and +one more to this place,” he answered, dully. +“You know that just as well as I. Don’t you +remember the county surveyors told us so last +year?”</p> +<p>“An’ you tink you goin’ pull dat toboggan +all way back wid you h’arm all bad an’ you +seek, lookin’ lak’ one ghosts! Excuse me, +Monsieur Hugo, but you one beeg fool. My +man Papineau ’e come back from de traps +to-morrow an’ heem pull de young lady ’ome +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +wid de dogs. You no fit to go. I tink you go +to bed right now, bes’ place for you, sure.”</p> +<p>She pulled him inside, holding on to his +uninjured arm as if he had been under arrest. +She was a masterful woman, to be sure. +Madge had arisen from a chair and Mrs. +Papineau addressed her. A glance at the +man’s countenance had left the girl appalled. +His features were drawn, the brown tint of +his face had changed to a characterless gray, +his eyes looked sunken and brighter, as if +some fever brought a flame into them.</p> +<p>“Sure you no in h’awful beeg ’urry for to +go ’ome, Mees?” asked the hostess. “Dis +man heem real seek. Heem no fit for valk all +vay back to Carcajou now. To-morrow my +man take you. Papineau he no forgif me if I +let Monsieur Hugo go aff an’ heem so seek.”</p> +<p>“Why, of course! I’m not in any special +hurry. To-morrow will do just as well. He––he +mustn’t think of going to-day and––and +it doesn’t matter in the least. It––it +makes no difference at all.”</p> +<p>“Do you really think that you can manage +to stay here for another day?” the young man +asked her, as he dropped rather heavily on +a bench by the table. “I don’t think there ’s +really much the matter with me, really, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +I’m sure I could manage it if you’re anxious +to get away. But perhaps to-morrow....”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Papineau has been ever so kind to +me,” answered the girl, slowly. “That sort +of thing is such a comfort, especially when––when +one isn’t used to it. Nobody ever took +such care of me over there in New York. +I’ve had plenty to eat and a nice warm place +to sleep in. I haven’t been used to much +luxury where––where I came from. And––and +you mustn’t mind me. It will always be +time enough to go, but––but I won’t know +how to thank this––this kindly woman.”</p> +<p>Hugo didn’t know whether these words +held a reproach to him, but they sounded very +hopeless and sad. The girl had sat down +again, on a low stool near the fire. A chimney +had been built in a corner, to supplement the +stove, and she was looking intently at the +bright flames leaping up and the fat curling +smoke that rose in little patches, as bits of +white bark twisted and crackled. Mrs. Papineau +had gone back to the stove at the other +end of the room, where she and her eldest girl +had been washing dishes. In the rising sparks +of the logs on fire Madge saw queer designs, +strange moving forms her eyes followed +mechanically. She felt that she was merely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +waiting––waiting for the worst that was yet +to come, but the heat was grateful.</p> +<p>“If that’s the case we might as well postpone +the trip for a day,” Hugo acknowledged, +somewhat shamefacedly. “I don’t often get +played out but for some reason I’m not quite +up to the mark to-day.”</p> +<p>“You keep still an’ rest yourself a bit,” +Mrs. Papineau ordered, coming back to him +and feeling his pulse gravely, whereat she +made a wry face. She informed him that he +undoubtedly had a fever and must remain +absolutely quiet while she brewed him a decoction +of potent herbs she had herself picked +and stored away.</p> +<p>Madge looked at Hugo again, anxiously, +feeling that her careless handling of that little +pistol was undoubtedly responsible for his +illness. Their eyes met and he managed to +smile.</p> +<p>“A mere man can do nothing but obey +when a woman commands, Miss Nelson,” he +declared, with a weak attempt at jocularity. +“I’m sure it’s dreadful stuff she’s going to +make me swallow. Still, I’m glad of a short +rest.”</p> +<p>He drew his chair a little nearer, and, +speaking in a lower voice, went on:</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you, Miss Nelson. We––we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +perhaps owe one another some explanations. +It happens that I’ve found something. It’s +the queerest thing ever happened. I’d like +to explain....”</p> +<p>“What is the use, Mr. Ennis?” she replied, +her voice revealing an intense discouragement. +“And besides, you are ill now. It––it +doesn’t really matter what has happened, +I suppose. I couldn’t expect anything else, I +dare say. I was a fool to come, to––to believe +what I did. And––and I’m ashamed, it––it +seems as if the least little pride that was +left me has gone––gone for ever. Please––please +don’t say anything more. It distresses +me and can’t possibly do any good.”</p> +<p>She turned away from him to stare into the +fire again and watch the little tongues of flame +following threads of dry moss, till her face, +which had colored for a moment, became pale +again and her lips quivered at the thoughts +that had returned to her. Uppermost was +that feeling of shame of which she had spoken. +She had realized that she had come to this +man she had never met, ready to say: “Here +I am, Madge Nelson, to whom you wrote in +New York. If you really want me for your +wife I am willing. In exchange for food, for +rest, for a little peace of mind I am ready to +try to learn to love you, to respect and obey +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +you, and I will be glad to work for you, to +keep your home, to do my duty like a diligent +and faithful wife.” But the man had looked +at her with eyes genuinely surprised, because +he had not really expected her. And of course +she had found no favor in his sight. She was +an inconvenient stranger whom he did not +know how to get rid of, and on the spur of the +moment he had found recourse in clumsy lies. +By this time he had probably thought out +some fables with which he expected to soothe +her. At any rate he must despise her, in spite +of the fact that he seemed to try to be civil +and even kind. The important thing was that +the end had come. In her little purse six or +seven dollars were left, not enough to take her +even half the distance to New York, to the +great city she had learned to hate and fear. +For nothing on earth would she have accepted +money from Hugo. At least that shred of +pride remained. It was therefore evident that +but one way, however dark, was open before +her, since the end must come.</p> +<p>But that unutterable weariness was still +upon her. She was not pressed for time, thank +goodness. She had been given food in abundance +and unwonted warmth and, for some +hours, the wonderful sharp tingling air of the +forest had driven the blood more swiftly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +through her veins. Moments had come during +which it had seemed a blessing merely +to breathe and a marvelous gift to be free +from pain. But she was not so very strong yet. +In another day, or perhaps two, she might feel +better able to take that last leap. It would be +that river––the Roaring River. That––that +little gun made horrid jagged wounds. +On her way to Papineau’s she had noticed any +number of great air-holes in the ice. In such +places she had even heard the rumbling of the +water on its rushing journey towards the sea. +It seemed an easy, restful, desirable end to all +her troubles. She would slip away by herself +and these dear kindly people would never +know, she hoped. Like so many others, she +had gambled and lost, and perhaps she deserved +to lose. Who could say? If she had +sinned in coming to this place she would bear +the punishment bravely. It would surely be +very swift; there would be but a gasp or two +from the stunning chill of the icy water, after +which must come swift oblivion. The world +was indeed a very harsh and dangerous place. +She would be glad to leave it; there could be +nothing to regret.</p> +<p>She raised her eyes once more and looked +about her. The heat from the birchen logs +and the sizzling jack-pine penetrated her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +Somewhere she had read or heard that, to +those condemned, a few last comforts were +usually proffered. It would be easier to find +the end after a few more hours of this blessed +peace. It would have been more gruesome +to meet it while suffering from hunger with +the very marrow of one’s bones freezing and +one’s teeth chattering. She was glad enough +to sit still on that rough stool. She did not +want to be taken back, even to that little village +of Carcajou. The little children had +made such good friends with her, and would +have climbed all over her had their mother +not reproved them; the very dogs had come +up and rubbed against her, and put their +muzzles in her lap. Two of them were but +half-grown pups. And best of all the big-hearted +and full-bosomed mother of the family +always spoke in words that were so +friendly, even affectionate. It had been a +wonderful vision of a better world from +which she did not want to awaken too soon.</p> +<p>In the meanwhile Hugo had been compelled, +not without a wry face, to swallow the +bitter potion Mrs. Papineau had prepared +for him.</p> +<p>“I think I’ll be going,” he remarked.</p> +<p>“You rest one leetle time yet,” ordered the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +housewife. “You haf noding for to do. +Feel better soon when you rest after de medicine. +You no ’urry.”</p> +<p>Perhaps nothing loath he had sat down +again, with his chair tilted back a little till +the back rested on the table. Madge was +sitting nearly in front of him, with her back +slightly turned, and he could see the tightly +pinned mass of the hair he had seen flooding +her shoulders in his shack, and the comely +curve of her neck as she leaned forward, staring +into the fire. For a time this drove away +the pain that was in his wounded arm and the +hot, throbbing feeling of discomfort that it +gave him. What irked him was the realization +of the tragedy brought to this girl somehow +and the understanding of all that she +must have suffered.</p> +<p>Hugo had not always lived in the wilderness. +He also had been of the town during a +period of his life, until the longing had come +for the greater freedom of the open spaces, of +the regions which in their greatness bring +forth the sturdier qualities of manhood.</p> +<p>He was thinking of the scorn that had been +in her voice when she had told him of the +fierce impulse that had bidden her escape +from the bondage of carking poverty and care. +It had only resulted in bringing disappointment +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +and the shame, the outraged womanhood +that had burned upon her cheeks. And +this appealed to him with an irresistible force +since that effort on her part showed that she +at least possessed courage and the readiness to +go far afield in search of an avenue of escape. +Weaker souls would long ago have given up +the fight.</p> +<p>He had just tried to begin an explanation +and find the truth out from her, but she had +shaken her head and said it was useless. She +did not understand; how could she? Yet he +had been sorely disappointed. It had scarcely +been a rebuff on her part for she had spoken +gently enough, in that low despairing voice of +hers. He must wait another and better occasion +and hope that he would be able to clear +himself of wrongdoing.</p> +<p>At this time a man’s practical nature suggested +to him the thought that she must be +very poor––that she had perhaps expended +her last resources in coming to Carcajou. If +this was the case, what would it avail for him +to take her back to the railway? What would +happen to her then? He could not allow her +to depart without finding out how such matters +stood, and he wondered in what manner +he could make her accept some money and +how he could make amends to her for the injury +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +she had sustained at some unknown individual’s +hands. But the more he puzzled +his brain the less he could discover any efficient +way of coming to her assistance. She +had said that every bit of pride had been torn +from her, but he knew that this was not altogether +true. The flashing of her eyes and the +indignation of her voice had contradicted her +words efficiently. She would probably resent +his offer, refuse to accept anything from him. +Yet, if he managed to persuade her that he +was guiltless, it was possible....</p> +<p>But here his thoughts were interrupted by +Mrs. Papineau, who insisted on inspecting +his wound again and made a wry face when +she looked at it.</p> +<p>“I beg you pardon for to tell de truth, +Monsieur Hugo,” she said, “but I tink you +one beeg fool man for come here to-day. I +tink maybe you get bad seek wid dat h’arm. +You stay ’ere to-day an’ for de night. I make +you a bed in dis room on de floor, by Jacques +an’ Baptiste an’ Pierre. My man Philippe ’e +come to-morrow, maybe to-night, an’ I send +heem to Carcajou so he telegraph to de <i>docteur</i> +for see you, eh?”</p> +<p>“You’re awfully good, Mrs. Papineau,” +answered the young man, with the obstinacy +of his kind. “I’m perfectly sure I’ll be all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +right to-morrow, or the next day at the most. +And I’ll come back and see how Miss Nelson +is getting on. I think I’ll move now so I’ll +say good-by. I’m a lot better now. I suppose +it’s on account of that stuff you made me +drink; it was bad enough to be fine medicine. +I hope the rest will do you some good also, +Miss Nelson. You’re looking a lot better +than yesterday.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Papineau first thought of preventing +his exit by main force but felt compelled to +let him have his way. She lacked the courage +of her convictions and allowed him to depart, +with his dog running ahead with the toboggan. +She peered at him through one of the +small panes and saw that he was walking +fairly easily.</p> +<p>“Maybe heem be all right soon,” she confided +hopefully to Madge, while she mixed +dough in a pan. “But heem one beeg fool +man all de same.”</p> +<p>“I––I can hardly believe that,” objected +the girl. “Why do you think so?”</p> +<p>“All mans is beeg fools ven dey is ’urted or +seek, my dear. Dey don’t know nodings ’ow +to tak’ care for heemselves. Dey don’t never +haf sense dat vay. Alvays tink dey so strong +noding happen, ever. But just same Hugo +Ennis one mighty fine man, I say dat sure. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +rather de ole cow die as anyting ’appen to +heem.”</p> +<p>Without interrupting her work, and later +as she toiled, at her washtub, the good woman +launched forth in lengthy praise of Hugo. +From her conversation it appeared that he +had helped one or two fellows with small +sums of money and good advice. In the +autumn he had fished out an Indian who had +upset his boat while netting whitefish in rough +weather, on the lake, and every one knew that +Stefan’s life had been saved by him. At any +rate the Swede said so, for Hugo never liked +much to speak of such things. And then he +was a steady fellow, a hard worker, good at +the traps and not afraid of work of any kind. +And then he was friendly to everybody. Had +Madge noticed how gentle he was with the +little children? That was always a sign of a +good man.</p> +<p>“Yes, mees,” she concluded. “Some time +I tink heem de bes’ man as ever lif. Heem +Hugo not even ’urt one dog, or anyting.”</p> +<p>So he wouldn’t hurt even a dog! Madge +repeated these words to herself. Then why +had he played such a sorry joke on a woman +who had never injured him? She wondered +whether he would be sorry, afterwards, if––if +he ever chanced to learn what had become +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +of her––after everything was all over. It +might be that he had just been a big fool, as +the Canadian woman had called him, and +never reflected on the possible consequences +of his action. But then he should have had +the manhood to acknowledge his fault and +beg her pardon, instead of resorting at once +to clumsy lies and pretending utter ignorance. +In many ways such conduct seemed inconsistent +with the man, now that she had had +further opportunity of seeing him. And then +there was no doubt that he looked very ill. +She was really very sorry for her share in that +accident, and yet––and yet men had been +shot dead for smaller offenses than he had +meted out to her. He might have been killed, +of course, and her quickened imagination +caused her to see him stretched stark upon the +floor of that little cabin, on those rough +boards that smelled of resiny things. And +then people would have come and she would +have been accused of his murder, of course. +It would have been her weapon that had done +it, and they would have found motive enough +for the deed in the story she would have been +compelled to relate. They wouldn’t have +believed in any accident. And then, instead +of being able to end everything in some air +hole of Roaring River, she would have been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +dragged to some jail to eke out her days in a +prison, if she had not been hanged.</p> +<p>The next day she awaited his coming somewhat +anxiously. She felt that she must know +how he was before––before taking that last +step. After all he had tried to be considerate, +except in the matter of those amazing lies. +During the afternoon Mrs. Papineau, growing +anxious, sent little Baptiste over to enquire +after him. The small boy returned, saying +that he had seen two squirrels and a rabbit on +the tote-road, and the track of a fox, and that +he had found Hugo sitting by the fire. And +Hugo had declared that he was all right and––and +perhaps he wasn’t pleased, because he +spoke very shortly and had told him to hurry +home. So Baptiste had left, and on his way +he had seen partridges sitting on a fir sapling, +and if he’d had a gun, or even some rocks....</p> +<p>But this circumstantial narrative was interrupted +by the barking of the dogs. The +sun was about setting. Madge looked out of +the window, while Mrs. Papineau rushed to +the door. It was a man arriving with a toboggan +and two big dogs.</p> +<p>“Dat my man Philippe coming,” announced +the woman, happily.</p> +<p>She held the door open, letting in a blast +of cold air, and the man entered, tired with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +long tramping. From the toboggan he removed +a load of pelts, dead hares that would +serve chiefly for bait, his blankets and the +indispensable axe. Mrs. Papineau volubly +explained the guest’s presence and he greeted +her kindly.</p> +<p>“You frien’ of Hugo Ennis,” he said. +“Den you is velcome an’ me glad for see you, +<i>mademoiselle</i>.”</p> +<p>He was a pleasant-faced, stocky and broad-limbed +man of rather short stature, and his +manner was altogether kindly and pleasant. +The simplicity and cordiality of his manner +was entirely in keeping with the ways of his +family. It was curious that all the people +she had met so far seemed to have come to an +agreement in speaking well of Ennis.</p> +<p>The man sat down, after the smallest of the +children had swarmed all over him, and took +off his Dutch stockings, waiting for the plenteous +meal and the hot tea his wife was preparing. +Meanwhile, to lose no time, he began +to skin a pine marten.</p> +<p>“Plent’ much good luck dis time,” he said, +turning to Madge. “Five <i>vison</i>, vat you call +mink, and a pair martens. Also one fox, jus’ +leetle young fox but pelt ver’ nice. You want +for see?”</p> +<p>She inspected the pelts and looked at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +animals that were yet unskinned, realizing for +the first time how men went off in the wilds +for days and weeks and months at a time, in +bitterest weather, to provide furs for fine +ladies.</p> +<p>The darkness had come and the big oil +lamp was lighted. The children played about +her for a time and gradually sought their +couches in bunks and truckle-beds. The man +was relating incidents of the trapping to his +wife, who nodded understandingly. Beaver +were getting plentiful along the upper reaches +of the Roaring; it was a pity that the law prevented +their killing for such a long time. He +had seen tracks of caribou, that are scarce in +that region; but they were very old tracks, +not worth following, since these animals are +such great travelers.</p> +<p>During this conversation Madge would +listen, at times, and turn towards the door. +She had a vague idea that Ennis might come, +since the boy’s account had been somewhat +reassuring. When she finally went to bed +behind an improvised screen in a corner of +the big living-room, she was long unable +to sleep, owing to obsessing thoughts that +wouldn’t be banished. Over and over again +she reminded herself of all that had happened. +It stood to reason that the man had written +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +those letters; how could it be otherwise? The +proofs in her hands were too conclusive to +permit her to pay any heed to his denials. +The amazing thing was that when one looked +at him it became harder and harder to believe +him capable of such wrongdoing.</p> +<p>As she tossed in her bed she began to be +assailed with doubts. These worried her exceedingly. +He had firmly asserted his innocence. +Supposing that he was telling the +truth, what then? In such a case, impossible +as it seemed, she had accused him unjustly, +and her conduct towards him had been unpardonable. +And then she had refused to +listen to him, when he had sought to begin +some sort of explanation. Why shouldn’t one +believe a man with such frank and honest eyes, +one who wouldn’t harm even a dog and was +loved and trusted by little children? Of +course, it was quite unintentionally that she +had wounded his body, but if he chanced to +be innocent she had also wounded his feelings, +deeply, in spite of which he had seemed sorry +for her, and had been very kind. He had +promised to come again to give her further +help. If he was guilty it was but a sorry +attempt to make slight amends. If he was +not at fault, it showed that he was a mighty +fine man. Madge felt that she would rather +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +believe in his innocence, in spite of the fact +that if he could prove it she would be covered +with confusion.</p> +<p>“It seems to me that I ought to have given +him that opportunity he was seeking,” she told +herself, rather miserably.</p> +<p>Before she fell asleep she decided that on +the morrow she would walk over to his shack +if he did not turn up in the forenoon. He +might be in want of care, in spite of what the +small boy had said. If he was all right she +would sit down and question him. The letters +she had received were in her bag; she +would show them to him. Now that she +thought of it, the curious, ill-formed, hesitating +character of the writing seemed utterly +out of keeping with the man’s apparent nature. +He ought to have written strongly and boldly, +it seemed to her. Gradually she was becoming +certain that his word of honor that he had +never penned them, or caused some one else +to do it for him, would suffice to change the +belief she had held. Yes––she would go +there, even before noon. If she met him on +the road they could as well speak out in the +open air. And if she could be sure that she +had been mistaken in regard to him, she would +beg his pardon, because he had tried to be +good to her, with little encouragement on her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +part. She––she didn’t want him to think +afterwards––when everything would be +ended, that she had been ungrateful and unjust. +Of course, the great effort had failed; +nearly everything was ended now and there +were no steps that could be retraced. Someone +had been very wicked and cruel, that was +certain. But she didn’t care who it was; it +could make no difference. She really hoped +it was not Hugo Ennis.</p> +<p>In the darkness her tense features relaxed +and her body felt greater ease. Finally her +eyes closed and she slept.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_FOR_THE_GOOD_NAME_OF_CARCAJOU' id='CHAPTER_IX_FOR_THE_GOOD_NAME_OF_CARCAJOU'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>For the Good Name of Carcajou</span></h3> +</div> +<p>The morning came clear and somewhat +warmer. Beyond the serrated edges of +the woodlands covering far-away hills were +masses of sunlit rolling clouds that seemed +as if they were utterly immovable and piled +up as a background to the purpling beauty of +the mountains.</p> +<p>Madge awoke early. Outside the house +the dogs were stirring, the two young ones +chasing one another over the snow and rolling +over it while the others nosed about more +sedately. She heard a ponderous yawn from +Papineau, on the other side of the slender +partition, and a general scurrying of small +feet and the moving of washbasins. When +she came out Mrs. Papineau had already +kindled the wood in the fireplace and was +stirring the hot embers in the stove. From +without she heard sounds of lusty chopping.</p> +<p>She wrapped a borrowed knitted scarf +about her neck and put on Hugo’s woolen +<i>tuque</i>, after which she stepped out. There +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +was a wondrous brilliancy over the world. +On trees hung icicles that took on the appearance +of gems. The cold air made her breathe +so deeply that she felt amazingly strong and +well. The oldest boy’s smiting with his axe +came in thumps that awakened a little echo, +coming from over there where the river narrowed +down between high banks. It was very +wonderful; it gave one a desire to live; it +seemed a pity that one must so soon say +good-by to all this. It––it was perhaps better +not to think of that just now.</p> +<p>She went indoors again. There were potatoes +to be peeled and the girl, in spite of protests, +took up a knife and went to work. It +was such a pleasure to do something to help. +Indeed she had been idle too long, allowing +these people to do everything for her while +she crouched disconsolately in warm corners. +At present all the weariness and weakness +seemed to have left her. It was just like a +fresh beginning instead of the ending of a life. +It would have made her happy to think that, +somewhere in the world, providing it were +away from the city, she might have found +honest work to do in exchange for some of this +wonderful peace. If she could only have remained +among these gentle and placid people +and let her existence flow on, easily, without +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +pain and the constant worry for the morrow. +It was like some marvelous dream from which +she was compelled to awaken at once, for she +realized that there was no place for her in this +household. The older children were already +of the greatest assistance to their parents, and +there was no room for her in the crowded +shack. She had caused these people some inconvenience, +which they had accepted cheerfully, +it was true, but which she could not +keep on inflicting on them. But for some +hours––some blessed hours, she could play +at being happy and pretend that life was +sweet. She could smile now, when these +people spoke to her, and she hugged some of +the little ones without apparent reason.</p> +<p>“You stay ’ere some more day,” Mrs. Papineau +told her, “an’ den you look lak’ oder gal +sure. Get fat an’ lose de black roun’ you +h’eyes. You now a tousan’ time better as ven +you come, you bet. Dis a fine coontree, Canada, +for peoples get strong an’ hoongree an’ +work ’ard an’ sleep good.”</p> +<p>“It’s a perfectly beautiful and wonderful +country,” cried the girl, enthusiastically. “I––I +wish I could always live here.”</p> +<p>“You one so prettee gal,” commented the +good woman. “Some day you fin’ one good +’usban’ an’ marry an’ h’always lif in dis coontree. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +Den you is happy and strong. Plenty +mans in dis coontree want wife to ’elp an’ +mak’ good ’ome. It one h’awful big lan’.”</p> +<p>Yes, there was any amount of room in this +great country. And the woman wanted her +to go and find a good husband! Well, she had +come far to seek one. It––it had not been a +pleasant experience. She saw herself wandering +about this wilderness looking for another +man who would take her to wife. Oh, +the shame of it––the hot flashing of her +cheeks when she thought of it! No, she was +now looking on all this as a pauper looks into +the shop-front displaying the warm clothing +that would keep the bitter cold from him, or +as starvelings of big cities, through the windows +of great restaurants and hostelries, stare +upon the well-fed people sating themselves +with an abundance of good cheer. She must +remain outside and now the end of it all was +near.</p> +<p>They had their breakfast, during which +Mrs. Papineau said that she was becoming +anxious about Hugo. Presently she would +send one of the children again. Papineau +wouldn’t do because he knew nothing about +sick people. She would go over there herself +soon. If he was sick she would bring him a +loaf of bread. It would soon be ready to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +bake; the dough was still rising behind the +stove. There might be other things to be attended +to. Not more than an hour would +elapse before she was ready to go. She remarked +that men were a very helpless lot +whenever they were ill, and became grumpy +and took feminine tact to manage.</p> +<p>The feeling of anxiety that had gradually +come over the girl became deeper. If the +man was ill, it was her fault. What had possessed +her to spend some of her scant store of +money in that dirty little shop for a pistol? +Of course, she realized that a vague feeling of +danger had guided her––that the thing could +be a means of defense or offer a way to end +her troubles. And it had only served to injure +a man who, if he had sinned against her, +manifested at any rate some desire to treat +her kindly.</p> +<p>But the thought that he might not be guilty +returned to her, insistently. It was on her +part a change of thought that was not due to +carefully reasoned considerations, to any deep +study of conditions, for when she tried to +argue the matter out she became involved in a +thousand contradictions and her head would +begin to ache in dizzy fashion. Rather it was +some sort of instinct, one of the conclusions +so often and quickly reached by the feminine +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +mind and apt, in spite of everything, to prove +accurate and reliable.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Papineau,” she said, suddenly, “I +think I will go over there now. I––I have +rested long enough and the fresh air will be +good for me. I will come back very soon, I +suppose, but if––if Mr. Ennis should be ill +you will find me there.”</p> +<p>Her proposal was assented to without the +slightest objection. The good woman insisted +on furnishing her with footwear better suited +to the tote-road than the boots she wore. On +the trail the snow would be fairly well beaten +down and there would be little need of snowshoes +if she picked her way carefully. She +could not lose her way. Still, it might be as +well for one of the children to go with her. +People who were not used to the woods sometimes +strayed off a trail and got in trouble.</p> +<p>Under escort of the second oldest girl +Madge started, briskly. She had covered but +a short distance before she wondered that she +felt so strong and well. The plain substantial +food she had eaten and the bright, stimulating +air were filling her with a new life. She +walked along quite fast, for she was now +anxious to see this man again. If she had +been wrong she wanted to make amends. But +what if he were very ill? She thought of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +lonely little shack and the lack of any comfort +and care within it. He might be lying there +helplessly, with only a dog for a companion. +At every turn of the little road she looked +ahead, keenly, thinking that perhaps she +might meet him on his way to the Papineau’s. +As she hurried on she felt that the house had +perhaps been too warm and it was splendid to +be walking beneath the snow-laden trees, to +see the little clouds of her breath going out +into the frosty air and to hear the crackling of +the clean snow under her feet.</p> +<p>The child was walking sturdily at her side +and told her of some Christmas presents Hugo +had brought. It was evident that to the children +of that family he was a very wonderful +being, a sort of Santa Claus who had done his +full duty and one to be forever after welcomed +with joyous shrieks. And father said +he was a very good shot, and Stefan Olsen, +the big man, thought there was no one like +him. And he could sing songs and tell stories, +wonderful stories. Madge, as she listened to +the girl, suddenly wondered whether it was +not possible that the loneliness of such a life +might not in some way have disturbed the +man’s mind, at least temporarily. Wasn’t it +possible for one, in such a case, to do queer +things and never remember anything about +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +them afterwards? No one better than she +knew what a terrible and maddening thing +loneliness was. She recollected distracting +hours spent in little hall-bedrooms while she +tried to mend, after an exhausting day’s work, +the poor clothing that wore out so terribly +soon, and how at times she had felt that she +must be becoming crazy.</p> +<p>“But no! He couldn’t have done it. He––he’s +a very quiet sensible man, I should +think, and––and he wouldn’t hurt even a +dog,” she repeated to herself.</p> +<p>They were journeying quite fast over the +trail that snaked along through the woods, +bending here and there in order to avoid +boulders and stumps and fallen trees but +always coming in sight of the frozen river +again. At times Madge trudged through +rather deep snow. Also she stubbed her toes +upon rocks and stumbled over branches +broken off by the great gales of winter. But it +really wasn’t very hard. And the child kept +on chattering about Monsieur Hugo and asking +eager questions about the big city. Was it +true that as far as one could see there were +houses standing right up against one another +for miles and miles, and that people swarmed +in them as do the wild bees in hollow trees? +It was natural for bees to do such things, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +for ants, and for the minnows in shoals down +in the river, but why did people have to crowd +in such a way? How could they breathe?</p> +<p>Finally they came in sight of the shack and +the child gave a swift glance.</p> +<p>“No smoke, mees,” she said. “Heem go +away, or mebbe heem seek.”</p> +<p>Madge hurried along faster for an instant, +and then stopped short. What if neither of +the child’s conclusions was correct? If she +went over there and knocked at the door he +might come out, looking rather surprised. +She had told him that she had come to Carcajou, +looking for an unknown husband, for a +man she was willing to accept under certain +conditions, just because her life had become +intolerable. He might lift his brow and perhaps +ask her quite civilly to come in. But +what would he think? Would he imagine +that she was running after him and trying to +compel him to marry her? It was not alone +the frost that brought color to her cheeks now. +No, it would never do.</p> +<p>“I think I will wait here,” she told the +little girl. “Will you please go and find out +if Mr. Ennis is there, and whether he is all +right again? I’ll sit down on this log and +wait till you come back.”</p> +<p>The child looked rather puzzled but she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +ran down the path that led to the cabin. +Madge saw her stopping in front of the door, +at which she knocked. She heard her call +out and then wait, as if listening. At once +came Maigan’s voice. He was barking but +the sound was not an angry one. Rather it +sounded plaintively. Finally the girl pulled +the door open, after fumbling at the latch, and +the dog ran out, barking again and rolling in +the snow. Then he sniffed the air and discovered +Madge, at once running towards her and +pushing his muzzle in her hand. She stroked +his head and he ran back, going but a few +steps and turning around to see if she followed. +She rose slowly, a sense of fear coming +over her, and hesitatingly went down the +path also. At this moment the child came out, +looking frightened, and hastened over to her.</p> +<p>“Heem seek––very seek,” she cried, and +Madge found herself running now, with her +heart beating and her breath coming fast. +The terrifying idea came to her that perhaps +he was dead. But as she entered the place +the man rose painfully on his bunk. His face +was amazingly pale and his features drawn––hardly +recognizable.</p> +<p>“Sorry, must beg your pardon––I intended +to come over,” he told her, hoarsely. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +“It––it’s some silly sort of a fever. I––I’ll +be better pretty soon. It’s that blessed +arm of mine, I think, and––and I’m frightfully +thirsty. If––if you’ll ask the kid....”</p> +<p>Madge peered about her, but there was no +water in sight. Even if there had been any +she knew it would have frozen solid in the +fireless shack whose interior had struck a chill +through her. She seized a pail.</p> +<p>“Where does one get it?” she asked. “Or +do you have to melt ice?”</p> +<p>“There’s a spring. It’s halfway down to +the pool. Never quite freezes over. Let that +girl go for it, Miss Nelson. Or––or I may +go myself in a minute. Only waiting till––till +my teeth stop chattering. Then I can +light––light the fire and––and make hot tea. +It––it’s such a stupid nuisance and––and +I’m giving you a lot of bother.”</p> +<p>But Madge ran out of the shack and down +to that spring, where the clear water seemed +to be boiling out of the ground, since a little +cloud of steam rose from it. But it was just +pure icy water and she filled the pail and +hurried back with it. When she returned the +child was efficiently engaged in making a fire +in the little stove. The man had sunk down +on his bunk again and she went up to him. +His teeth were no longer chattering, but his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +cheekbones now bore patches of deep red. +When she ventured to touch his hand, she +found that it was burning hot. At this an +awful, distressing, unreasoning fear came +upon her. She––she had killed this man, for––for +he certainly was going to die, she +thought. Even in the big hospital she had +never seen a face more strongly stamped +with the marks of impending death. It was +frightful!</p> +<p>She gave him water which he drank greedily, +calling for more. She had to hold the +cup, since his hand shook too badly. Dully, +feeling stricken with a great desolation, she +prepared some tea and gave it to him. She +had found some biscuits in a box but he refused +to eat anything. Presently he was lying +flat again on his bunk, with his eyes closed, +and when she spoke he made no answer. But +he was breathing, she noted. Perhaps he had +fallen asleep. It might do him a great deal +of good, she thought.</p> +<p>The child had thrown herself down on the +floor, next to Maigan, who was stretched out +at length, enjoying the welcome heat of the +stove. From time to time the animal lifted +his head and looked towards his master +anxiously. He knew that something was all +wrong, but now that these other people had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +come everything would doubtless be made all +right.</p> +<p>For some time Madge kept still, sitting +down on a stool she had drawn to the side of +the bunk. She had the resigned patience innate +in so many women, but presently she could +stand it no longer. Something must be done +at once. Valuable time was passing and no +help was being obtained. Things simply +couldn’t go on this way!</p> +<p>Rising again she called the child.</p> +<p>“We must go and get a doctor at once,” she +whispered, breathlessly. “I––I’m horribly +afraid. Come outside with me.”</p> +<p>She caught the little girl’s arm in her impatience, +and took her out.</p> +<p>“Your––your friend, Monsieur Hugo, is +dreadfully ill, do you understand, child? I +heard your mother say that one could telegraph +from Carcajou for a doctor. We’ve +got to do it! How long would it take me to +get there?”</p> +<p>The girl was evidently scared, but she +looked at Madge with some of the practical +sense of one versed with the difficulties of life +in the wilds.</p> +<p>“If you ’lone you never get dere. If +Maigan work for you maybe three-four +hour,” answered the child. “Heem go a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +leetle way den turn back for de shack. No +leave master.”</p> +<p>There came upon Madge a dreadful feeling +of helplessness. The man looked terribly +ill; she felt that he was probably going to +die. This great wilderness suddenly grew as +wicked in her eyes as that of the city. Nay, it +was even worse. She remembered how ill +she had become and how she had struggled to +fight off the sickness, in a little lone room of a +top floor. But as soon as people had come she +had been bundled away to the hospital. A +wagon had come, with a doctor in a white +coat, and they had clattered off. The people +in the hospital had seemed interested, indifferent, +friendly, according to their several +dispositions, but she had been taken care of, +and fed, and washed, and some of the nurses +had sweet faces, after all, and after a time she +had recovered. All this had seemed rather +terrible at the time, but what was it compared +to this lying desperately ill in a freezing +hut, too feeble to procure even the cup of +water craved by a dry tongue and lips that +were parched?</p> +<p>“I can surely walk that distance,” she cried, +but the child shook her head again.</p> +<p>“You no good for walk far,” she asserted. +“You jus’ fall down dead. Twelve mile and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +snow deep some place. Moch cole as freeze +you quick when tired.”</p> +<p>“Then what’s to be done?” asked Madge, +entering the house again, followed by the +child. “I think I ought to try to get to +Carcajou.”</p> +<p>“Please don’t,” said the man, hoarsely, +looking as if he had awakened suddenly, and +lifting himself up on one elbow painfully. +“I’ll––I’ll be all right to-morrow, sure––surest +thing you know, and––and I’ll take +you down myself, with old––old Maigan.”</p> +<p>“Please hurry back to your house and tell +your mother to come over as soon as she can,” +Madge told the child. “Perhaps your father +could go. I didn’t think of it at first.”</p> +<p>“Now you spik’ lak’ you know someting,” +said the girl, with refreshing frankness. “I +’urry all right. Get modder quick.”</p> +<p>She started, her little legs flying over the +snow, and Madge closed the door again.</p> +<p>She put a little more wood in the stove and +sat down by the bunk. The man’s eyes were +closed again. It was strange that he had +heard her so distinctly, and that he had gathered +the impression that she wanted to get to +Carcajou on her own account. And––and +he had said he would take her himself. Again +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +his first thought had been to do something for +her, to be of service to her.</p> +<p>One of his hands was lying outside the +blankets, and instinctively Madge placed her +own upon it. She was frightened to feel how +hot it was. The pulse her fingers sought was +beating wildly. She felt glad that she was +there. The man didn’t care for her and she––well, +she supposed that she disliked him, +but she wasn’t going to let him die there +alone in a corner, like a wounded animal in +some obscure den among the rocks. For the +moment her own troubles were pretty nearly +forgotten, for there was something for her to +do. She had been but a useless by-product +of humanity in the great melting pot of the +world and had proved incapable of rising +above the dross and making even a poor place +for herself. But this man was young and +strong and able, bearing all the marks of one +destined to be of use. He had looked splendid +in his efficient and sturdy manhood and therefore +there was something wrong, utterly +wrong and against the course of nature in his +being about to be snuffed out before her very +eyes, just because she had dropped that abominable +pistol. It––it just couldn’t be!</p> +<p>She leaned forward again and looked upon +his face, that was ashen under the coating of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +tan. Once he opened his eyes and looked at +her, but the lids closed down again and once +more she became obsessed by the idea that she +might have been very unjust to him, that she +had perhaps insulted and wronged him. All +at once the face she was looking at became +blurred, but it was because she saw it through +a mist of gathering tears. It had been easy, +when she had bought that pistol, to think +of killing a man; now it seemed frightful, +abominable, and the resentment she had felt +against the man was turning against herself in +spite of the fact that it had been an accident, +just a miserable accident.</p> +<p>Long minutes, forty or fifty of them, went +by as she waited and listened. But presently +Maigan, that had laid his head in her lap and +was looking at her pitifully, as if he had been +begging her to help the man he loved, rose +suddenly and dashed to the door, barking. +It proved to be Papineau and his wife, who +was very breathless.</p> +<p>The man came in, looked at Hugo and +rushed out again. He took the time to exchange +his toboggan for Hugo’s, which was +lighter and to which he hitched his three +powerful dogs. Madge went to him.</p> +<p>“You’ll hurry, won’t you?” she cried. +“I––I’m afraid, I’m horribly afraid. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +Don’t––don’t come back without a doctor will +you?”</p> +<p>“You bet de life, mees, I make dem dog +’urry plenty moch. Yes, ma’am, you bet!” +he repeated, calmly, but looking at her with +the strong steely eyes that seemed peculiar to +these men of the great North.</p> +<p>He ran with his team up the path. When +he reached the tote-road the girl saw that he +had jumped on the sled, which was tearing +away to the southward.</p> +<p>Within the shack Mrs. Papineau busied +herself in many ways, placing things in order +and fussing about the stove, upon which she +had placed a pot containing more herbs she +had brought with her. Every few minutes +she interrupted her work in order to take another +look at Hugo. Once or twice Madge +saw a big tear roll down her fat cheeks, which +she swiftly wiped off with her sleeve. A little +later she managed to make the man swallow +some of her concoction. He appeared to +obey unconsciously, but when she spoke to +him he just babbled something which neither +of the women understood. Finally the +Frenchwoman sat down at the side of Madge, +snuffling a little, and began to whisper.</p> +<p>“Big strong man one day,” she commented, +“an’ dis day seek an’ weak lak one leetle child. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +Eet is de way so strange of de Providence. +It look lak de good Lord make one fine man, +fines’ Heem can make––a man as should get +de love of vomans an’ leetle children––an’ +den Heem mak up his min’ for to tak heem +avay. An’ Heem good Lord know why, but +I tink I better pray. Maybe de good Lord +Heem ’ear an’ tink let heem lif a whiles yet, +eh?”</p> +<p>And so the woman knelt down and repeated +prayers, for the longest time, speaking hurriedly +the invocations she had all her life, +known by heart, and ending each one with +the devout crossing of her breast. Then +Madge, for the first time in a very long while, +remembered words she had so often heard in +the little village church at home, which promised +that whenever two or three were gathered +together in the name of the Lord, He would +be among them. Yes, she had heard that assurance +often in the place of worship she +could now see so vividly, in which the open +windows, on summer days, let in the droning +of the bees and the scent of honeysuckle outside. +So she knelt beside the other woman +and began to pray also, haltingly, in words +that came well-nigh unbidden because they +were the call of a heart in sore travail which +had long forgotten how to pray for itself. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +And it seemed as if the great Power above +must surely be listening.</p> +<p>Finally Mrs. Papineau rose. She was compelled +to go back home and see that the +children were fed. She promised she would +return in a short time. The doctor would certainly +not come before night, perhaps not even +until early morning, for he would be compelled +to make a journey on the train. Papineau +would wait for him, of course. As soon +as he had sent the message he would give the +dogs a good feed and they would be ready for +the return. Then when the doctor turned up, +Papineau would rush him to Roaring River, +and––and if the Lord was willing he might +be able to do something, providing....</p> +<p>But she had to interrupt herself to wipe +away another big tear. She placed a hand +upon the girl’s shoulder, seeking to encourage +her a little, and started off, her heavy footsteps +crackling over the snow. Then silence +came again, but for the hurried breathing +of the sick man and the occasional sighs of +Maigan, who refused food offered to him.</p> +<p>Madge forced herself to eat a little, dimly +realizing that for a time there might be need +of all her strength. After this she sat down +again, feeling crushed with the sense of her +helplessness and with the thought of the terribly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +long hours that must elapse before the +doctor could arrive.</p> +<p>Once Hugo seemed to awaken, as if from +a sleep. The hand that had lain so still +seemed to grope, searchingly, and she placed +her own upon it.</p> +<p>“Take you over––all right––to-morrow,” +he said. “It––it’s a pity, because––because +you’re so––so good and kind, now,” he muttered. +“She––she thinks I––I’m the dirt +under her feet. Ain’t––ain’t you there, +Stefan?”</p> +<p>His eyes searched the room for a moment. +Then, with a look of disappointment, his head +sagged down on the pillow again and he lay +quiet for a long time, till he began to mutter +words that were disconnected and meaningless +to her.</p> +<p>The noon hour came and went, with a glowing +sun that shone brightly over the snow and +tinted the mist from the great falls with the +colors of the rainbow. But Madge did not +see it, for within the little shack the panes +were dimmed by the frost. The stove crackled +and spat, with the sudden little explosions of +wood fires. Close to it one felt very warm +but the heat did not extend far, since the cold +seemed to be seeking ever to penetrate the +room, making its way beneath the door and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +through some of the chinked spaces between +the logs. It affected Madge now as a sort of +enemy, this cold that seemed to be on the +watch for victims. It was one of the things +that were always rising up in order to crush +struggling men and women.</p> +<p>Another hour elapsed, that had been +cruelly long, when Maigan suddenly leaped +up and stood before the door, with hair +bristling all over him and standing like a +ridge along his back. He scratched furiously +and looked back, as if demanding to be let +out, and kept up a long, ominous growl that +was very different from his usual bark.</p> +<p>Madge went to the door, feeling very uneasy. +She opened it, after slipping her hand +under Maigan’s collar. Upon the tote-road +she saw a large sled that had been drawn by +a pair of strong, shaggy horses, which a man +was blanketing. From where she stood she +heard confused voices of men and women, all +of whom were strangers to her. They seemed +to be consulting together. Finally they came +down the path towards the shack, nine or ten +of them, walking slowly and looking grim +and unfriendly. Maigan was now barking +fiercely and Madge had to struggle with him +to prevent his dashing out towards them.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_STEFAN_RUNS' id='CHAPTER_X_STEFAN_RUNS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>Stefan Runs</span></h3> +</div> +<p>Philippe Papineau rode nearly all the way +on the toboggan, sparing the dogs only in +the hardest places on rising ground. The +animals had been well-fed on the previous +night and the trip around the trapping line +had not been a hard one. It represented but +a mere fifty miles or so, over which they had +only hauled one man’s food in three days, +with his blankets and a small shelter-tent he +used when forced to stop away from one of +the small huts he had built on the line. In +fact, there had been little need of three dogs, +but Papineau had taken them because it kept +up their training. In the pink of condition, +therefore, the team bade fair to equal Stefan’s +best performances.</p> +<p>The Frenchman was within sight of the +smokestack rising from Carcajou’s sawmill +when he opened his eyes, widely. A pair of +horses was coming along the old road, drawing +a big sled. As the old lumber trail was +used only by dog-teams, as a rule, this surprised +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +him. A moment later he clucked at his +dogs, which drew to one side, and the horses, +from whose shaggy bodies a cloud of steam +was rising, came abreast of him. The sled +stopped.</p> +<p>“Hello there, Papineau!” called one of +the men. “Going in for provisions? Thought +you hauled in a barrel of flour last week.”</p> +<p>“Uh huh,” assented Philippe, non-committally.</p> +<p>“Is that fellow Ennis over to his shack?” +asked McIntosh, the squaw-man.</p> +<p>“Uh huh,” repeated the settler.</p> +<p>“D’ye happen to know whether there’s +a––a young ’ooman there too?”</p> +<p>“Vat you vant wid dat gal?” asked Papineau +this time.</p> +<p>“We’re just goin’ visitin’, like,” Pat Kilrea +informed him. “It’s sure a fine day for a +ride in the country. And so that there young +’ooman’s been up there a matter o’ three-four +days, ain’t she?”</p> +<p>“I tink so,” assented Philippe.</p> +<p>“D’ye know who she is?” asked Mrs. Kilrea, +a severe looking and angular woman.</p> +<p>“Sure, heem gal is friend o’ Hugo,” answered +the Frenchman, simply. “Mebbe you +better no go to-day. Hugo heem seek. I got +to ’urry, so good-by.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span></div> +<p>He lashed his dogs on again, while Pat +cracked his whip and the party went on. Mrs. +Kilrea was looking rather horrified, thought +Sophy McGurn. Her turn was coming at +last. There would be a scene that would repay +her for her trouble, she gleefully decided.</p> +<p>As they went on at a steady pace, over a +road which none but horses inured to lumbering +could have followed without breaking a +leg or getting hopelessly stalled in deep snow, +Philippe hurried over to the station and got +Joe Follansbee to send a telegram. The +young man would have given a good deal to +have made one of the party but his official +duties detained him.</p> +<p>“Who wants a doctor?” he asked, curiously.</p> +<p>“Hugo,” answered Papineau, impatiently. +“You don’t h’ask so moch question, you fellar. +Jus’ telegraph quick now an’ h’ask for answer +ven dat <i>docteur</i> he come, you ’ear me?”</p> +<p>Joe looked at the Frenchman, intending to +resent his sharp orders, but thought better of +it. The small, square-built, wide-shouldered +man was not one to be trifled with. He was +known as a calm, cool sort of a chap with little +sense of humor, and the youth reflected that, +in this neck of the woods, it was best not to +trifle with men who were apt to end a quarrel +by fighting over an acre of ground and mauling +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +one another until one or both parties were +utterly unrecognizable, even to their best +friends.</p> +<p>“Come back in about an hour and I expect +I’ll have an answer,” he told the Frenchman, +quite meekly.</p> +<p>The latter went into McGurn’s store and +purchased some tobacco and a few needed +groceries. Suddenly he bethought himself of +Stefan.</p> +<p>“<i>Mon Dieu!</i>” he exclaimed. “Heem +ought know right avay, sure.”</p> +<p>He drove his team around to Stefan’s +smithy but failed to find him. At the house +Mrs. Olsen told him that her husband had +gone out a half an hour ago. He would probably +be at Olaf Jonson’s, at the other end of +the village. Thither drove Philippe and +found his man.</p> +<p>“’Ello, Stefan, want for see you right +avay,” said the trapper. “Come ’long!”</p> +<p>The Swede hastened to him.</p> +<p>“Vat it iss, Philippe?” he asked, eyeing the +dogs expertly. “Py de looks off tem togs I +tink you ban in some hurry, no?”</p> +<p>“Uh huh! I come to telegraph for de +<i>docteur</i>. Hugo heem ’urted h’awful bad. +Look lak’ heem die, mebbe.”</p> +<p>Stefan bellowed out an oath and began running +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +towards his house at a tremendous gait. +Papineau jumped on his toboggan and followed, +only catching up after they had gone a +couple of hundred yards. When they reached +Olsen’s, the latter went in, shouted out the +news and came out again. With the help of +Papineau he hitched up his own great team +of five.</p> +<p>“Tank you for lettin’ me know, Papineau,” +he said. “I get ofer dere so tam qvick you +don’t belief, I tank. So long!”</p> +<p>“’Old ’ard! ’Old ’ard!” shouted the +Frenchman. “Vat for you tink Pat Kilrea +an’ McIntosh, an’ Prouty an’ Kerrigan and +more, an’ also vomans is goin’ up dere to de +Falls? Dey say go visitin’. Dey don’t nevaire +go make visits before dat vay. An’ dey h’ask +me all ’bout de <i>demoiselle</i>, de gal vat is up +dere, an’ I see Mis’ Kilrea an’ Kerrigan’s +voman look one de oder in de face. Look +mean lak’ de devil, dem vomans! I dunno, +but I tink dey up to no good, dem crowd. If +I no have to stay for <i>docteur</i> I go right back +qvick. D’ye tink dey vant ter bodder Hugo, +or de lady, Stefan?”</p> +<p>The latter swore again.</p> +<p>“If dey bodder ’em I tvists all dere necks +like chickens, I tank,” he cried, excitedly. +“How long ago did they leave?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span></div> +<p>“Vell, most a h’our, now, I tink, and +dem’s Kerrigan’s horses, as is five year olds +an’ stronk lak’ de devil. Dey run good on de +five-mile flat, dey do, sure, an’ odder places +vhere snow is pack nice.”</p> +<p>This time Stefan didn’t answer. He +shouted at his team, that started on the run, +but Zeb Foraker’s St. Bernard, who could +lick any dog in Carcajou singly, chanced to +leap over the garden fence and come at them. +In a moment a half dozen dogs were piled up +in a fight. Stefan stepped into the snarl. A +moment later he had the biggest animal, that +was supposed to weigh close to two hundred, +by the tail. With a wonderful heave he lifted +it up and swung it over his master’s fence into +a leafless copper beach that graced the plot, +whence the animal fell to the ground, looking +dazed. It took several minutes to straighten +out the tangled traces and the leader was hopelessly +lame. He had to be taken out and left +at home. All the time Stefan’s language +brought scared faces to the windows of neighboring +shacks. It was a good thing, probably, +that few people in Carcajou understood Swedish. +Still, from the sound of it they judged +that it must be something pretty bad. Finally +he was off again, lacking the smartest animal +in his team. The others, however, probably +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +considered that this was no occasion for +further bad behavior and old Jennie, mother +of three of the bunch, led it without making +any serious mistakes.</p> +<p>For the life of him Stefan couldn’t conceive +why anyone should want to bother +Hugo or the pretty lady. It was the very +strangeness and mystery of the thing that +aroused him. He never entertained the idea +that Papineau was mistaken. The Frenchman +was a fine smart fellow, one who loved +Hugo, and a man not given to idle notions or +to exaggeration. If he thought there was +something wrong this must be the case.</p> +<p>On a long upgrade he ran at the side of his +dogs, his great chest heaving at the tremendous +effort. On the level he rode, urging the +animals on and keeping his eyes on the tracks +of the horses and sleigh, while his strong stern +face seemed immovably frozen into an expression +of grim determination. Anyone +who touched his friend Hugo would have to +reckon with him, indeed. The man was one +of the few beings he cared for, like his wife +or the young ones. Such a friendship was a +possession, something he owned, a treasure he +would not be robbed of and was prepared to +defend, as he would have defended his little +hoard of money, the home he had built, with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +the berserker fury of his ancestors. He was +conscious of his might, conscious that there +were few men on earth who could stand up +against him in the rough and tumble fighting +current in the far wilderness. He knew that +he could go through such a crowd as was +threatening his friend like a devastating cyclone +through a cornfield.</p> +<p>“If dey’s qviet un’ reasonable I don’t ’urt +nobotty but yoost tell ’em git out of here, tarn +qvick,” he projected. “But if dem mens is +up to anything rough I hope dey says dere +prayers alretty, because I yoost bust ’em all +up, you bet.”</p> +<p>The team was pulling hard, the breaths +coming out in swift little puffs from their +nostrils. Sometimes they walked, with +tongues hanging out, while again they trotted +easily, or, down the hills, galloped with the +long easy lope of their wolfish ancestors. And +Stefan calculated the speed the horses could +have made here, and again over there. By +the tracks he saw where they had trotted along +good ground, or toiled more slowly over rough +places. The man grinned when he came to +spots where they must have proceeded very +slowly with the heavy sleigh, and his brows +corrugated when he saw that they had speeded +up again.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span></div> +<p>“Dey drive tern horses fast,” he reflected. +“Dey don’t vant trafel dis road back in dark, +sure ting, to break dere necks. Dey vant make +qvick vork. But I ban goin’ some, too, you +bet.”</p> +<p>He was taking man’s eternal pleasure in +swift motion, yet the anxiety remained with +him that he might not catch up with them before +they arrived. He knew that nothing +could take place if he were there a minute +before them. But if he was a minute late, +what then? When this idea recurred, his face +would take on its grim expression, the look +wherewith Vikings once struck terror among +their enemies. He hoped for the sake of that +crowd that he might not be late, as well as for +the good of his friend, for he would crush +them, the men at any rate, and send the women +trudging home, wishing they had never been +born.</p> +<p>In him the two individualities that make up +nearly every human being swung and seesawed. +The kind-hearted, helpful, considerate +man kept on surging upward, in the trust +that his arrival would avert all trouble. Then +this phase of his being would pass off and the +great primal creature would take its place +and come uppermost, with lustful ideas of +vengeance, visions in which everything was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +tinged with red, and then his great voice +would ring out in the still woods and the dogs +would pull desperately, with never a pause, +and the toboggan would slither and slide and +groan, and the crunching snow seemed to +complain, and the masses of snow suspended +to great hemlocks and firs dropped down suddenly, +with thuds that were like the echoes of +great smiting clubs.</p> +<p>When again he ran beside the dogs, in a +long pull uphill, the sense of personal effort +comforted him. He was doing something. +Once the toe of one of his snowshoes caught +in the snaky root of a big spruce and he fell +ponderously, without a word, and picked +himself up again. Dimly he was conscious +that it had injured him a little, but he scarcely +felt it. It was like some hurt received in the +heat and passion of battle, that a man never +really feels till the excitement has passed. +His team had kept on, galloping fast, but he +never called to them, knowing that harder +ground would presently slow them. And he +ran on, his great limbs appearing to possess +the strength of machinery wrought of steel +and iron, while his enormous chest hoarsely +drew in and cast forth great clouds. But he +was not working beyond his power, merely +getting the best he knew out of the thews that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +made him more efficient than most men, when +it came to the toil of the wilds. He knew +better than to play himself out so that he +would arrive exhausted and unable to contend +with the whole of his might. He was conscious +as he ran that he would arrive nearly +unbreathed and ready for any fray. And after +he had swept off the intruders he would look +upon the face of his friend, the man who for +months had shared food with him, and the +scented bedding of the woods, and the toil, +and the downpours, and the clouds of black +flies and mosquitoes, and who had always +smiled through fair days and foul, and who, +at the risk of his life, had saved him.</p> +<p>And that friendship was so strong that it +must help the sick man. How could one be +ill with a friend near by who had so much +strength to give away, such determination to +make all things well, such fierce power to +contend with all inimical things? He would +take him in his arms and bid him be of good +cheer and courage, and the man would respond, +would smile, would feel that strength +being added to his own, so that he would soon +be well again.</p> +<p>All this might be deepest folly, and was +not formulated as we have been compelled to +put it down in these pages. Rather it was but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +a simple trust, a faith based on love and hope, +a belief originating in the mind of one of a +nature so trusting and inclined to goodness +that until the last moment he would never believe +in the victory of powers of evil.</p> +<p>So Stefan caught up with his dogs again +and stepped on the toboggan, without stopping +them, and the great trunks of forest +giants seemed to slip by him swiftly, while +here and there, by dint of some formation of +hillside or gorge, his ears grew conscious of +the far-away roar of the great falls. From a +little summit he saw the cloud of rising vapor, +all of a mile away. At every turn he peered +ahead, keenly disappointed on each occasion, +for the party was not in sight. So he urged +the dogs faster. The big sleigh must surely +be just ahead, beyond the next turn.</p> +<p>“Oh, if dey touch one hair of de head of +Hugo, den God pity dem!” he cried out.</p> +<p>And the dogs ran on, more swiftly than +ever, breathing easily still in spite of the +nearly three hundred pounds of manhood +they drew, and the roar of the falls became +more distinct, while to the right, away down +below, the river swirled under the groaning +ice and sped past wildly, towards the east +and the south, as if seeking to save itself from +the embrace of the North.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_A_VISIT_CUT_SHORT' id='CHAPTER_XI_A_VISIT_CUT_SHORT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>A Visit Cut Short</span></h3> +</div> +<p>Like the great majority of the denizens of +the wilderness, Maigan could be a steadfast +friend or a bitter enemy. He would readily +have given his life for the one and torn +the other asunder. Not being very far removed +from a wolfish ancestry he was necessarily +suspicious, intolerant at first of strangers +and prepared to use his clean and cutting +fangs at the shortest notice. But he was also +more cautious than the dog of civilization and +less apt to blurt his feelings right out. After +his first outburst he appeared to quiet down, +growling but a very little, very low, and stood +at the girl’s side, watchful and ready for immediate +action.</p> +<p>Madge stood on the wooden step that had +been cleared of snow, in front of the little +door of rough planks. She watched the +people coming in Indian file down the path +that had been beaten down in the deep snow. +For a moment she had thought that they +might be bringing help, that miraculously a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +doctor had been found at once, that these +people were friends eager to help, to remove +the sick man to Carcajou and thence to some +hospital further down the railway line. But +such people would have cried out inquiries. +They would have come with some shout of +greeting. But these newcomers came along +without a word until their leader was but a +few yards away, when he stopped and looked +at the girl during a moment’s silence.</p> +<p>“Where’s Hugo Ennis?” he finally asked, +gruffly.</p> +<p>“He is in the shack,” replied the girl, +timidly. “He is dreadfully ill and lying on +his bunk.”</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with him?”</p> +<p>“He was shot––shot by accident, and now +I’m afraid that he is going to die.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’ll go in and see. We’ll all go in. +We’re mighty cold after that long ride. +Stand aside!”</p> +<p>“I think you might go in,” the girl told +him, still blocking the way, “but the others +must not. I––I won’t allow him to be disturbed. +Don’t––don’t you understand me? +I’m telling you that he’s dying. I––I won’t +have him disturbed. And––and who are +you? You don’t look like a friend of his. +What’s your purpose in coming here?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span></div> +<p>The first feeling of timidity that had seized +her seemed to have left her utterly. There +remained to her but an instinct––a will to +defend the man, to protect him from unwarranted +intrusion, and she spoke with authority. +But another of the visitors addressed her.</p> +<p>“We’re folks belongin’ to these townships,” +he said. “What we want to know is who you +are, and what right ye’ve got to order us +about and say who’s goin’ in and who’s to +keep out?”</p> +<p>Something in his words caused her cheeks +to burn, but strangely enough she felt quite +calm and strong in her innocence of any evil, +and she answered quietly enough.</p> +<p>“My name is Madge Nelson, if you want +to know, and I am here at this moment because +I am taking care of Mr. Ennis. I feel +responsible for his welfare and will continue +until he is better and able to speak for himself, +or––or until he is dead. I repeat that one of +you may come in––but no more.”</p> +<p>It appeared that her manner impressed the +men to some extent, if not the three women +who crowded behind. One of the visitors +was scratching the back of his neck.</p> +<p>“Look a-here, Aleck, I reckon that gal is +talking sense, if Hugo’s real bad like she says. +We ain’t got no call to butt in an’ make him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +worse. I know when Mirandy was sick the +Doc he told me ter take a club if I had to, to +keep folks out. Let Pat Kilrea go in if he +wants to an’ we’ll stay outside an’ wait.”</p> +<p>“Sure, that’s right enough,” said old man +Prouty.</p> +<p>Pat advanced, but Maigan began to growl.</p> +<p>“Say, young ’ooman, I’ll bash that dog’s +head in if you don’t keep him still,” he said, +truculently. “Keep a holt of him.”</p> +<p>Madge pulled the dog back and quieted +him.</p> +<p>“Be good, Maigan,” she said. “It’s all +right, old fellow.”</p> +<p>She entered the shack behind Pat Kilrea +and closed the door. In doing this she meant +no offense to the others, who didn’t mind, +knowing that with a cold of some twenty below +people don’t care for an excess of ventilation. +They stood, the men silently, the women +putting their heads together and whispering.</p> +<p>“Ain’t she the brazen sassy thing?” remarked +Mrs. Kilrea.</p> +<p>“Guess she ain’t no better’n she should +be,” opined Sophy, acidly, as she watched the +door keenly.</p> +<p>Pat Kilrea went to the bunk and for an instant +considered the sick man’s face. Then +he scratched his head again.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span></div> +<p>“Hello, Hugo!” he finally called out. +“What’s the matter with ye? Ain’t––ain’t +tryin’ to hide behind a gal’s skirts, are ye?”</p> +<p>His arm was seized from behind. The +girl’s eyes flashed at him.</p> +<p>“I––I don’t know who you are!” she exclaimed. +“But if––if you say such things +I’ll turn that dog on you, so help me God!”</p> +<p>“I––I don’t reckon as I meant it,” stammered +Pat. “He––he does look turriple +sick, now me eyes is gettin’ used to the light. +Why, why don’t you speak, man?”</p> +<p>But the sufferer on the bunk made no +answer save in some low fast words that were +disconnected and meaningless. Slowly, nearly +tenderly, Pat touched a hand that felt burning +hot and a forehead that was moist and clammy. +Then he turned to the girl again.</p> +<p>“Well, I must say I’m sorry,” he acknowledged. +“Looks to me like he was done for. +What are ye goin’ to do for him? We––we +didn’t reckon to find nothin’ like this when +we come, though Papineau told us he were +sick.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Papineau’s errand was to telegraph +for the doctor,” she replied, with a hand +pressed to her bosom. “At––at first, when I +heard you coming, I thought he had perhaps +arrived and––and that you were intending +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +to take him away. Do––do you really think +he’s going to die?”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m scared it looks a good deal that +way. Of course we might be able to take him +in the sleigh, but––but he don’t look much as +if he could stand the trip––does he?––an’––an’ +I don’t reckon we can do much good +stayin’ round here either.”</p> +<p>He stepped over to the door and opened it.</p> +<p>“That gal’s right,” he said. “Hugo looks +desperate sick.”</p> +<p>“Sure it ain’t nothin’ that’s ketchin’, are +ye?” asked his wife, drawing back a little.</p> +<p>“I didn’t never hear that pistol bullets +was contagious,” he answered.</p> +<p>“But who did it?” cried McIntosh. +“And––and how d’ye know ’twas just an +accident. Seems to me we’d ought to find +out something more about it. It––it don’t +sound just natural.”</p> +<p>“I tell you he was shot by accident. I did +it, God forgive me,” faltered Madge.</p> +<p>Sophy McGurn, at this, pushed her way +forward until she stood in front of Madge, +and pointed an accusing finger at her. Her +eyes were flashing. To Maigan her move +seemed a threatening one and she recoiled as +the animal crouched a little, with fangs bare +and lips slavering.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span></div> +<p>“Hold him, miss, hold him quick!” cried +Aleck Mclntosh. “Git back there, Sophy, +what’s the matter with ye? D’ye want to be +torn to pieces? What’s that ye was goin’ to +say?”</p> +<p>“She––she never shot him by accident! +She––she did it on purpose, for revenge, +that’s what she did, the she-devil!”</p> +<p>She was still standing before Madge and +her voice was shaking with excitement, while +her arms and hands trembled with her passion.</p> +<p>“What’s all that?” cried Pat Kilrea. “Ye +wasn’t here to see, was ye? How d’ye know +she done it a-purpose, for revenge? Ye must +have some reason for sayin’ such things. Out +with ’em!”</p> +<p>But now Sophy was shrinking back, afraid +of her own outburst, fearing that she might +have revealed something. Her voice shook +again as she replied.</p> +<p>“I––I ain’t got any reason,” she stammered. +“I––I was just thinking so. It––it +came to me all of a sudden. Maybe I’m +mistaken.”</p> +<p>“Mistaken, was it?” asked Pat Kilrea. +“Folks ain’t got any right to be mistaken +when it comes to accusin’ others of murder. +If you hadn’t had some reason to speak that +way ye’d have kept yer mouth shut, I’m +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +thinking. Why don’t ye come right out with +it?”</p> +<p>“I––I didn’t really mean anything by it,” +stammered Sophy again.</p> +<p>“What revenge was that you was referring +to?” he persisted.</p> +<p>“Nothing––nothing at all. How should +I know what she would do?”</p> +<p>“Then you ought to have kept still an’ held +yer tongue,” said Pat.</p> +<p>“But it seems to me as if we’d ought to investigate +this thing a little,” ventured Prouty. +“We ain’t got anythin’ here but this ’ere +young ’ooman’s word for what’s happened. +She can tell us how it came about, anyways, +seems to me, and we can judge if it sounds +sensible and correct like.”</p> +<p>“That’s right,” put in Kilrea. “That’s +fair and proper.”</p> +<p>“I am perfectly willing to tell you all I +know about it,” asserted Madge, quietly. “I––I +came here to see Mr. Ennis on a matter +that––that concerns us only. And I had +occasion to open my bag. Among the things +in it there was a revolver. It fell out of my +hands and exploded, and––and the bullet +struck him. I––I never knew that he had +been shot. He never even told me, and then +he hitched the dog to the sleigh and took me +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +over to Mrs. Papineau’s, where I have been +staying. And it was she who discovered that +he had been injured. She’ll tell you so herself +if you go to her. And––and he told her +it was an accident, as he would tell you now if––if +he wasn’t dying.”</p> +<p>“You’d fixed it up to spend the night at +Papineau’s?” asked Mrs. Kilrea, who had +hitherto kept somewhat in the background.</p> +<p>“That was the arrangement we had made,” +answered the girl. “There was no other +place where I could stay. But I’d have gone +up there alone if I’d known how badly he was +hurt. I’ve stayed with them ever since, of +course, for there was no one to take me back. +Mr. Papineau hadn’t returned. He was +trapping.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see but what she must be tellin’ +the truth,” opined Mrs. Kilrea. “There ain’t +anything wrong or improper in all this, savin’ +a girl handlin’ a revolver, which ain’t wise. +We can go over to Papineau’s and make sure +it’s just as she says.”</p> +<p>“But there’s one thing ain’t clear,” said +Pat Kilrea. “What business did she come +on, anyways?”</p> +<p>Madge drew herself up and looked at him +calmly.</p> +<p>“I’ve already told you that this concerns +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +Mr. Ennis and myself,” she told him, “and I +deny that you have any right....”</p> +<p>Just then there was a roar from the tote-road +as big Stefan, lashing his dogs, bumped +down the path at a wild gallop and, a minute +later, threw himself off the sled and was +among them.</p> +<p>“How do, peoples?” he shouted, advancing +truculently towards Pat and Mclntosh. +“Papineau telt me as how Hugo he get hurted +bad and sick. And he say you peoples ask +him whole lot qvestions about him. I vant +to know vhat all you is doin’ here, und––und +if I ain’t satisfied I take some of you and––and +vipe up de ground vid you, hear me!”</p> +<p>His manner was ominously calm, but his +words sent a shiver through the crowd. He +was and looked a tremendous figure. He had +moved to the side of the girl, as if to defend +her, and his clear blue eyes went searchingly +from one man to the next.</p> +<p>“Papineau he tells me in Carcajou it look +like you come ofer here to make drouble for +Hugo an’ mebbe for dis young leddy. So I +come here fast like my togs can take me, sure +ting. Und I vant to know vhen you vants to +start droubles. Der leddies can move leetle +vay to one side if dey like, to make room. Ve +need plenty, I tank. Who vant to start de +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +row now, who begin? I tak’ you vun at a time +or altogedder, how you like!”</p> +<p>He took a step forward and the men all +moved back hurriedly. The ladies had +swiftly accepted his advice and were retreating +fast, now and then looking back in terror.</p> +<p>“But look here, Stefan, what are you butting +in for?” Kilrea took courage to ask while +he kept discreetly out of reach. “We came +to see if everything was all right and proper +here. We’re satisfied now and are going +back. Got to hurry away, sun’s getting low.”</p> +<p>The Swede sniffed at him contemptuously, +and drew off a big mitt of muskrat hide. +With some difficulty he drew from his clothing +a huge silver watch and looked at it.</p> +<p>“Glad you vas in a hurry. I tank I ’elp +you a bit make tings lifely. I gif you all yoost +tree minutes ter get started. Den if any man +he ain’t aboard dat sleigh I yoost vipes up de +ground vit him a bit. If you knows vhat is +good for ye, den make tracks, qvick. I ban +gettin’ hurry mineself, eh!”</p> +<p>“But what right have you to be ordering +us about?” shouted Aleck Mclntosh, imprudently.</p> +<p>“My frient, you’s knowed as de laziest +man in Carcajou and some say in Ontario. I +helps you along, sure.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span></div> +<p>He had dashed towards him with devastating +speed. The fellow turned to run, but a +second later the slack of some of his garments +was in Stefan’s huge hand. Struggling and +backing he found himself half lifted, half +propelled on the ground, all the way to the +sled. There he was lifted high and dumped +in, like a bag of feed.</p> +<p>“Any oders as need help?” roared Stefan.</p> +<p>But they were hastening for all they were +worth. Kilrea took the reins. The three +women were already seated. The others +jumped in and the horses started home again, +even before the Carcajou Vigilantes had +finished spreading robes over their shaky +knees. Striking a bit of flat bare rock, the +runners spat out fire and squealed, after which +the heavy sled slithered and slipped over the +crackling snow, so that presently the outfit +disappeared around the first bend in the tote-road.</p> +<p>Miss Sophy McGurn looked particularly +down-hearted. None of the interesting events +she expected had taken place. She had +merely succeeded in nearly giving herself +away and arousing suspicions.</p> +<p>And the girl was still there, with Hugo! +She had believed that Hugo would be found +sheepish and embarrassed, or in a regular +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +fury, while the stranger would weep and +wring her hands and seek to explain. And +the invading crowd was to have manifested +its indignation at this breach of all decency +and proper custom, and sent the woman away, +while they would have told the man what they +thought of him, in spite of his rage, and +warned him that he must mend his ways or +quit the country.</p> +<p>And now they had all been driven away, +and that girl had stood and spoken as if she +had some right to be there, and had been indignant +at any inquiry into her motives for +coming to Roaring River. Worse than all +Pat Kilrea and his wife seemed to have turned +against her, after absolving the two of blame.</p> +<p>She shrank back, drawing her fur cap +further down over her eyes and ears. Now +the cold seemed more bitter than she had ever +felt it before, in spite of the thermometer’s +rise, and the road was so long and dreary that +it seemed as if it never would end.</p> +<p>And Hugo Ennis was dying––and in her +heart Sophy McGurn felt certain that the girl +had shot to kill, and was waiting there until +he should die. Perhaps she had rummaged +about the place and found money or other +valuables, for Ennis always seemed to have +some funds, though he spent prudently and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +carefully, and never seemed to have dollars to +throw away. And the end of it would be that +the girl would leave and the man would be +dead and all the dreams of marriage first and +of a revenge following had turned into this +thing, which was a nightmare.</p> +<p>She reached her home half frozen, in spite +of the robes, and could not eat her food. Her +mother had a few mild words to say about +long excursions out in the back country, in this +sort of weather. Then the girl left the table +suddenly, and slammed the door of her room +shut, in a towering rage. A little later, after +she had lain down, came tears, for it seemed +to her at this time that she had never truly +loved Ennis until she heard that he was dying, +and now he was lost to her forever.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_HELP_COMES' id='CHAPTER_XII_HELP_COMES'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>Help Comes</span></h3> +</div> +<p>Stefan had watched the departure of those +people grimly, until he felt sure that they +would not return. Madge had stood near +him. In her desolation it was splendid to +have him there with her, to be no longer +obliged to stare at the sick man’s face in lonely +terror, to feel that if there was any help +needed he would be at hand, with all his immense +strength and courage.</p> +<p>“I tank dey don’t mean much badness,” +the man explained to her. “Mebbe ye knows +peoples in dis countree ain’t much to do in dis +vintertime and dey gets fonny iteas about +foolin’ araount. Dey goes home all qviet +now, you bet, and don’t talk to nobotty vhat +tam fools dey bin, eh!”</p> +<p>They both entered the shack again and the +big fellow went up to the bunk upon which +lay his friend. For a very long time he looked +at him, finally touching a hand with infinite +care and gentleness. After this he turned to +Madge a face expressive of deepest pain.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span></div> +<p>“Leetle leddy,” he said, gently, “vos it +true as you shot him? Papineau he telt me +so. A accident, he said it vos.”</p> +<p>The girl looked at him imploringly, with +elbows bent but hands stretched towards him, +as if she were suing for forgiveness. The +man was seated on a stool, waiting for her +answer.</p> +<p>“Yes, it was an accident––a terrible accident,” +sobbed Madge, whose strength and +courage seemed to leave her suddenly. “You––you +believe me, don’t you?”</p> +<p>It is hard to say whether it was weakness +or the excess of her emotion that forced her +down to her knees. She grasped one of the +huge hands the man had extended towards +her. He laid the other upon her bent back, +very softly.</p> +<p>“In course I do, you poor leetle leddy. +Yes, I sure beliefe you. Dere vosn’t anybotty +vould hurt Hugo, unless dey vos grazy, you +bet. He ban a goot friend to me––ay, he +ban a goot friend to all peoples.”</p> +<p>He helped her up, very tenderly, and made +her sit on a stool close to the one he occupied. +There was a very long interval of silence, during +which his great face and beard were +hidden in the hollow of his hands. Then +he spoke again, in a very low voice, as if he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +had been addressing the smallest of his own +babes.</p> +<p>“You poor leetle leddy,” he repeated, “I +feels most turriple sorry for Hugo, for it most +tear my heart out yoost to look at him. But +vhen I looks at you I feels turriple sorry for +you too. I knows vhat it must be, sure ting, +for a leetle leddy like you to be sittin’ here, +in dis leetle shack, a-lookin’ at de man she +lofe an see de life goin’ out of him. Last fall +Hugo ban gone a vhiles back East again, and +vhen you comes I tank mebbe you some nice +gal he promise to marry. Even vhen de telegraft +come I make sure it is so. I pring de bit +paper here myself an’ vaits a vhiles, but he no +come and I haf to go on. I vanted to see de +happy face on him. I say to myself, ‘Hah! +You rascal Hugo, you nefer tell nodding to +your ole friend Stefan, but he know all de +same.’ But vhen I got to go I couldn’t +say nodding. I leaf de paper on de table +here an’ I tank how happy he is vhen he +come home an’ find it. You poor leetle +leddy!”</p> +<p>The man was mistaken, most honestly so, +for no idea of love had ever entered Hugo’s +head, and none had come to Madge. Yet the +big fellow’s words seemed to stab the girl to +the heart and she moaned. She felt that she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +could not allow Hugo’s friend to remain undeceived. +There had been already too many +mysteries, too many lies––she would have no +share in them if she could help it.</p> +<p>“I––I wasn’t in love with him when I +came, Stefan,” she faltered. “He––he was +a stranger to me. I had never seen him––never +in all my life. I came here because––because +there has been some terrible mistake––in +some letters, queer letters that bade me +come here and––and meet a man who wanted +a wife. And I––I was a poor miserable sick +girl in New York and––and I just couldn’t +keep body and soul together anymore––and––and +be a good decent girl. And those letters +seemed so beautiful that I felt I must +come and see the man who wrote them, and––and +I was ready to marry him if he would be +kind to me and––and treat me decently and––and +keep me from starvation and suffering. +And when I came here he didn’t know anything +about it, and––and I thought he lied. +But––but I never thought to do him any +harm. I took the little pistol out of the bag, +because I was looking for something else, and +it went off! Oh!”</p> +<p>She hid her face in her hands, as if the +whole scene had been again enacted before +her, and the man heard her sobbing.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span></div> +<p>“Hugo he nefer tell no lie,” said Stefan, +softly. “I don’t know vhat all dis mean, you +bet. But I am glad you ban come like a +stranger. I am glad he no lofe you, and den +I am sorry, too, for you so nice gal, vid voice +so soft and such prettee eyes, I tank if he lofe +you den you sure lofe him too. Den you two +so happy in dis place, ma’am.”</p> +<p>He interrupted himself, striking his fist +upon his chest, as if to still a pain in it, and +went on again.</p> +<p>“You haf no idea how prettee place dis is, +leetle leddy, in de summertime. A vonderful +place to be happy in. De big falls dey make +music all day and at night dey sings you to +sleep, like de modder she sings leetle babies. +Und de big birches dey lean ofer, so beautiful, +and de birds dey comes all rount, nesting in +all de bushes. Oh, such a vonderful place +for a man and a voman to love, dem falls of +dat Roaring Rifer! Hugo he cleared such a +goot piece, oder side of dat leetle hill, vhere +de oats vould grow fine. And down by de +Rifer, on de north side, he find silver, plenty +silver in big veins, like dey got east of us, in +Nipissing countree. So I tank one day he +ban a rich man and haf a prettee little voman +and plenty nice kiddies, leetle children like +one lofes to see, and dey all lif here so happy.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span></div> +<p>His voice grew suddenly hoarse. It was +with an effort that he spoke again.</p> +<p>“An’ now he don’ know me––or you or +Maigan, and––and my goot dear frient Hugo +he look like he ban dyin’!”</p> +<p>Stefan stopped abruptly again, apparently +overcome. His face, tanned by frost and sun +to a hue of dull brick, also lay in the hollow +of his hands. The vastness of his grief seemed +to be commensurate with his size. But when +he looked up Madge saw that his eyes were +dry, for he was suffering according to the way +of strong men with the agony that clutches at +the breast and twists a cord about the temples. +In his helplessness before the peril he was +pitiful to see, since all his confidence had gone, +his pride in his power, his faith in his ability +to surmount all things by the mere force of +his will. And the present weakness of the +man augmented the girl’s own sorrow, even +though his being there was relief of a sort.</p> +<p>The Swede looked about him vaguely, and +then his eyes became fixed on a point of the +log wall, as if through it he had been able to +discern things that lay beyond.</p> +<p>“Hugo an’ me,” he began again, very +slowly and softly, “ve vent off north from +here, a year an’ a half it is now, after de ice +she vent off de lakes. And ve trafel long vays, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +most far as vhere de Albany she come down +in James Bay. Ve vos lookin’ for silfer an’ +copper an’ tings like dat. An’ dere come one +day vhen ve gets awful rough water on a lake +and ve get upset. Him Hugo he svim like a +otter, he do, but me I svim like a stone. De +shore he ban couple hundret yard off, mebbe +leetle more. I hold on to de bow and Hugo +he grab de stern. So he begin push for shore, +svimmin’ vid his feet, but dat turriple slow +going, vid de canoe all under vater, yoost +holdin’ us up a bit, and it vos cold, awful turriple +cold in dat vater. He calls to me ve can’t +make it dat vay, ve don’t make three-four +yards a minute. Den I calls for him to let +go, for I ban tanking he safe his life anyvay, +svimmin’ ashore vhere ve had our camp close +by. Und vhat you tank he do, ma’am? He +yell to me not be tam fool, dat vhat he do! +He say, ‘How I look at your voman an’ de +kids in de face, vhen I gets back vidout you?’ +So he lets go and my end sink deep so I let go +an’ vos fighting to keep up but he grab me +and say to take holt of his shoulter. He swear +he trown vid me if I don’t. So I done it, +ma’am, and he svim, svim turriple hard, +draggin’ me ashore. I yoost finds my feet on +de bottom vhen he keels ofer, like dead, vid +de cold and de playin’ out. So I takes him in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +my arms and runs in. I had matches in my +screw-box but my fingers vos dat froze I +couldn’t get ’em out first. But I manages +make a fire, by an’ by, and I rubs de life back +into him again. And––and you know vhat +is first ting he say vhen he vake up?”</p> +<p>Madge shook her head.</p> +<p>“Him Hugo yoost say, ‘Now I kin look +Mis’ Olsen in de face, vhen ve gets back, eh, +old pard?’”</p> +<p>The man kept still again, looking anxiously +at the sufferer and watching the hurried +breathing. The feeling of his uselessness was +evidently a torture to him, but his heart was +too full for him to remain silent very long.</p> +<p>“An’ now I am here an’ can do nodings. +I ban no more use dan––dan de tog dere. +My God, leddy, tell me vhat I can do! He +most trown himself an’ freeze to death to safe +me dat time an’ I got sit still like a big tam +fool an’ him goin’ under vidout a hand to pull +him out. All de blood in my body, every +drop, I gif to safe him. Don’t you beliefe? +I remember vhen de vaves and de vind pring +dot canoe ashore. Ve lose not a ting because +eferyting is lashed tight. Py dat time he vos +vhistling and singin’ alretty, like nodings efer +happen. Ve had de big fire roarin’, I tell +you, and vhen I say again he safe my life he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +yoost laugh like it is a fine yoke an’ say: ‘Oh, +shut up, Stefan, ve’re a pair big fools to +get upset, anyvays. And some tay you do +yoost same ting for me, I bet.’ And now––now +I can do nodings––nodings at all.”</p> +<p>He seemed to be in an agony of despair. +Madge had hardly realized that the suffering +of men could reach such an intensity. She +rose and placed her little hand on the giant’s +shoulder. The huge frame was shaking convulsively, +in great sobs that brought no tears +with them. Then, all at once, he rose and +faced her, shamefacedly.</p> +<p>“Poor leetle leddy,” he faltered, “I ban +makin’ you unhappy vid dem story. I ban +sorry be such a big tam fool, but I can no +help it. It––it is stronger as me.”</p> +<p>For a time he paced up and down the little +shack, struggling hard to keep himself in +hand. Once he seized his shaggy head in his +great paws and seemed to be trying to squeeze +out of it the unendurable pain that was in it.</p> +<p>“De sun he begin go town,” he said, stopping +suddenly. “Vhy don’t dat Papineau +get back? It get dark soon. I tank I take +de togs an’ go down de road. Mebbe his team +break down. His leader ban a young tog.”</p> +<p>For an instant Madge felt like begging him +to remain. Ay, she could have shrieked out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +her terror at the idea of being left alone with +the man that was dying, as she thought, but +she also succeeded in controlling herself, +realizing that if the man was not allowed to +do something, anything that would require +the strength of his thews and divert the turmoil +of his brain, he might go mad.</p> +<p>“As––as you think best,” she assented, +with her head bent low.</p> +<p>Stefan took his cap and fitted it over his +great shock of hair, but at this moment +Maigan rose and went to the door, whining.</p> +<p>“Some one ban comin’, but it ain’t Papineau,” +said Stefan.</p> +<p>It proved to be Mrs. Papineau, hurrying +down the path and carrying a basket. She +explained that the cow had had a calf, hence +her delay. Puffing and breathless she scolded +them for not lighting the lamp and bustled +about the place, declaring that the two watchers +should have made tea and that it took an +experienced mother of many to know how to +handle things.</p> +<p>“I have made strong soup vid moose-meat,” +she told them. “Heem do Monsieur Hugo +moch good. I put on de stove now an’ get +hot.”</p> +<p>She spoke confidently, just as usual, as if +nothing out of the ordinary were going on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +in the shack, but it was a transparent effort +to encourage the others, and she was not able +to keep it up long. She happened to look at +Hugo again, and suddenly her face fell and +her hands went up, while she buried her face +in her blue apron and sobbed right out.</p> +<p>“De good Lord Heem bring an’ de good +Lord Heem take away,” was what she said, +and it sounded like a knell in the ears of the +others.</p> +<p>Since the light was beginning to fail Madge +lit the little lamp. Mrs. Papineau took some +of the soup out of the pot and stirred it with a +spoon to cool it, and then she lifted the sick +man’s head. Her voice became soft and +caressing, as if she had spoken to a child.</p> +<p>“My leetle Hugo,” she said, “dere’s a +good fellar. Try an’ drink, jus’ one bit. +H’open mouth, dat way. Now you swallow, +dere’s good boy. An’ now you try heem +again, jus’ one more spoon. H’it is awful +good, from de big moose what Philippe he +get. Jus’ one more spoon an’ I not bodder +you no more.”</p> +<p>Whether Hugo understood or not no one +could have told. At any rate, with infinite +patience, she was able to feed him a little, +until he finally pushed her hand away from +him.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span></div> +<p>Stefan, whose back had been resting on the +door and whose arms had been hanging dejectedly +at his side, took a step towards the +girl.</p> +<p>“Ay go down de road a bit an’ meet Papineau +if he come back,” he proposed. “If de +togs is tired I take de doctor on my toboggan. +Get back qvicker dat vay. So long! I comes +back soon anyvays, sure.”</p> +<p>He started away at a swift pace, his strong +dogs, amply rested, barking and throwing +themselves hard upon the breastpieces of their +harness. After he was out of hearing the two +women sat very close together, for mutual +comfort and consolation, and the older one +began to speak in a low whisper.</p> +<p>“You very lucky, mademoiselle. It ees +lucky it ain’t you h’own man as lie dere an’ +you haf to see heem like dat. It is turriple +ting to see. One time Papineau heem get +h’awful seek, an’ I watch him five––no, six +day and de nights. An’ it vos back in de +Grand Nord, no doctor nor noding at all. +An’ me wid my little Justine jus’ two month +ole in my h’arms. An’ den come de day ven +de good Lord Heem ’ear ’ow I pray all de +time an’ Papineau heem begin to get vell +again. But de time vos like having big knife +planted in my ’eart, jus’ like dat.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span></div> +<p>She made a gesture as if she had stabbed +herself, and went on:</p> +<p>“You not know ’ow ’appy you must be you +no love a man as goin’ for die soon. You––you +go crazy times like dat!”</p> +<p>But Madge made no answer and could only +continue to stare at the form that seemed to +grow dimmer as the small oil lamp cast flickering +shadows in the room. In her ears the +continued, eternal sound of the great falls had +taken on an ominous character. It was like +some solemn dirge that rose and fell, unaccountably, +like the breathing of a vast force +that could reck nothing of the piteous tragedy +being enacted. It appeared to be growing +ever so much colder again. A few feet away +from the stove it was freezing. She sought to +look out of the little window but great massing +clouds had hidden the crimson of sunset. A +strong wind was arising and caused the great +firs and spruces to groan dismally. The minutes +were again becoming cruel things that +tortured one with their maddening slowness. +The girl became conscious of the beats of her +heart, unaccountably slow, as she thought.</p> +<p>And then, for a moment, that heart stopped +utterly. A shout had come from the little +lumber road and Maigan was barking at the +door excitedly, in spite of the older woman’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +scolding. The toboggan slithered over the +snow and there was a patter of dogs’ feet.</p> +<p>Madge threw the door open and let in a +man in a great coonskin coat, who was carrying +a bag. In spite of the heaviest fur mitts +his hands were chilled and for a moment he +held them to the glow of the stove, before +turning calmly to his patient, after a curt nod +to each of the women.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII_A_WIDENING_HORIZON' id='CHAPTER_XIII_A_WIDENING_HORIZON'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>A Widening Horizon</span></h3> +</div> +<p>“I’m Dr. Starr,” the man introduced himself. +“It’s turning mighty cold again. We only +hit the high places after I got on Stefan’s +toboggan, I can tell you. How the man kept +up with his team I can’t tell you, but he ran +all the way.”</p> +<p>He threw off his heavy coat and turned to +the bunk.</p> +<p>“Now let’s see what we’ve got here,” he +said.</p> +<p>The two women were scanning his face, +holding their breaths, but Mrs. Papineau had +the lamp and held it so as to cast some light +on Hugo. The doctor’s expression, however, +was quite inscrutable.</p> +<p>“Your husband?” he asked the girl, who +shook her head. “Well, perhaps it’s a good +thing he’s not. Put a lot of water to boil on +the stove, please. Can’t you find another lamp +here––this one doesn’t give much light?”</p> +<p>There was no lamp but they found a package +of candles which were soon flickering on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +the table, stuck in the necks of bottles. The +doctor was pulling a lot of things out of his +bag, coolly. To Madge it seemed queer that +he could be so unaffected by what he saw. +Presently he went to work, after baring the +injured shoulder.</p> +<p>After it was all over it seemed to the girl +like some dreadful nightmare. After just one +keen glance the doctor had probably decided +that her young hands would afford him the +better help. And so she had been obliged to +remain at his side and look upon the sinewy +shoulder and the arm that had been laid bare, +and at the angry and inflamed wound which +had been flooded with iodine. And then had +come the picking up of shining instruments +just taken out of one of the boiling vessels. +Her teeth left imprints on her lips and she +felt that she was surely going to stagger and +fall as the man made long slashing incisions. +From them he took out a piece of cloth and a +bullet that had been flattened against the bone. +After this there was a lot more disinfecting +and the placing of red tubes of rubber deep +down in the wound, which was finally covered +with a large dressing. But it was only after +this was all finished that Madge dropped on a +stool, feeling sick and shaken.</p> +<p>“Oh, you’re not such a very bad soldier, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +after all,” commented the doctor, quietly, as +he gathered up his instruments to clean and +boil them again. “I can’t say that I’m optimistic +about this case––but perhaps you +don’t quite understand such big words. I +mean that I haven’t any great hopes for this +lad, but at least he has some little chance now. +There was none whatever before. Of course +it depends a lot on the nursing he gets. If I +thought for a moment that he could stand the +trip I’d take him away with me, but that’s +out of the question.”</p> +<p>Then he turned to Stefan.</p> +<p>“I’ll have to catch the first freight back in +the morning, my man. Will you take me to +Carcajou in good time? I can’t afford to +miss it. Too many needing me just now east +of here!”</p> +<p>“Ay, I take you––if Hugo he no worse. +But if tings is goin’ wrong, I’ll let Papineau +do it. I––I can’t leaf no more. Vhen I +starts from here I tank I can’t stand it a moment––but +vhen I get off on de road, I gets +grazy to come back. I––I don’t know vhat I +vants!”</p> +<p>The doctor looked at him curiously, appreciating +the depth of the man’s emotion and +gauging the strength of the superb creature +he was.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span></div> +<p>“I won’t let you take me if it isn’t safe,” +he told him, and turned to his patient again.</p> +<p>“Do you expect to stay up all night?” he +suddenly asked the girl.</p> +<p>“I––I am anxious to, if I can be of the +slightest help.”</p> +<p>“One can never tell,” he replied. “I might +be glad to have you with me. You don’t lose +your head––and you’re efficient.”</p> +<p>Presently Papineau arrived with his dogs +and took his wife home. The good lady had +looked upon the doctor’s cutting with profound +disfavor. A suggestion of hers about +herbs had been treated with scant respect. +Before leaving she spoke to Madge.</p> +<p>“I stay h’all night too––but it ain’t no +good, because if he lif to-morrow night den +you go sleep an’ I stay ’ere. Before I go to +bed I prays moch. I––I ’opes he lif through +de night––heem no more bad as heem was, +anyvays, an’ dat someting.”</p> +<p>So they went away sorrowfully, to the little +new-born calf and the babies and the children +who needed them, and Stefan sat on the floor +with his back to the wall, while Maigan +snuggled up against him.</p> +<p>Dr. Starr remained all night, sometimes +dozing a little on his chair, with the ability of +the man often called at night to take little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +snatches of sleep here and there, but Madge +was at all times wide awake. Some time after +midnight Hugo appeared to be sleeping +quietly. The valuable candles had been extinguished, +of course, but the little lamp was +burning, shaded on one side by a piece of +birch bark. Stefan had gradually curled up +on the floor, under the table, where he was +out of the way, and was snoring lustily. In +the morning, doubtless, he would most honestly +insist that he had not slept an instant. +Out of doors the Swede’s dogs had dug holes +in the snow and, with sensitive noses covered +by their bushy tails, were awaiting in slumber +the next call from their master. The great +falls kept up their moan and the trees swayed +and cracked. A wind-borne branch, falling +on the roof, made a sudden racket that was +startling.</p> +<p>At frequent intervals Madge rose and gave +Hugo some water, for which he always +seemed grateful, or adjusted the pillow beneath +his head. Once, when she sat down +again, she saw the doctor’s eyes fixed upon +her, gravely.</p> +<p>“You have the necessary instinct,” he told +her, “and the patience and perseverance. I +don’t know what your plans may be for the +future, but you would make a good nurse.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span></div> +<p>Madge shrugged her shoulders, the tiniest +bit. She didn’t know. It didn’t matter +what she was fit for. The world so far had +been a failure. The only important thing +before her now was to do her best to help pull +the sick man out of the jaws of death, if it +could possibly be done. She sat down again, +and after a time that seemed like an age the +utter blackness without began to turn to gray +and, in spite of the constantly replenished +stove, the chill of the early morning struck +deep into her. As the doctor looked at his +watch she rose and began to make tea, which +comforted them.</p> +<p>“Do you expect to keep on looking after +this man?” the doctor asked her, abruptly, +between two mouthfuls.</p> +<p>“Yes, of course, if I may,” she answered.</p> +<p>“I should say that you will simply have to, +if his life is to be saved, or at least if he’s to +have a fair chance. I shall be compelled to +go pretty soon. As it is I won’t get back home +before noon and there are several bad cases I +must see to-day. I’ll return the day after to-morrow; +it’s the best I can do, for it is absolutely +impossible for me to remain here. Now +just listen to me very carefully while I give +you the necessary directions. I think I’d +better write some of them out so that you will +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span> +be sure not to forget them. See if you can +find me a bit of paper somewhere.”</p> +<p>On one of the shelves there was a small +homemade desk in which she rummaged. +She found a number of loose bits of paper, +some of them scribbled over in pencil and +others with ink. They were apparently accounts, +notes concerning various supplies and +a few letters from various places. Finding a +clean sheet she brought it to the doctor who +rapidly wrote at length upon it. At this +moment Stefan awoke, with a portentous +yawn, but a second later he had leaped to his +feet and was scanning their faces anxiously.</p> +<p>“I tank mebbe I doze for a moment,” he +informed them. “How is Hugo gettin’ +long?”</p> +<p>“For the present he looks to me somewhat +better,” answered the doctor. “There doesn’t +seem to be any immediate danger, and I’ll +have to start back in a few minutes. We’ve +had a cup of tea, but you’d better make some +breakfast ready.”</p> +<p>Stefan bestirred himself and presently a +potful of rolled oats was being stirred carefully +for fear of burning, and bacon was sputtering +in the pan. The kettle was singing +again and Madge was cutting slices from a +loaf left by Mrs. Papineau. The three sat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span> +down to the table and ate hungrily, abundantly, +as people have to who make stern demands +upon their vitality.</p> +<p>The doctor made a few more remarks about +the treatment of his patient. He had carefully +laid on the table the little tablets of +medicine, the bottle containing an antiseptic, +the cotton and gauze that must be used to renew +the dressing. Then he went out, breathing +deeply of the sharp and aromatic air, and +a moment later he and Stefan were gone, the +latter promising to return at once, with a few +needed supplies from the store. Madge was +alone now with Hugo, who was again sleeping +quietly. She read over the doctor’s directions +carefully while she stood by the little +window, as the lamp had been extinguished.</p> +<p>A few minutes later she decided to place +the paper in the little desk again, for safe-keeping. +Without the slightest curiosity her +eyes fell again upon some of the writing on +loose sheets. But presently she was staring at +it hard as a strong conviction made its way +into her brain. After this she went to the +other shelf where some books had been placed +and opened one of them, and then another. +On the flyleaf was written, in bold characters, +“Hugo Ennis.” The writing was exactly +the same as that which appeared on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span> +scattered leaves, for she compared them +carefully.</p> +<p>“There can be no doubt––he never wrote +those letters,” she decided. “But––but I +knew very well he couldn’t have written +them. It––it isn’t like him.”</p> +<p>The idea came again that he could have +obtained some one to write for him, but it +was immediately cast aside. The man would +not engage in dirty work himself––far less +would he get others to do it for him. She––she +had abused and insulted him––called +him a liar, as far as she could remember, and +again her face felt hot and burning.</p> +<p>Once more she sat down by the bunk, after +she had given Maigan a big feed of oats, +with a small remnant of the bacon grease. +She felt humbled now, as if her accusations +constituted some unforgivable, despicable sin. +This man had never intended to do her the +slightest harm. He really never knew that +she was coming. And through her stupid +clumsiness his life was now ebbing. The doctor’s +long words sounded dreadfully in her +ears: general sepsis, blood poisoning, a system +overwhelmed by the toxines of virulent microbes; +they reverberated in her ears like so +many sentences of death. Was there any hope +that this outflowing life would ever turn in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span> +its course and return like an incoming tide? +Would she again see him able to lift up his +head, to speak in words no longer dictated by +the vagaries of delirium? She would give +anything to be able to ask his pardon humbly +after his mind cleared again. Oh, it was unthinkable +that he should die, that the end +might be coming soon, and that she must go +forth with that unspeakable load of misery in +her heart.</p> +<p>Maigan restlessly kept on coming to her +and placing his head in her lap, as if seeking +comfort. Once she bent over and put her +cheek against his jaw and furry ear. He was +a companion in misery.</p> +<p>When she lifted up her head again to stare +once more at the sufferer, with eyes heavily +ringed with black, he slowly opened his own +and looked at her vaguely, for at first there +was not the slightest sign of recognition in +them. Presently, however, the girl saw something +that looked like a faint smile.</p> +<p>“How––how long have I been asleep?” +he asked, weakly. “And have––have you +been here all the time?”</p> +<p>She nodded, conscious that her heart was +now beating with excitement, and his eyes +closed again. But his hand had sought the +one she had laid on the blanket and rested on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span> +it, for a few moments. It was the ever-recurring +call of the man for the comfort of a +woman’s touch, for the protection his strength +gathers from her weakness.</p> +<p>“You––you’re ever so good and kind,” +he said again, in a low hoarse voice, after +which he kept still again, for the longest time.</p> +<p>In spite of the gray pall of clouds over the +sky and the complaining of the gale-swept +tops of the great trees, in spite of the vast dull +roar of the great falls, that had seemed a +dirge, a ray of cheer had entered the little +shack. It had seemed to her like such a paltry +and mean excuse for a dwelling, when she +had first seen it, and had been so thoroughly +in keeping with the sordid nature she had at +once attributed to this man whom she believed +to have brought her there with amazing lies. +But now, in some way, it had become a link, +and the only one, that still attached her a +little to the world. It appeared to her like the +one place where she had been able to obtain a +little rest from her miserable thoughts. Indeed, +it had now become infinitely desirable. +If the man could have stood up again and +greeted her it would have become a haven of +unspeakable comfort, since she would realize +that for once her efforts had not been in vain, +and that she had helped bring him back to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +life. But of course she knew that she must +leave it soon, that whether he died or recovered, +the only trail she could follow would +be one that would lead to the banks of the +Roaring River, where the big air holes were. +And yet, so strongly is hope implanted in the +human heart, this termination of her adventure +seemed to have receded into a dimmer +future, like the knowledge which we have that +some day all must die but which we consider +pertains only to some vague and distant period +that we shall not reach for a long time.</p> +<p>Hugo was sleeping quietly now and the +girl’s hand upon his pulse detected a feeble +and swift flowing of the blood-current which, +in spite of its weakness, was an improvement. +But the great thing was that another day had +come and he was still living, and his breathing +came quietly. If––if she had loved the man, +she never would have been able to go through +all this without a breaking down of her little +strength. As Stefan had said, and as Mrs. +Papineau had also intimated, it was fortunate +for her that she did not love him. Indeed, it +was ever so much better. She was glad indeed +that he had recognized and praised her, +and then his voice had never expressed the +slightest sign of reproach. She was happy +that he had found comfort in her presence +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span> +beside his couch and––and had been able to +smile at her.</p> +<p>Madge opened the door to let Maigan out. +The air was full of feathery masses of snow +blown from treetops. Sheltered as she was +from the wind, the cold was no longer so penetrating. +In the east the gray was tinted +through the agency of long rifts in which dull +shades of red broke through and were reflected +even upon the white at her feet. It was not a +cheery world just then, since the sun did not +shine and the great fronds of evergreens +loomed very dark, but the vastness of the +wooded valley sloping down beneath her and +stretching beyond the limits of her vision impressed +her with a sense of greatness and of +power. It was a tremendously big, strong +and inexorable world, in which was being +fought the unending and apparently unjust +battle of the mighty against the weak, of the +wolves and lynxes against the deer and hares, +of a myriad furred and sharp-fanged things +against the feebler and defenseless things of +the forest. But also it was a world capable of +bringing forth majestic things; able and willing +to reward toil; in which, despite all of +nature’s unceasing cruelty, there could reign +happiness and the accomplishment of a heart’s +desire.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span></div> +<p>All this was not clearly shaped in Madge’s +mind. She was merely undergoing a vague +and potent influence that penetrated her very +soul. She closed the door again very softly, +and when she sat again it was with a strange +feeling of contentment, or at any rate a surcease +of bitter thoughts, which affected her +gently, like the heat of the little stove.</p> +<p>Maigan soon scratched at the door again, +and through the frosted glass Madge saw +Mrs. Papineau approaching. She was looking +rather tired and dismal. It was evident, +from her panting, that she had hurried, but +now she was coming very slowly, as if afraid +to hear bad news. But when she finally came +in and looked at Hugo, her fat face took on +some of its wonted cheerfulness.</p> +<p>“Heem no look so bad now,” she asserted. +“Who know? Mebbe get all right again, +eh? What Docteur Starr heem say before +he go?”</p> +<p>Madge was compelled to give her a long +account of how the night had passed and to +describe every move and relate every word of +the doctor.</p> +<p>“Dat’s good,” approved Mrs. Papineau. +“Now you go to our ’ouse an’ get to bed an’ +’ave sleep. If de children make noise tell ’em +I slap ’em plenty ven I get back, sure. You +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span> +need bad for to sleep––h’eyes look tired an’ +red.”</p> +<p>She explained that Papineau had been +obliged to go off after some traps that were +not very far away, and would return by midday. +She insisted upon the need of Madge to +impress the children with the virtues of +silence. They had already been informed +that if they did not keep still when the lady +returned they would be given to the <i>loup-garou</i> +and other mythical and traditional terrors +of <i>habitant</i> childhood.</p> +<p>“Me stay ’ere all day. Den you come back +an’ stay de night, if you lak’. You tell me +vat I do.”</p> +<p>The good lady found her endeavors useless, +however. Hadn’t the doctor said that +incessant care might perhaps, with luck, bring +about a recovery? And Hugo had been better––he +had spoken––he might speak again +and want something she might get him. +Moreover, the dressing was to be changed very +soon and the drainage tubes were to be flushed +out once in so often with the solution the doctor +had left. To have gone away then would +have been desertion; she never entertained the +thought for an instant.</p> +<p>Hence she attended to these things, in the +presence of Mrs. Papineau, who looked quite +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span> +awed at the proceedings. Generally the man +seemed quite unconscious of what she did, and +there was little complaint from him; just a +few moans and perhaps a slight drawing away +when she hurt him slightly in spite of her +gentle handling. Finally Madge consented +to rest a little, providing she was not forced +to leave the shack. In the absence of other +accommodation Mrs. Papineau had spread a +heavy blanket on the floor, with odds and +ends of spare clothing. It was only after +the good woman had solemnly promised to +awaken her in case there was the slightest need +that the girl at last lay down, feeling dead +tired but without the slightest desire to sleep, +as she thought. But it did not take a very long +time before her eyes closed and she was deep +in slumber that was heavy and dreamless. +Maigan came and curled up beside her. He +thoroughly approved of her.</p> +<p>It was only after midday that she awoke, +startled, as if conscious of having been remiss +in her duty, and raised herself quickly to a +sitting posture.</p> +<p>“Is––is everything all right?” she asked, +anxiously.</p> +<p>Upon being reassured she tried to lie down +again, at Mrs. Papineau’s urging, but sleep +refused to come. Indeed, she felt greatly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span> +rested. And then she began to feel very +hungry and had a meal of bread and tea, with +a few dried prunes. It was not a very fine +repast, but Madge was amazed to see what a +lot she could eat. When she rose from the +table she felt conscious that in some way she +had gained strength, in spite of her weariness. +After this she renewed the dressings again, +taking the greatest pains with them. It was +getting dark when Mrs. Papineau left her, +utterly indifferent to the howling of wolves +on the distant ridges. She had offered to remain +but Madge knew that her presence was +needed at home, owing to the little ones. +Moreover, the girl was getting accustomed to +her weird surroundings.</p> +<p>In the faithful Maigan there was a protector. +Besides, she still counted among the +living; she was engaged in work that called +for and brought out all her womanhood. In +spite of her fears for the man the longing for +his recovery was becoming mingled with a +vague confidence, with the idea of a possibility +that something might happen that would +gradually develop in some sort of promise for +a future that would not be all sorrow and +toil. It was perhaps simply a temporary forgetfulness +of self when confronted with what +was a greater and stronger interest. The girl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span> +Madge had become less important when compared +to the dying man. She was merely an +instrument wherewith destiny helped to shape +certain indefinite ends. Her own turn had +not yet come, and her personality was submerged +in a simple acquiescence in plans and +decrees she could not understand.</p> +<p>It appeared that the dreariness of the long +hours had lessened. The imminent threat of +the day before was no longer so vivid and +racking, for the man kept on breathing with +fair ease, and his pulse was perhaps a little +stronger. She was wondering why Stefan had +not returned as he had promised, when the now +familiar sound of dogs and sled fell again on +her ears. To her joy and surprise she found +that it was the doctor, returning with the +Swede.</p> +<p>“Managed to get away after all,” explained +the former. “It’s the devil’s own thing to +think there’s a chap somewhere that a fellow +might perhaps help, and then be obliged to +let him go because others are calling for you. +Women are desperately fond of asking their +husbands if they would save them or their +mothers first, in case of need. It’s the deuce +and all of a question to answer. But we fellows +who practice on the edge of the wilderness +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span> +are all the time confronted by beastly +questions of that sort. How is he?”</p> +<p>“I really think he’s better,” she hastened +to inform him, and described how the sick +man had spoken and been quite lucid for some +moments. Dr. Starr went in and stopped at +the side of the bunk, looking down with his +chin resting on his hand.</p> +<p>To Madge he had seemed to be a man of +few words, rather stern in his manner and +apt, as she thought, to view humanity from a +very materialistic point of view. His recent +speech was the longest she had heard from +him. In a somewhat cynical vein he had referred +to some hard problems the lone practitioner +has to solve at times.</p> +<p>“At any rate, he seems to be holding his +own,” he finally admitted. “I can’t see that +he is a bit worse. It seems to me that you’re +a pretty capable nurse. Some brains and lots +of good strong will.”</p> +<p>He looked away from her as he talked and +began to rub his hands together.</p> +<p>“Tell you what,” he said, turning again +to her. “This night might be the decisive +one, and I think I’ll stick it out here again. +I’ll catch the freight back in the morning, as +I did to-day. We’ll have a look at the wound +now, and see how those drains are working. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span> +Did you follow my orders? But I think I +needn’t ask. Put more water on the stove, +Stefan.”</p> +<p>Madge had been holding the lamp for him, +and when the doctor passed his hand over +Hugo’s forehead the eyes opened and the man +blinked. Also there seemed to be a relaxing +of the tense, hollow-cheeked face.</p> +<p>“She––she’s saving my life,” he whispered, +hoarsely. “She’s tireless and––and +kindness itself. Don’t––don’t let her get +played out.”</p> +<p>He put out a brown hand that had rapidly +become very thin and touched the girl’s arm, +after which he lay back, exhausted by his +slight effort. The doctor went to work again, +baring the wound, injecting fluids, adjusting +the drains, and as he busied himself he always +found the girl at his side, with all that he +needed ready at his hand.</p> +<p>“That’ll do for a while,” he finally said. +“The drainage is good. He isn’t absorbing +much poison now, that’s sure. If we can keep +up his strength he’s going to pull through, I +hope. Get us a bite of supper, Stefan, I’m +as hungry as a bear.”</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/p0270a-ins.jpg' alt='' title='' width='390' height='544' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +He put out a brown hand and touched the girl’s arm<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span></div> +<p>During the night the doctor dozed off +again, at times, like a man well versed in conserving +his energy. But whenever he awoke +he found Madge wide awake, intently observing +the patient or busy with something for his +comfort. The sky had cleared again and the +great trunks were again cracking in the frost +of the bright and starlit night. Dr. Starr had +been staring for some moments at the girl. +He shivered a little and drew his stool nearer +the stove. Stefan was again snoring on the +floor.</p> +<p>“Come over here,” he told Madge in a low +voice, “bring your seat with you. I want to +get something off my mind.”</p> +<p>“You needn’t answer if you don’t wish to,” +he told her, “but––but there’s something +rather tragic about that little face of yours. +I don’t think it’s idle curiosity, but I’d like +to know. I might as well confess that I’ve +been questioning that fellow Stefan about you, +but the sum of his knowledge is best represented +by zero. I can assure you that I don’t +want to intrude and that I won’t be a bit +offended if you tell me it’s none of my +business.”</p> +<p>“What do you want to know?” asked +Madge, rather frightened, although she did +not know why.</p> +<p>“You are aware, of course, that we doctors +are used to seeing pain and usually try to get at +the cause, so that we may better know how to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span> +relieve it. I should judge that you have +known a lot of suffering; that sort of thing +leaves marks. Fortunately, they can often be +effaced in the young. I have been thinking +that you were in need of a friend. No! Don’t +draw back! I’ll say right now that my wife ’s +the best woman on earth and I’ve got four +kids. You ought to see the little rascals. Now +I might as well tell you that I’m grateful to +you for taking such good care of my patient. +I’d also be glad of a chance to help you a +little, or give advice if you happen to need +any.”</p> +<p>Madge stared at him for a moment during +which her eyes became somewhat blurred. +The doctor’s offer seemed like the first really +disinterested and friendly one that had been +proffered to her for some years. In that vast +New York she had become unused to that +sort of thing. The other people in this place +had been ever so kind, of course, but it was +on account of their friend Hugo. At first she +hesitated.</p> +<p>“You look like a man that can be trusted,” +she said, very low.</p> +<p>“I feel that I am,” he answered, simply.</p> +<p>Then, gradually, moved by that desire to +confess and trust in a friend that is one of the +best qualities of human nature, she told of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span> +her coming, in halting, interrupted words. +The doctor kept silent, nodding now and then +so that she became impressed with a certainty +that he understood. At times that deep red +color suffused her cheeks, but they would +soon become pale again, all the more so for +her dark-ringed eyes. Little by little her +story became easier to tell. She had sketched +it out in a few broad lines, but the man to +whom she spoke happened to know the world. +Her speaking relieved her burdened heart +and gave her greater strength.</p> +<p>“And––and I think that’s all,” she faltered +at last. “Do––do you really understand? +Do you think I’ve been a shameless +creature to venture into this? Can you realize +what it is to be at the very end of one’s tether?”</p> +<p>The doctor looked at her, the tiny wrinkles +in the corners of his eyes becoming more +pronounced. He put out his long-fingered, +capable hand to her, and she stretched out her +own, timidly, in response.</p> +<p>“You and I, from this time on, are a pair +of friends,” he told her. “Indeed, I’m +acquainted with that huge beehive you came +from, with its drones and its workers, its +squanderers and its makers. I studied there +for a couple of years, and I know why some +of the women have a choice between the river +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span> +and even fouler waters. But let me tell you +what I think of this matter. The desperate +effort you made to save yourself may not have +been very good judgment. Ninety-nine times +out of a hundred such an endeavor would be +worse than jumping from the frying-pan into +the fire. But at least it argues something +strong and genuine in you. You came because +you felt that you could not give up the +fight without one last supreme trial. Such a +thing would take a lot of pluck.”</p> +<p>He stopped for a moment, looking into the +whites of her eyes.</p> +<p>“And now you’ve made up your mind that +all your struggle has been in vain and that the +end is in sight. Now I can’t tell where that +end lies, Miss Nelson, but it looks to me as if +it had retired into the far distance. You are +going to keep on taking care of this man, of +course. He needs you badly, in the first place, +and the toil and stress of it will be good for +your soul. And then saving a life is tremendously +interesting. There’s nothing like it. +But your new life is only to begin when this +job is finished.”</p> +<p>“I––I don’t understand,” said the girl, +watching him eagerly.</p> +<p>“When you’re through with this case, +Stefan will bring you back to Carcajou. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span> +There he’ll put you on the train and send +you to me. I can assure you that my wife will +welcome you. She’s that sort, strong and +friendly and helpful. My poor little chaps +don’t see very much of their daddy, but +they’ve got a mother who’s a wonder, to +make up for it. Now our village can’t yet +afford a trained nurse, though some day I’m +going to have a little hospital and two or +three of them. The railroad will help. But +in the meanwhile you’re going to work for +me, at little more than a servant’s wages. +You’re quick and intelligent and have a pair +of gentle and capable hands. There are scores +and scores of little houses and shacks where +your presence would be simply invaluable. +My wife tries it, but she can’t do it all, with +the kids and the husband to look after. I shall +work you like a horse, when you get strong +enough, but every bit of the work will help +some poor devil. My wife can give you a +bed, a seat at our table and plenty of good +wise friendship. In all this you’re going to +give away a lot more than you will receive. +How does it strike you?”</p> +<p>But Madge was weeping silently, with her +face held in her hands. The doctor had certainly +not tried to make his proposition very +attractive, and yet she felt as if she were emerging +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span> +from deep waters in which she had been +suffocating. Now there was pure air to +breathe and there would always be God’s sunlight +to cheer one and bring blessed warmth. +From the slough of despond she was being +drawn into the glory of hope.</p> +<p>“I shall try,” she promised. “Oh, how +hard I’m going to try! It––it seems just +like some wonderful dream. But––but can +I really earn all this––are you sure that it +isn’t––”</p> +<p>“Charity on my part?” interrupted the +doctor. “Not a bit, Miss Nelson. We’re +scantily provided with women in these new +countries. And there are enough poor fellows +who get hurt in the mines, or on the +railroad, to give you plenty of employment +without counting the regular settlers. A good +woman’s face at their side may make the end +easier for some of them and help others get +well quicker.”</p> +<p>“If––if you are very sure––”</p> +<p>“I know what I’m talking about. You +see, Miss Nelson, there is really no need of +any one despairing in one of those big cities, +so long as there is enough strength and courage +left to get out of them. In this great +expanse of wilderness toilers are needed, but we +can’t use mollycoddles. The men have to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span> +hew and dig and plow, and need women to +work at their sides, to look after the injured, +to teach the little ones, to keep the rough +crowd civilized and human. More than all +they are needed to become the mothers of a +strong breed engaged in the conquest of a +new world, one that is being made first with +the axe and the hoe and in which the victory +represents germinating seed and happy usefulness. +Countries such as this are not suited +to the dross of humanity. We cannot find +employment for the weak, the lazy, or the +shiftless. The first of these are to be pitied, +of course, but we cannot help them. To the +red-blooded and the clean of heart it offers +all that sturdy manhood and womanhood can +desire. Surely you can see how wide our +horizons are, how full of promise is this new +world that stretches out its welcoming arms +to you!”</p> +<p>“I see––I see it all,” answered the girl. +“Oh, what a glorious vision it is! How can I +ever thank you?”</p> +<p>“You don’t have to,” replied the man, +sharply. “If you decide to accept my offer I +will be the one to feel grateful.”</p> +<p>He looked at her keenly, and was doubtless +satisfied with what he saw. Then he tilted +back the legs of his stool, rested his head on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span> +the log wall behind him, and took another +good sound nap.</p> +<p>He went away again just before sunrise, +and Madge was left once more alone with +the sick man. Soon she noticed that his eyes +opened frequently, and followed her when +she happened to move about the room. She +could see that her presence strengthened him. +In Hugo’s mind, however, there was the dim +impression that he was returning from a long +blindfolded journey that had left no impressions +of anything but vague pain and deep +weariness. And it was utterly wonderful to +be greeted by a gentle voice and given care +such as had not been his since childhood.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_HOISTING' id='CHAPTER_XIV_THE_HOISTING'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>The Hoisting</span></h3> +</div> +<p>On the few rests the dogs were compelled +to take on their way back to Carcajou, +Dr. Starr again questioned Stefan, carefully. +The story Madge had told him was interesting, +it sounded a little like some of those tales +of detectives and plots marvelously unraveled, +but the trouble was that no sleuth was at work +and the mystery was as deep as ever. He inquired +carefully in regard to the enemies +Hugo might have made, but struck an absolute +blank. Yes, there was one fellow Hugo +had licked, but a couple of weeks later the +young man had obliged him with a small +loan, which had been cheerfully repaid, and +the individual in question had moved a couple +of hundred miles east. Oh, that was way +back last summer!</p> +<p>Having thus easily eliminated the masculine +element of Carcajou, it took no great effort +on the doctor’s part to turn to the women. +Were there any who had reason to dislike +him; had he made love to any of them?</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span></div> +<p>“Hugo make lofe to any gals in Carcajou!” +exclaimed Stefan, holding a burning +match in his fingers and letting it go out. +“Hugo don’t nefer make lofe to nobotty. +Dere’s McGurn’s gal over to the store as +looked like she vanted bad to make lofe to +him; alvays runnin’ after Hugo, she vos. +Vhen he go in de post-office she alvays smile +awful sveet at Hugo, and dere’s dem as say +she vere pretty mad because he don’t never +pay no attention. Vhat he care for de red-headed +t’ing?”</p> +<p>“She looks after all the mail, doesn’t she?” +asked the doctor.</p> +<p>“Yes, McGurn he too busy vid oder t’ings. +De gal tends to all de letters an’ papers.”</p> +<p>This seemed an indication worth following. +When they reached the depot at Carcajou, Joe +Follansbee informed them that the freight +would be about an hour late. Madge had, +during the course of her story, told the doctor +all about the visit of the Carcajou Vigilantes, +and from Stefan he had obtained the names of +the people who had made up the party. Most +of them were known to him, since he was +frequently called to Carcajou, especially +when the mill was running. From the girl +he had obtained the letters she received from +Hugo, as she had formerly believed. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span> +matter could not be allowed to rest. He must +investigate things further. Meeting old man +Prouty, whom he had once cured of rheumatism, +he drew him aside. The old man quite +willingly told of his share in the event.</p> +<p>“We only wanted to see that everything +was straight and aboveboard,” he told the +doctor. “And there wouldn’t have been no +fuss there at all if Sophy McGurn hadn’t +come out kinder crazy; the way them excitable +women-folks does, sometimes.”</p> +<p>“What did she do?” asked Dr. Starr.</p> +<p>“Oh, she went an’ accused that young +’ooman over there of havin’ tried to murder +Hugo. Said somethin’ about the gal wantin’ +to get square on him for––for somethin’ or +other as ain’t very clear. But soon as Pat +Kilrea he begins to pin her down to facts she +takes it all back an’ says she don’t really know +nothin’.”</p> +<p>“Thanks, Mr. Prouty, I’m very much +obliged to you. I’ll stroll over there.”</p> +<p>He walked over to the general store and +post-office where he was greeted by old +McGurn, who at his request produced a box +of cigars.</p> +<p>“Yes, Doc, I can recommend them,” he +said. “There was a drummer stopped here +last week who said they smelled just like real +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span> +Havanas. I bought two barrels of crockery +off him.”</p> +<p>The doctor nodded, admiring the drummer’s +diplomacy, and walked over to the other +counter behind which Miss Sophy was +standing.</p> +<p>“How do you do, Miss McGurn?” he said, +amiably.</p> +<p>“How d’ye do? How’s Hugo––Hugo +Ennis?” she asked, eagerly.</p> +<p>“He may perhaps pull through, though +he’s still hanging on to a pretty thin chance. +I suppose you know that you’re soon going +to be called as a witness?”</p> +<p>“Me?” she exclaimed. “What for?”</p> +<p>“Well, that story about an accident looks +rather fishy to me, you know. I have an idea +that it wouldn’t be a bad thing to have the +sheriff come over here and investigate things +a little. We’re beginning to get too civilized +on this line to stand for gun-play. I’ve +talked over the matter with some of the people +who went with you to Roaring River, and I +gather that you are the only one who can +enlighten us a little.”</p> +<p>“I––I don’t know anything!” she stammered.</p> +<p>“You’re probably too modest, Miss +McGurn, or you may perhaps be trying to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span> +shield some one. That shows your kind heart, +of course, but it won’t quite do for the law. +At any rate you will tell us what aroused your +suspicions. It’s very important, you know, +for the slightest clue may be of service. And +then, of course, there is the matter of the +letters.”</p> +<p>“What letters?” cried the girl, biting her +lips.</p> +<p>“Oh, just some letters that passed through +this office. Let me see, where did I put them? +Always indispensable to secure all documents. +Miss Nelson gave them to me.”</p> +<p>Very slowly he pulled the letters out of his +pocket, while his keen eyes searched Sophy’s +face, gravely. She was distinctly ill at ease, +he observed.</p> +<p>“There has been a queer mix-up. These +documents can hardly be called forgery, since +there is no attempt to imitate the real handwriting +of the person who is supposed to have +written them. It’s simply a clumsy attempt +to deceive, as far as I can see. But the strange +thing is that several letters came from New +York, apparently, and have never been received. +It seems that they must have come +through this office and the post-office authorities +will be asked to trace them. They are +always glad to hear of any irregularities, of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span> +course, and will send an expert here, naturally, +if mere inquiry does not suffice. Those +chaps are wonderfully clever, you know. +They seem to be able to find out anything +they want to know. The letters I am showing +you came through Carcajou, there’s your +stamp on the envelopes. The detective will +compare this handwriting with that of every +man, woman and child in Carcajou and the +neighborhood, and while it is certainly disguised, +there’s so much of it that they will +certainly find out who sent them. It––it’s +going to prove devilish tough for somebody, +you may be sure. Of course I’m no lawyer +and can’t tell what the charge will be, perhaps +conspiracy of some sort, or making use of the +mails for some fraudulent or––or some prohibited +purpose. But that’s evidently no concern +of ours and I know you’ll help the +authorities to the best of your ability. You +will naturally do all you can because no postmaster +likes to have any irregularity in his +office. That sort of thing generally means +taking it away from the holder and putting +it in other hands. Your father would be +pretty angry if anything like that happened, +because while you attend to the mails, he’s +really the responsible party.”</p> +<p>Miss Sophy may not have realized how +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_285' name='page_285'></a>285</span> +keenly the doctor was looking at her. He was +now feeling quite certain that his suspicions +had fallen on the guilty party. Here was a +jealous woman who evidently knew a good +deal. Putting two and two together is the +very essence of scientific thought and Dr. +Starr was no beginner. Sophy’s foot was +beating a rapid tattoo on the floor. On her +face the color kept going and coming.</p> +<p>“Somebody has done a very foolish thing,” +continued the doctor. “Perhaps it was not +realized that it was also a very wicked one. +At any rate there is a lot of trouble coming. +I will bid you good-day.”</p> +<p>He turned on his heels, lighting the cigar +he had bought and looking quite unconcerned. +Sophy hastened around the counter and intercepted +him at the door, following him out. +She touched his arm.</p> +<p>“Do––do they suspect any one?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“I think I may have spoken too much, +Miss McGurn,” answered the doctor, with a +face that had suddenly become exceedingly +stern. “It is not for me to answer your question. +Of course, it’s in my power to tell the +sheriff that there is no longer any suspicion +that the shooting was otherwise than accidental, +and I could perhaps also persuade +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_286' name='page_286'></a>286</span> +Miss Nelson not to follow this matter of the +letters any further. I think that she would +follow my advice in the matter. But I have +no intention of interfering until––until I +know everything––down––to––the––last––word!”</p> +<p>He accentuated this by striking with his +fist into an open hand, slowly, as if driving in +a rebellious spike. They were alone on the +little veranda of the store. Within her breast +the girl’s heart was throbbing with fear––with +the terror of exposure and unknown punishments. +She felt that this man knew the +exact truth and she had the sensation of some +animal cornered and seeing but a single +avenue of escape.</p> +<p>“But I have found out everything I wanted +to know, Miss McGurn,” Dr. Starr told her, +suddenly. “Unless I have a written confession +in my hands I shall let matters take their +course. It––is––for––you––to––choose.”</p> +<p>He looked at his watch.</p> +<p>“My train should be here in fifteen minutes,” +he told her. “After that it will be too +late!”</p> +<p>Then the girl broke down. Wild thoughts +had come and gone. If a weapon had been +at hand she might, in obedience to the behest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287' name='page_287'></a>287</span> +of a wild and fiery nature, have stabbed the +man who so calmly faced her. But she felt +utterly helpless and her fear and despair became +supreme.</p> +<p>“I––I’ll write whatever you want me to, +if––if you promise not to tell!” she cried.</p> +<p>“I’m not quite prepared to accept conditions,” +he answered. “I intend to show the +paper to Ennis and to Miss Nelson. They +have a right to know the truth. But I can +promise that they will carry the matter no +farther, and that I shall see that neither the +sheriff nor the post-office authorities will interfere. +There are but a few minutes left +now.”</p> +<p>She rushed into the store again and went +to the desk. Her father was no longer in the +room. With feverish speed she wrote while +the doctor bent over her, suggesting a word +now and then. Finally she signed the paper +and handed it to him.</p> +<p>“I think you had better give me those +answers now,” he suggested. “Those directed +to A. B. C.”</p> +<p>From Box 17 she took the letters and +handed them over without a word, and the +doctor carefully placed them in his pocket +with the others.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288' name='page_288'></a>288</span></div> +<p>“I think you’ve been very wise in taking +my advice, Miss McGurn,” he told her. “It +was the only way out of trouble. Isn’t that +the freight’s whistle? I’ll hurry off. Good-day +to you.”</p> +<p>He stepped quickly across the space that +separated him from the station. On the platform +Joe Follansbee greeted him pleasantly.</p> +<p>“A fine clear day, doctor,” said the station +agent.</p> +<p>“Yes, everything is beautifully clear now,” +answered Dr. Starr amiably. “Shouldn’t +wonder if this were about the last of the cold +weather.”</p> +<p>Then he got on the caboose, where the crew +welcomed him. As one of the company doctors +he had the right to ride on anything that +came along, and the men were always glad to +see him. They made him comfortable in a +corner and offered him hot tea and large +soggy buns. But he thanked them, smilingly, +and sat down in a corner. From his bag he +took out a medical journal and was soon immersed +in an exceedingly interesting article +on hysteria.</p> +<p>Strangely enough, at that very moment +Miss Sophy had run up to her room and +thrown herself on the bed, face downwards +and buried in a pillow. She was weeping +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_289' name='page_289'></a>289</span> +and uttering incoherent cries. When her +mother came in, alarmed, the old lady was +indignantly ordered out again while the girl’s +feet beat against the mattress hurriedly, and +she bit the knuckles of her hands.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_290' name='page_290'></a>290</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV_THE_PEACE_OF_ROARING_RIVER' id='CHAPTER_XV_THE_PEACE_OF_ROARING_RIVER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3><span class='smcap'>The Peace of Roaring River</span></h3> +</div> +<p>It is particularly in the great north countries +that the season changes from the lion into +the lamb, with a swiftness that is perfectly +bewildering. The sick man was getting well. +Over a week since, Dr. Starr had declared that +all danger had passed. And as the days went +by the cold that had shackled the land disappeared +so that the frosted limbs by the great +falls wept off their coating of gems, and the +earth, in great patches, began to show new +verdure. Then had come twenty-four hours +of a pelting, crashing rain, that had melted +away more snow and ice. After the rain was +over and the sky had cleared again, Madge +had gone out and stood by the brink of the +great falls, where she watched the thundering +turbid flood as it madly rushed into the great +pit below. Incessantly great cakes of ice +poised on the brown-white edge above for an +instant, and hurled themselves furiously into +the chasm as if bent on everlasting devastation. +The river itself was rising swiftly and from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_291' name='page_291'></a>291</span> +time to time the great logs that had remained +stranded in the upper reaches of the river also +plunged into the vortex, where they twisted +and sank and rose, endlessly.</p> +<p>There was something fascinating in this +vast turmoil of mighty forces, in this leaping +forth of a great river now liberated and escaping +towards the great lakes and thence to +the ocean. Hitherto Madge had gazed upon +them timidly, with sudden shivers, as if all +this had represented part of the great peril of +life and actually threatened her. But now it +seemed to have become a part of the immensity +of this world, a fragment of the wondrous +heritage of nations still to be born. And +just as the flood still had a long journey to +travel ere it found rest in the Atlantic’s bosom, +so now Madge felt that her own course represented +but the beginning of a new and greater +life.</p> +<p>In spite of many nights spent at that bedside, +she looked far better and more robust +than when she had first reached Roaring +River. Courage had returned to her and +with it the will to endure, to live, to seize upon +her share of the wondrous glory of this new +world that was so fresh and beautiful. And +yet her thoughts were very sober; she did not +feel that she had reached utter happiness. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292' name='page_292'></a>292</span> +Her life would now be one of usefulness, according +to the doctor’s promise. She felt that +faces might become cheerier at her coming +and that little children––the children of +other people––would welcome her and crow +out their little joy.</p> +<p>Several long nights of quiet rest had built +her up into a woman that was no longer the +factory drudge or the recent inmate of hospitals. +One of the Papineau children had +come over to remain with Hugo, lest he +should need anything. Madge attended him +during the day, concocting things on the stove, +dressing the fast closing wound and administering +the drugs left by the doctor, with the +greatest punctuality, and the man’s eyes followed +her every motion, generally in silence. +She also spoke little. It was as if, upon both +of them, a timidity had come that made it +hard for them to exchange thoughts. The +first time he had wanted to speak of the problem +of her coming she failed to encourage +him.</p> +<p>“I know all that happened now,” she told +him, “and I have long known that you were +not at fault, in any way. Indeed, I feel grateful +for your forbearance when I first came. +But, if you don’t mind, we won’t speak of it +again. It––it distresses me.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293' name='page_293'></a>293</span></div> +<p>He saw plainly that she had blushed, in +spite of the fact that she turned her head +swiftly away, and remained silent until she +came again with a teaspoonful of something +he must swallow.</p> +<p>So she sat down again and her mind reverted +to the future, which was certainly immeasurably +splendid and promising, as compared +to the outlook of a fortnight before. +In her pockets were the letters she had written +to this man. Dr. Starr had brought them to +her one day, when Hugo was already able to +listen and understand.</p> +<p>“I think they were intended for me,” said +the latter, gently.</p> +<p>“No!” exclaimed Madge, reddening and +leaping from her stool. “Please give them +to me, Dr. Starr. They were sent to an utterly +unknown man. They were replies to +letters you never sent and therefore they’re +not yours. Please––I––I’d rather you +didn’t see them!”</p> +<p>The young man had nodded, quietly.</p> +<p>“Of course they’re yours,” he acknowledged. +“We––we won’t mention them +again, if it’s your wish.”</p> +<p>“Indeed––indeed it is. They were just a +cry for help––for a chance to live––perhaps +for a little happiness. Dr. Starr has now +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294' name='page_294'></a>294</span> +offered me all these things and I have accepted––ever +so gratefully. I––I had taken +a step that was utter folly, yes, absolute madness. +But now the most wonderful good fortune +has brought me the fulfilment of these +desires and I want to forget all the rest––the +burning shame I have felt as well as the terror +with which I approached whatever was in +store for me. That part of it will pass away +like some bad dream, I hope. It’s––it’s +kind of you not to insist on seeing these +letters.”</p> +<p>“That’s all right, Miss Nelson,” said the +doctor, soothingly. “Hugo, my lad, you owe +a good deal to your nurse and I’m glad that +you’re properly grateful and not unduly +curious.”</p> +<p>But Hugo called Maigan to him, without +answering, and patted the animal’s head, after +which he remarked that the days were getting +much longer.</p> +<p>Came another day when the patient was +able to get up, with the aid of Stefan and his +nurse, and manifested the usual surprise of +the strong man after illness. It was astonishing +that his legs were so weak, and he couldn’t +understand the dizzy sensations in his head.</p> +<p>After a time he became able to use his arm +a little, very cautiously, and his joy was great +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295' name='page_295'></a>295</span> +when it served him to handle a fork, for the +first time since he had been ill.</p> +<p>And so now she was standing beside these +great falls, thinking very deeply. She was +disappointed at herself because she did not +feel properly happy and grateful; indeed, she +was dropping in her own estimation. If any +one, a month before, had placed before her the +prospect of honest toil among friendly faces, +of usefulness that would benefit her while +gaining gratitude from others, she would have +deemed herself the happiest woman in the +world. Yes, the world should have been a +very beautiful and kindly place, now that +hunger and pain were eliminated, now that +the coming of spring would cause sap to surge +up the trees so that the branches would soon +clothe themselves in the tender glory of new +leafage. Her own existence was on the verge +of a fresh new growth that might lead to +greater things, and yet she reproached herself +because she could not become conscious of a +real happiness, of a glorious achievement that +had been like an unexpected manna coming +to starvelings in a desert. She felt nothing +but a quiet acquiescence in the new conditions +and accepted her new destiny with a sigh.</p> +<p>She did not realize yet that in her soul a +new longing had come, that would not be +denied.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296' name='page_296'></a>296</span></div> +<p>She returned slowly to the shack where +Hugo sat in an armchair brought all the way +from Carcajou on Stefan’s sled. His arm was +still in a sling. It was fortunate that it was +the left one, for he was very busily engaged in +writing.</p> +<p>The girl waited for some time, leaning +against the doorpost and watching some +chipping sparrows that had recently arrived +and were thinking hard about nest-building +in the neighboring bushes.</p> +<p>The weeds and grasses and wild flowers +were beginning to peep out of the ground, +with the haste that is peculiar to northern +lands where life is strenuous during the few +months of warm fair weather. The tender +hues of the burgeoning birches and poplars, +streaked with the gleaming silver of their +trunks, were casting soft notes upon the strong +greens of the conifers and the indigo of their +shadows. In the spray of the falls, to her +left, a tiny rainbow seemed to dance, and the +loud song of the rushing waters was like the +call of some great loving voice. She reflected +that she would have to go again to a place in +which many people lived. It would not be +like a city. The same trees and the same +waters and the same flowers would be there, +very close at hand. Not a single house abutted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_297' name='page_297'></a>297</span> +against another. In the gardens there would +be old-fashioned flowers such as she had been +familiar with at home, before she had sought +the town. Dr. Starr had described it all. +Ten minutes’ walk would take one beyond the +habitations of men, into woodlands and fields +and by a lake that extended into a far wilderness, +upon which one could drive a canoe and +feel as if one owned a great and beautiful +world, for men were seldom on it and above +the surface it was peopled chiefly by great diving +birds and broods of ducklings. It all +sounded, and doubtless was, perfectly ideal.</p> +<p>But presently Hugo had finished his writing +and was leaning back in his chair.</p> +<p>“Do you think you would like some of +those nice fresh eggs Mrs. Papineau’s little +girl brought this morning?” she asked him. +“And would you like me to close the door +now?”</p> +<p>“Thanks, Miss Nelson,” he said, “I’m +sure I should enjoy them ever so much. +They’re a rather scarce commodity with us. +Too many weasels and skunks and other +chicken-eaters to make it a healthy country +for hens. As to the door I’ll be glad to have +you close it if you feel cold. But it’s delightful +for me to be sitting here all wrapped up +in blankets and taking in big lungfuls of our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_298' name='page_298'></a>298</span> +forest air. It––it makes a fellow feel like a +two-year-old.”</p> +<p>She was about to break the eggs into a pan +when she noticed the letter lying on the table.</p> +<p>“Would you like me to get you an envelope, +for it?” she asked.</p> +<p>“If you’ll be so kind,” he assented, gravely.</p> +<p>She would have offered to put the paper in +the envelope for him also, but he managed it +easily enough and closed the flap.</p> +<p>“That’s done,” he said. “I wonder what +will come of it?”</p> +<p>To this she could not reply, so she prepared +the eggs and brought them to him, with his +tea and toast.</p> +<p>“They’re going to be ever so good,” he +said, taking up a fork, after which he stared +out of the still-opened door.</p> +<p>“If you don’t eat them now, they’ll be cold +in a minute,” she warned him.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’d forgotten! I must beg your pardon +since you took so much trouble about +them.”</p> +<p>He ate them slowly, as if performing some +hard and solemn task. When he had finished +his meal, Madge cleared the table.</p> +<p>“Is there anything else you would like?” +she asked. “One of your books?”</p> +<p>“No, I––I don’t think I want to read, just +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_299' name='page_299'></a>299</span> +now. I––I am feeling rather––rather disturbed +for the moment.”</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” she inquired, solicitously.</p> +<p>“It’s this––this habit I’ve gotten into,” +he said, “of having a––a nurse at my side. +It seems very strange that she will soon be +gone. I’ve learnt to depend so much on.... +And Stefan is coming to take you away to +Carcajou––and then over there to Dr. Starr’s. +Then I believe I’m to go and stay with the +Papineaus, till I can handle a frying-pan and +an axe. The––the prospect is a dismal one.”</p> +<p>She took a little step towards him but he +had bent over the letter and was directing it. +When this was done he stared at it for a +moment and, unsteadily, handed it to the girl, +with the writing down.</p> +<p>“I––I would like you to deliver this for +me,” he told her. “It is ever so important +and––and our post-office isn’t very reliable, +I’m afraid. But I know I can trust you.”</p> +<p>She looked at him in surprise and then she +looked at the envelope. To her intense +amazement she read:</p> +<p class='center'>Miss Madge Nelson,<br /> +<br /> +Roaring River.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_300' name='page_300'></a>300</span></div> +<p>“What does this mean?” she asked, bewildered.</p> +<p>“I––I’m afraid you will have to read it +to find out,” he answered.</p> +<p>She opened the door and rushed out. One +fear was in her heart. She dreaded to find +money in it. How dared he offer to pay for +what she had done? She would lay the envelope +on the table, with its contents, and +quietly say––well, what could she say?</p> +<p>With the thing in her hand she walked +down the path to the edge of the falls, where +she sat down on an old big trunk of birch +fallen many years ago and partly covered with +moss. For one or two long minutes she held +it in her lap, gazing at the rushing waters +without seeing them. A strange fluttering was +at her heart, a curious trepidation that was +akin to intense fear caused her neck to throb, +but her face was very pale. Finally, with a +swift gesture, she tore the envelope open and +read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p><span class='smcap'>My Good Little Nurse:</span></p> +<p>Those other letters were not from me but this +one is: you saw me write it. It carries a thousand +thanks for your kindness and devotion to +your helpless patient. During those dreadfully +long hours your presence was a blessing; it could +soothe away the pain and bring hope and comfort. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_301' name='page_301'></a>301</span> +In a couple of weeks more I shall be as strong as +ever, but I know that without you Roaring River +will never be the same. You came here bravely, +ready to marry a decent man who would help you +bear the burdens of this world, which had proved +too heavy for you. Of course the man must be +honest and worthy of your trust. After all that +you underwent from the first moment of your being +left alone on the tote-road I cannot wonder at +your desire to go away. But I feel that without +you I could never have pulled through and that +by this time the prospect of a life spent without +you is unbearable.</p> +<p>I am not begging you humbly for your love. I +don’t want to owe it to your pity for the man who +was so ill, to the deep charity and the kindness +of a sweet and unselfish nature. That is why I +couldn’t speak out my longing for you and the +love that fills my heart, lest I might surprise you +into a hasty consent. I could not have restrained +my emotion and I know I would have begged and +implored––and that might have made it very +hard and painful for you to refuse.</p> +<p>Please return to me after you have read and +thought this over. If we are to remain but friends +you will extend one hand to me and I shall know +what it means. I daresay I shall survive that hurt +as I survived the other. Have no fear for me.</p> +<p>But if you feel in your heart that you can give +me all I long for, that you are willing to become +my wife, then stretch both of those little hands to +me, since it will take the two to carry such a +precious gift.</p> +<p class='ralign'>Your hopeful and grateful patient,<span class='rindent8'> </span><br /> +<span class='smcap'>Hugo.</span><span class='rindent2'> </span></p> +</blockquote> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_302' name='page_302'></a>302</span></div> +<p>After she had finished she tried to read the +paper again, but it was too hard to see. For +a moment she stared at the Roaring Falls +through the misty veil of their spray. Thrusting +the letter into her bosom she found her +feet, suddenly, and ran to the little shack. +Hugo had risen and was standing in the doorway, +his heart beating fast and his face very +pale. As Madge came near she uplifted both +hands, but she could hardly see him. Once +more her eyes were suffused with tears, but it +was as if the glory of a wondrous sunlit world +had been too strong for them. She was smiling +happily, however, when he took both little +hands into his right.</p> +<p>“I––I hurried back,” she panted. “Neither––neither +did I feel that––that I could live +without you––without this wonderful peace +of beautiful Roaring River, and––and the +love that it has brought to me!”</p> +<p>A few moments later they heard Big +Stefan’s familiar shout from the tote-road. +The toboggan could no longer be used and +he had driven over a shaggy old horse that +had pulled a reliable buckboard.</p> +<p>“Dot’s yoost great!” he roared, as he saw +Hugo standing outside the shack. “I tank +I’m more pleased as if I find a dozen goldmines, +you bet! De leetle leddy she safe you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_303' name='page_303'></a>303</span> +all right––all right. But now I take her avay +to Meester Doctor Starr, like he telt me to. +De doctor he gif me a bit letter for you, +ma’am. I find it soon.”</p> +<p>Two letters on a single day was heavy mail +for Roaring River. Madge tore the last one +open and read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>My Dear Miss Nelson:</p> +<p>Stefan has promised to bring you to us to-morrow. +I want you to come, for my wife and +the kiddies are awaiting you. From my latest +study of conditions at Roaring River I have gathered +that you may not stay with us as long as I +had first hoped, but at any rate it will be long +enough to do a little fixing and arranging of feminine +garments. My instinct tells me that your +visit to us will be short since our patient, if you +tarry too long, may come and steal you away. He +will have to come anyway for, just as I’m the +nearest doctor to you, so my friend Jamieson is +the nearest parson.</p> +<p class='ralign'>With every best wish,<span class='rindent8'> </span><br /> +Very sincerely yours,<span class='rindent4'> </span><br /> +<span class='smcap'>David Starr.</span><span class='rindent2'> </span></p> +</blockquote> +<p>Madge handed the letter over to Hugo who +quickly looked it over.</p> +<p>“Wonderful fellow is Starr,” he declared.</p> +<p>Stefan took his friend Hugo up in his arms, +in spite of protests on the latter’s part that he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_304' name='page_304'></a>304</span> +wanted to try to walk. The young man was +a light load, indeed, at this time. He was +placed on the seat of the buckboard and, with +Stefan carefully leading the horse and Madge +walking alongside, was taken up to Papineau’s.</p> +<p>The woodlands were very different now, +thought the girl. When she had arrived the +great land was plunged in slumber under its +mantle of snow. The few birds there were at +the time were voiceless, like the partridges +that only find a peep when fluffy broods follow +them, or some of the larger fowl which +only hoot or shriek. The sound-calls of the +wilderness had been those of struggling +waters, of cracking trees, of snow-masses violently +displaced. But now birds were in full +song everywhere, carrying trifles of stick and +floss and grass wherewith to build their nests. +Formerly there had been the uneasy groans +and sighs of a gigantic restless sleeper. Now +there was the chant of a heart-free nature +engaged again in vigorous toil, in wresting the +recurrent glory of surging life and hope from +the powers of darkness and bitter, benumbing +cold. It was a resurrection!</p> +<p>The mile separating the shack from the +Papineau homestead had been a long and +fatiguing one on the first occasion of Madge’s +going to see the wounded man. Now the distance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_305' name='page_305'></a>305</span> +was trivial; a few sturdy steps, a few +fillings of one’s lungs with the scent of conifers; +and there was the little chimney smoking +and the cow with her little calf, and the +dogs, and the few hens that had survived the +attacks of weasels. Best of all there were her +friends, children and babies and the quiet +Frenchman and the kind-hearted, red-cheeked, +cheery mother whose influence had been paramount +in creating a little paradise in the wilds.</p> +<p>She helped Hugo off the buckboard, jealously, +deeming herself the only one who could +properly handle an invalid, and enthroned +him in the best chair, near the open fire.</p> +<p>“You––you are h’all so velcome as I can’t +say,” she declared.</p> +<p>“Miss Nelson is going away with Stefan +in a few minutes,” said Hugo, cheerfully.</p> +<p>At this Mrs. Papineau’s face fell. She +looked positively unhappy.</p> +<p>“Some’ow,” she said, sniffing, “I always +’ope she stay ’ere h’all de time now. I––I +never tink she go avay for good. De––de +dogs and de calf and––an––de baby and +chil’ren dey all love ’er. I h’awful sorry.”</p> +<p>“But––but I’m coming back, Mrs. Papineau,” +cried Madge. “I––I can’t live away +from––from Roaring River now!”</p> +<p>“Dey two iss ter be marrit!” roared Stefan. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_306' name='page_306'></a>306</span> +“Hey! What you tank? I tank so all de +time, you bet!”</p> +<p>At this they all crowded around Madge, +and such hand-shakings, and such kisses from +the good woman and the children, and such +joy depicted on all the faces! She thought +that never a bride had received such heartfelt +congratulations and good wishes.</p> +<p>But in a couple of hours the old horse was +quite rested and had finished the small bag of +oats Stefan had brought and eaten plenty of +the sweet-scented hay furnished by Papineau, +and it was time to go. Strangely enough, at +the last moment, the usually crowded house +was deserted excepting by two, who found +themselves in one another’s arms.</p> +<p>“God bless you, Madge,” said the man. “I +will come soon.”</p> +<p>“I shall be waiting,” answered the girl, +simply.</p> +<p>And so she rode away again, in the old +buckboard that rolled and pitched and heaved +and bucked so that very often she got off and +walked at the side of Stefan.</p> +<p>Late that night she found herself in the +doctor’s home, after a wonderful welcome +from his wife and himself. The kiddies had +been put to bed.</p> +<p>“I––I feel that––that I am deserting you, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_307' name='page_307'></a>307</span> +that you trusted me to help you with a splendid +work,” she said, with head bent down.</p> +<p>“That is not so,” the man answered gravely. +“Remember what I told you when I was trying +to enlist you. I say that more than for +any other purposes, we wanted women, good +women, to come and become the mothers of +the strong, fine breed that can alone master +our wilderness. Hugo is one of those fellows +of brawn and brain who are working towards +the common happiness in establishing his own. +He needs a helper he can love and trust and +cherish, one who will in herself be the biggest +reward he can ever gain, and make him feel +that the bigger part of the purpose of his life +has been secured with your promise to marry +him. To me the sick and the halt are paramount––but +they will have to wait a little. +In some way or other they will be looked +after, I promise you, for no man in a responsible +position can be anything but a problem-solver, +in these places, and I’ll find someone, +never fear.”</p> +<p>“Yours will be the more important occupation +now, my dear,” said the doctor’s wife; +“you’ll be in the front ranks of the fighters.”</p> +<p>So the doctor went away and the two women +made the sewing-machine hum, and cut and +basted and threaded needles. Together they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_308' name='page_308'></a>308</span> +managed to put together all that was +indispensable and to discard the frivolous, as +became the wives of pioneers.</p> +<p>Two or three weeks went by very fast and +one day Sophy McGurn, from behind the +shop-window, saw Hugo Ennis standing on +the platform of the little station at Carcajou. +With him was big Stefan, clad in his best, and +the entire Papineau family. Most of the children +were about to take the very first railway +journey of their lives and the excitement was +intense and prolonged. Finally the train came +puffing along and went away again, panting +on the upgrade, while Miss Sophy bit her +nails hard.</p> +<p>There is no doubt that Stefan had kept still, +since he had been requested to. No one else +in Carcajou knew anything as to the inwardness +of the girl’s coming, of Sophy’s share in +it, or of the discovery by the doctor of the +latter’s duplicity. And yet there was an element +in Carcajou that frowned upon the +young lady. Her accusation had been +reported far and wide. To the settlers of the +place her suspicions had seemed uncalled-for +and bespeaking a mean and vicious disposition. +Hugo, after all, had been everybody’s +friend. He was now about to marry this +young woman from far-away New York. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_309' name='page_309'></a>309</span> +This utterly disproved Sophy’s statements, +wherefore she became more unpopular than +ever. A couple of hundred men had come +over to work at the sawmill, that was purring +and grinding and shrieking again, all day and +night. In the course of events they were learning +all about the matter, and some of the more +ribald asked her jocular questions. It was +annoying, to say the least, to have a big logger +come in and ask what were the news of the +day, and if there was any more murdering +going on. She projected to leave Carcajou as +soon as she could, and made her parents wish +she would, as soon as possible.</p> +<p>The party reached their station and walked +over to the church, that stood in what looked +like a pasture, with great stumps of trees still +dotting the ground. About it was the very +small beginning of a graveyard. With the +years it would grow but always it would be +swept by the winds blowing aromatic scents +from the forests beyond the lake. And about +the church itself grew simple flowers, some +of which were beginning to twine themselves +upon the walls. Madge came up the aisle, attended +by Stefan and the doctor. Hugo met +them, the emotion of the moment having +caused some of the pallor to return to his +cheeks.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_310' name='page_310'></a>310</span></div> +<p>It was soon all over. At the doctor’s house +there was a little repast, followed by some +simple words that sounded hopeful and strong. +An hour later the couple left, but not for a +honeymoon in the towns. It was in a place +reached after many hours of paddling, where +the red trout abounded and the swallows +darted over the waters. Here in their tent +they could do their own cooking, beginning +the life that was to be one of mutual help, of +cheerful toil, of achievement and of happiness.</p> +<p>When they came back to Carcajou again, +Stefan was waiting for them with a strong +team of horses able easily to negotiate the tote-road. +This highway, in many places, had +been repaired. Fallen trees were cut across +and pulled to one side, swampy bits were +corduroyed, big holes had been filled in. Indeed, +the traffic had become important, all of +a sudden, towards the Roaring Falls. Lumber +had been hauled there, and many tools, +and kegs of nails, and a gang of men had +walked over.</p> +<p>Finally they came in sight of the river +again, in which were no more black-looking, +threatening air-holes. Mostly it was placid +now, with rapids that could easily be passed +over by ably-managed canoes or bateaux, succeeding +the deep still waters now and then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_311' name='page_311'></a>311</span> +and frothing and fuming only as if in play. +Here a big blue heron rose from it, and there +a couple of kingfishers jabbered and scolded +and shrieked. Partridges crossed the road in +front of the horses, and the inevitable rabbit +scampered away in leisurely fashion.</p> +<p>But they reached the little path that led to +the shack without seeing anything of the tiny +home or of the falls beyond, for the bushes +and shrubs were in full foliage and seemed to +be concealing their Eden from passers-by. +Madge leaped from the wagon. Her kingdom +was over there, just a few rods away, and +she was eager to see it again.</p> +<p>Yes! The shack was still there, looking +tinier than ever. But very close to it a foundation +had been dug from which rose rough +walls of broken stone. Upon these strong +scantlings had been fastened and men were +clapboarding them over into a bigger and +finer home.</p> +<p>Above the trees some smoke was showing. +It marked a place where a half-score shacks +and little barracks were going up, to shelter +the men who were to follow deeper those +promising veins in the great rocks. There +would soon be blasting and more drilling and +the breaking up of ore, which would be carried +down the river to the railroad. But from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_312' name='page_312'></a>312</span> +the edge of the great falls nothing of all this +could be seen. Except for the new house +everything seemed to be unchanged. It was +with a sentiment of a little awe, of gratefulness, +of a surprise which the passing of the +weeks had not yet been able to dispel, that +Madge realized that this was now her own, +the place of her future toil, the spot where +she was to found a home and fill it with +happiness.</p> +<p>It was marvelous! It was a thousand times +more splendid than anything she could have +conceived when first she was journeying to this +country. And the greatness of it lay in the +fact that she understood, that she realized, that +she knew that the whole world lay before her +and her husband, to make or mar, to convert +into a part of the great effort that is always a +joy, the upbuilding of a home, or to allow to +revert into the wilderness again if strength +were lacking.</p> +<p>At first she could not step farther than the +little spot from which her dwelling-place first +stood revealed.</p> +<p>“What do you think of it, Madge?” asked +her husband.</p> +<p>“I think that if I had prayed all my life +for a wonderful home, before coming here, I +would never have been able to pray for anything +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_313' name='page_313'></a>313</span> +so splendid. Think of it––you and I––for +years and years that will pass ever so +swiftly, together in this glorious place and +enjoying perfect peace––the great peace of +Roaring River!”</p> +<p>And the man stood by, his heart very full, +his thoughts following her own, and a wave +of happiness surged into his being, for all that +was best in his former dreams was at his hand, +since nothing but the woman at his side really +counted.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;'>ZANE GREY’S NOVELS</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list</p> +<p>THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS</p> +<p>A New York society girl buys a ranch which becomes the center of frontier warfare. +Her loyal superintendent rescues her when she is captured by bandits. A +surprising climax brings the story to a delightful close.</p> +<p>THE RAINBOW TRAIL</p> +<p>The story of a young clergyman who becomes a wanderer in the great western +uplands––until at last love and faith awake.</p> +<p>DESERT GOLD</p> +<p>The story describes the recent uprising along the border, and ends with the finding +of the gold which two prospectors had willed to the girl who is the story’s heroine.</p> +<p>RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE</p> +<p>A picturesque romance of Utah of some forty years ago when Mormon authority +ruled. The prosecution of Jane Withersteen is the theme of the story.</p> +<p>THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN</p> +<p>This is the record of a trip which the author took with Buffalo Jones, known as the +preserver of the American bison, across the Arizona desert and of a hunt in “that +wonderful country of deep canons and giant pines.”</p> +<p>THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT</p> +<p>A lovely girl, who has been reared among Mormons, learns to love a young New +Englander. The Mormon religion, however, demands that the girl shall become +the second wife of one of the Mormons––Well, that’s the problem of this great story.</p> +<p>THE SHORT STOP</p> +<p>The young hero, tiring of his factory grind, starts out to win fame and fortune as +a professional ball player. His hard knocks at the start are followed by such success +as clean sportsmanship, courage and honesty ought to win.</p> +<p>BETTY ZANE</p> +<p>This story tells of the bravery and heroism of Betty, the beautiful young sister of +old Colonel Zane, one of the bravest pioneers.</p> +<p>THE LONE STAR RANGER</p> +<p>After killing a man in self defense, Buck Duane becomes an outlaw along the +Texas border. In a camp on the Mexican side of the river, he finds a young girl held +prisoner, and in attempting to rescue her, brings down upon himself the wrath of her +captors and henceforth is hunted on one side by honest men, on the other by outlaws.</p> +<p>THE BORDER LEGION</p> +<p>Joan Randle, in a spirit of anger, sent Jim Cleve out to a lawless Western mining +camp, to prove his mettle. Then realizing that she loved him––she followed him out. +On her way, she is captured by a bandit band, and trouble begins when she shoots +Kells, the leader––and nurses him to health again. Here enters another romance––when +Joan, disguised as an outlaw, observes Jim, in the throes of dissipation. A gold +strike, a thrilling robbery––gambling and gun play carry you along breathlessly.</p> +<p>THE LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS,</p> +<p>By Helen Cody Wetmore and Zane Grey</p> +<p>The life story of Colonel William F. Cody, “Buffalo Bill,” as told by his sister and +Zane Grey. It begins with his boyhood in Iowa and his first encounter with an Indian. +We see “Bill” as a pony express rider, then near Fort Sumter as Chief of +the Scouts, and later engaged in the most dangerous Indian campaigns. There is +also a very interesting account of the travels of “The Wild West Show.” No character +in public life makes a stronger appeal to the imagination of America than +“Buffalo Bill,” whose daring and bravery made him famous.</p> +<p class='tp' >GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>STORIES OF RARE CHARM BY<br /><span style='font-size:1.4em;'>GENE STRATTON-PORTER</span></p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list.</p> +<p>MICHAEL O’HALLORAN. Illustrated by Frances Rogers.</p> +<p>Michael is a quick-witted little Irish newsboy, living in Northern +Indiana. He adopts a deserted little girl, a cripple. He also assumes +the responsibility of leading the entire rural community upward +and onward.</p> +<p>LADDIE. Illustrated by Herman Pfeifer.</p> +<p>This is a bright, cheery tale with the scenes laid in Indiana. The +story is told by Little Sister, the youngest member of a large family, +but it is concerned not so much with childish doings as with the love +affairs of older members of the family. Chief among them is that +of Laddie and the Princess, an English girl who has come to live in +the neighborhood and about whose family there hangs a mystery.</p> +<p>THE HARVESTER. Illustrated by W. L. Jacobs.</p> +<p>“The Harvester,” is a man of the woods and fields, and if the +book had nothing in it but the splendid figure of this man it would +be notable. But when the Girl comes to his “Medicine Woods,” +there begins a romance of the rarest idyllic quality.</p> +<p>FRECKLES. Illustrated.</p> +<p>Freckles is a nameless waif when the tale opens, but the way in +which he takes hold of life; the nature friendships he forms in the +great Limberlost Swamp; the manner in which everyone who meets +him succumbs to the charm of his engaging personality; and his +love story with “The Angel” are full of real sentiment.</p> +<p>A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST. Illustrated.</p> +<p>The story of a girl of the Michigan woods; a buoyant, loveable +type of the self-reliant American. Her philosophy is one of love and +kindness towards all things; her hope is never dimmed. And by +the sheer beauty of her soul, and the purity of her vision, she wins from +barren and unpromising surroundings those rewards of high courage.</p> +<p>AT THE FOOT OF THE RAINBOW. Illustrations in colors.</p> +<p>The scene of this charming love story is laid in Central Indiana. +The story is one of devoted friendship, and tender self-sacrificing +love. The novel is brimful of the most beautiful word painting of +nature, and its pathos and tender sentiment will endear it to all.</p> +<p>THE SONG OF THE CARDINAL. Profusely illustrated.</p> +<p>A love ideal of the Cardinal bird and his mate, told with delicacy +and humor.</p> +<p class='tp' ><span class='smcap'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;'>KATHLEEN NORRIS’ STORIES</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list.</p> +<p>MOTHER. Illustrated by F. C. Yohn.</p> +<p>This book has a fairy-story touch, counterbalanced by +the sturdy reality of struggle, sacrifice, and resulting peace +and power of a mother’s experiences.</p> +<p>SATURDAY’S CHILD.</p> +<p>Frontispiece by F. Graham Cootes.</p> +<p>Out on the Pacific coast a normal girl, obscure and lovely, +makes a quest for happiness. She passes through three +stages––poverty, wealth and service––and works out a +creditable salvation.</p> +<p>THE RICH MRS. BURGOYNE.</p> +<p>Illustrated by Lucius H. Hitchcock.</p> +<p>The story of a sensible woman who keeps within her +means, refuses to be swamped by social engagements, lives +a normal human life of varied interests, and has her own +romance.</p> +<p>THE STORY OF JULIA PAGE.</p> +<p>Frontispiece by Allan Gilbert.</p> +<p>How Julia Page, reared in rather unpromising surroundings, +lifted herself through sheer determination to a higher +plane of life.</p> +<p>THE HEART OF RACHAEL.</p> +<p>Frontispiece by Charles E. Chambers.</p> +<p>Rachael is called upon to solve many problems, and in +working out these, there is shown the beauty and strength +of soul of one of fiction’s most appealing characters.</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;'>Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction</p> +<p class='tp' ><span class='smcap'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;'>MYRTLE REED’S NOVELS</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap’s list.</p> +<p>LAVENDER AND OLD LACE.</p> +<p>A charming story of a quaint corner of New England, where bygone +romance finds a modern parallel. The story centers round +the coming of love to the young people on the staff of a newspaper––and +it is one of the prettiest, sweetest and quaintest of old-fashioned +love stories.</p> +<p>MASTER OF THE VINEYARD.</p> +<p>A pathetic love story of a young girl, Rosemary. The teacher of +the country school, who is also master of the vineyard, comes to +know her through her desire for books. She is happy in his love till +another woman comes into his life. But happiness and emancipation +from her many trials come to Rosemary at last. The book has +a touch of humor and pathos that will appeal to every reader.</p> +<p>OLD ROSE AND SILVER.</p> +<p>A love story,––sentimental and humorous,––with the plot subordinate +to the character delineation of its quaint people and to the +exquisite descriptions of picturesque spots and of lovely, old, rare +treasures.</p> +<p>A WEAVER OF DREAMS.</p> +<p>This story tells of the love-affairs of three young people, with an +old-fashioned romance in the background. A tiny dog plays an important +role in serving as a foil for the heroine’s talking ingeniousness. +There is poetry, as well as tenderness and charm, in this tale +of a weaver of dreams.</p> +<p>A SPINNER IN THE SUN.</p> +<p>An old-fashioned love story, of a veiled lady who lives in solitude +and whose features her neighbors have never seen. There is a mystery +at the heart of the book that throws over it the glamour of +romance.</p> +<p>THE MASTER’S VIOLIN.</p> +<p>A love story in a musical atmosphere. A picturesque, old German +virtuoso consents to take for his pupil a handsome youth who +proves to have an aptitude for technique, but not the soul of an +artist. The youth cannot express the love, the passion and the +tragedies of life as can the master. But a girl comes into his life, +and through his passionate love for her, he learns the lessons that +life has to give––and his soul awakes.</p> +<p class='tp' ><span class='smcap'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;'>THE NOVELS OF CLARA LOUISE BURNHAM</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list.</p> +<p>JEWEL: A Chapter in Her Life.</p> +<p>Illustrated by Maude and Genevieve Cowles.</p> +<p>A story breathing the doctrine of love and patience as exemplified +in the life of a child. Jewel will never grow old because +of the immortality of her love.</p> +<p>JEWEL’S STORY BOOK. Illustrated by Albert Schmitt.</p> +<p>A sequel to “Jewel,” in which the same characteristics of +love and cheerfulness touch and uplift the reader.</p> +<p>THE INNER FLAME. Frontispiece in color.</p> +<p>A young mining engineer, whose chief ambition is to become +an artist, but who has no friends with whom to realize his hopes, +has a way opened to him to try his powers, and, of course, he +is successful.</p> +<p>THE RIGHT PRINCESS.</p> +<p>At a fashionable Long Island resort, a stately English woman +employs a forcible New England housekeeper to serve in her +interesting home. Many humorous situations result. A delightful +love affair runs through it all.</p> +<p>THE OPENED SHUTTERS.</p> +<p>Illustrated with Scenes from the Photo Play.</p> +<p>A beautiful woman, at discord with life, is brought to realize, +by her new friends, that she may open the shutters of her soul +to the blessed sunlight of joy by casting aside self love.</p> +<p>THE RIGHT TRACK.</p> +<p>Frontispiece in color by Greene Blumenschien.</p> +<p>A story of a young girl who marries for money so that she can +enjoy things intellectual. Neglect of her husband and of her +two step children makes an unhappy home till a friend brings a +new philosophy of happiness into the household.</p> +<p>CLEVER BETSY. Illustrated by Rose O’Neill.</p> +<p>The “Clever Betsy” was a boat––named for the unyielding +spinster whom the captain hoped to marry. Through the two +Betsy’s a delightful group of people are introduced.</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;'>Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction</p> +<p class='tp' ><span class='smcap'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;'>BOOTH TARKINGTON’S NOVELS</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list.</p> +<p>SEVENTEEN. Illustrated by Arthur William Brown.</p> +<p>No one but the creator of Penrod could have portrayed +the immortal young people of this story. Its humor is irresistible +and reminiscent of the time when the reader was +Seventeen.</p> +<p>PENROD. Illustrated by Gordon Grant.</p> +<p>This is a picture of a boy’s heart, full of the lovable, humorous, +tragic things which are locked secrets to most older +folks. It is a finished, exquisite work.</p> +<p>PENROD AND SAM. Illustrated by Worth Brehm.</p> +<p>Like “Penrod” and “Seventeen,” this book contains +some remarkable phases of real boyhood and some of the best +stories of juvenile prankishness that have ever been written.</p> +<p>THE TURMOIL. Illustrated by C. E. Chambers.</p> +<p>Bibbs Sheridan is a dreamy, imaginative youth, who revolts +against his father’s plans for him to be a servitor of +big business. The love of a fine girl turns Bibb’s life from +failure to success.</p> +<p>THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA. Frontispiece.</p> +<p>A story of love and politics,––more especially a picture of +a country editor’s life in Indiana, but the charm of the book +lies in the love interest.</p> +<p>THE FLIRT. Illustrated by Clarence F. Underwood.</p> +<p>The “Flirt,” the younger of two sisters, breaks one girl’s +engagement, drives one man to suicide, causes the murder +of another, leads another to lose his fortune, and in the end +marries a stupid and unpromising suitor, leaving the really +worthy one to marry her sister.</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;'>Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction</p> +<p class='tp' ><span class='smcap'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;'>JACK LONDON’S NOVELS</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list.</p> +<p>JOHN BARLEYCORN. Illustrated by H. T. Dunn.</p> +<p>This remarkable book is a record of the author’s own amazing +experiences. This big, brawny world rover, who has been acquainted +with alcohol from boyhood, comes out boldly against John +Barleycorn. It is a string of exciting adventures, yet it forcefully +conveys an unforgettable idea and makes a typical Jack London book.</p> +<p>THE VALLEY OF THE MOON. Frontispiece by George Harper.</p> +<p>The story opens in the city slums where Billy Roberts, teamster +and ex-prize fighter, and Saxon Brown, laundry worker, meet and +love and marry. They tramp from one end of California to the +other, and in the Valley of the Moon find the farm paradise that is +to be their salvation.</p> +<p>BURNING DAYLIGHT. Four illustrations.</p> +<p>The story of an adventurer who went to Alaska and laid the +foundations of his fortune before the gold hunters arrived. Bringing +his fortunes to the States he is cheated out of it by a crowd of money +kings, and recovers it only at the muzzle of his gun. He then starts +out as a merciless exploiter on his own account. Finally he takes to +drinking and becomes a picture of degeneration. About this time +he falls in love with his stenographer and wins her heart but not +her hand and then––but read the story!</p> +<p>A SON OF THE SUN. Illustrated by A. O. Fischer and C. W. Ashley.</p> +<p>David Grief was once a light-haired, blue-eyed youth who came +from England to the South Seas in search of adventure. Tanned +like a native and as lithe as a tiger, he became a real son of the sun. +The life appealed to him and he remained and became very wealthy.</p> +<p>THE CALL OF THE WILD. Illustrations by Philip R. Goodwin and +Charles Livingston Bull. Decorations by Charles E. Hooper.</p> +<p>A book of dog adventures as exciting as any man’s exploits +could be. Here is excitement to stir the blood and here is picturesque +color to transport the reader to primitive scenes.</p> +<p>THE SEA WOLF. Illustrated by W. J. Aylward.</p> +<p>Told by a man whom Fate suddenly swings from his fastidious +life into the power of the brutal captain of a sealing schooner. A +novel of adventure warmed by a beautiful love episode that every +reader will hail with delight.</p> +<p>WHITE FANG. Illustrated by Charles Livingston Bull.</p> +<p>“White Fang” is part dog, part wolf and all brute, living in the +frozen north; he gradually comes under the spell of man’s companionship, +and surrenders all at the last in a fight with a bull dog. +Thereafter he is man’s loving slave.</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;'><span class='smcap'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.4em;'>B. M. BOWER’S NOVELS</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;'>May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap’s list.</p> +<p>CHIP OF THE FLYING U. Wherein the love affairs of Chip and +Della Whitman are charmingly and humorously told.</p> +<p>THE HAPPY FAMILY. A lively and amusing story, dealing with +the adventures of eighteen jovial, big-hearted Montana cowboys.</p> +<p>HER PRAIRIE KNIGHT. Describing a gay party of Easterners +who exchange a cottage at Newport for a Montana ranch-house.</p> +<p>THE RANGE DWELLERS. Spirited action, a range feud between +two families, and a Romeo and Juliet courtship make this a bright, +jolly story.</p> +<p>THE LURE OF THE DIM TRAILS. A vivid portrayal of the +experience of an Eastern author among the cowboys.</p> +<p>THE LONESOME TRAIL. A little branch of sage brush and the +recollection of a pair of large brown eyes upset “Weary” Davidson’s +plans.</p> +<p>THE LONG SHADOW. A vigorous Western story, sparkling with +the free outdoor life of a mountain ranch. It is a fine love story.</p> +<p>GOOD INDIAN. A stirring romance of life on an Idaho ranch.</p> +<p>FLYING U RANCH. Another delightful story about Chip and +his pals.</p> +<p>THE FLYING U’S LAST STAND. An amusing account of Chip +and the other boys opposing a party of school teachers.</p> +<p>THE UPHILL CLIMB. A story of a mountain ranch and of a +man’s hard fight on the uphill road to manliness.</p> +<p>THE PHANTOM HERD. The title of a moving-picture staged in +New Mexico by the “Flying U” boys.</p> +<p>THE HERITAGE OF THE SIOUX. The “Flying U” boys stage +a fake bank robbery for film purposes which precedes a real one +for lust of gold.</p> +<p>THE GRINGOS. A story of love and adventure on a ranch in +California.</p> +<p>STARR OF THE DESERT. A New Mexico ranch story of mystery +and adventure.</p> +<p>THE LOOKOUT MAN. A Northern California story full of action, +excitement and love.</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;'><span class='smcap'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span></p> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: 3.19 --> +<!-- timestamp: Tue Oct 27 16:45:32 -0600 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Peace of Roaring River, by George van Schaick + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PEACE OF ROARING RIVER *** + +***** This file should be named 30349-h.htm or 30349-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/4/30349/ + +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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