Part 7 (2/2)

”Why, Helen, what a fighter you are!”

”I came by it naturally, I suppose.” This time she laughed. ”If the feeling had not been inherited, perhaps I would not have been willing to have come with you at all.”

”And now you cannot turn back even if you want to.”

”But, dearie, I don't and never did.”

”Not even when the enemy were killing our men?” he asked, looking earnestly into her eyes.

”No, not even then,” she said; ”but I think Sir George might have let me come on deck.”

”And expose the only lady we've got, and she my wife, to the h.e.l.lish dangers of battle. No, indeed, my dear. What do you take us for?”

”If we have another fight I'll ask him,” was her answer.

”And I suppose you think he will consent?”

But there were no more battles, in that voyage at least.

The wounded men progressed favorably, considering that there was no regular surgeon on the s.h.i.+p; and by the time they reached port they were almost well again--ready to be transferred to the military hospital as convalescents.

Christmas was over, and the New Year had arrived, before they pa.s.sed Sable Island. But on the next day, they were in the long harbor, and pa.s.sing McNab, they saw in the distance the little city of Halifax.

CHAPTER VIII.

Helen stood on deck, wrapped in seal coat and gauntlets, looking at the snow-covered town as the _North King_ sailed up the harbor. Many vessels were already anch.o.r.ed. The bright winter sun showed to advantage the picturesque little city. The dazzling whiteness of the roofs, the varied contours of the houses, the glittering pinnacles of church spires, the little groves of naked trees, backed by the ever-green verdure of pines and cedars, all helped to make an interesting picture.

Most of the buildings were of wood, many being simple log cabins; while others were block-houses of more pretentious mien, whose timbers had been hewn into shape in the forest. Here and there a more stately dwelling, built of granite boulders or lime-stone rock, mingled with the rest.

What added much to the weird picturesqueness of the outlook, as Helen gazed upon it, was the glitter of icicles from many of the roofs, as the dazzling sunlight fell upon them. Then there was the far-reaching canopy of snow; while over beyond the houses were hills and craggy rocks and clumps of trees; and back of all, as distant as eye could see, the wide, interminable forest.

”How strange!” she exclaimed, drawing closer to her husband. ”I never thought it would be like this.”

”But is it not beautiful?” he asked.

”Yes; still it looks like a little town at the very end of the world,”

said Helen, with a s.h.i.+ver. ”Pretty indeed, but where are the Indians? Is that the Citadel?”

”Yes, that is the Citadel. Although I see no Indians, there are the red-coats. Look! yonder is a company at drill.”

”Ah! that is more natural! It makes me like it better. How wonderful it all is!”

Suddenly a violent gust of wind carried the snow in drifts from the roofs of the houses. A grey cloud swept over the sun, and for a brief s.p.a.ce the glittering whiteness of the prospect was over. Gradually the s.h.i.+p neared the wharf, and protected by heavy sticks of timber hanging over its side, it ground against the big bulwarks, and with huge ropes was made fast to the dock.

Colonel Mason and his staff were waiting for them; and no sooner had the gangway been laid than they came on board to welcome the officers of the big wars.h.i.+p, as well as the men of the 100th Regiment. Those were not days of Atlantic cables and telegraphic dispatches; and although word had been received by the last s.h.i.+p from Liverpool that Sir George Head was coming out with a small body of troops, the exact date of departure was not announced.

”Right welcome!” exclaimed Colonel Mason, as he shook Sir George and Captain Osborne by the hand. ”Long expected, but here at last.”

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