Part 19 (1/2)

”Thank you, sir,” she said. ”There's not many men wad carry four bushel up a bank like that.”

Vane laughed.

”I'm used to it. Now I think that we can face the hill.”

He seized the rein, and after a flounder or two the pony started the load and struggled up the ascent. Leaving the woman at the top, voluble with thanks, Vane came down and sauntered on again with Mabel.

”I made sure you would drop that bag until I saw how you got hold of it, and then I knew you would manage,” she informed him. ”You see, I've watched the men at Scarside mill. I didn't want you to drop it.”

”I wonder why?” laughed Vane.

”If you do, you must be stupid. We're friends, aren't we? I like my friends to be able to do anything that other folks can. That's partly why I took to you.”

Vane made her a ceremonious bow and they went on, chatting lightly. When they came to a sweep of climbing moor, they changed companions, for Mabel led Carroll off in search of plants and ferns. Farther on, Evelyn sat down upon a heathy bank, and Vane found a place on a stone beside a trickling rill.

”It's pleasant here, and I like the sun,” she explained. ”Besides, it's still a good way to the top, and I generally feel discontented when I get there. There are other peaks much higher--one wants to go on.”

Vane smiled in comprehension.

”Yes,” he agreed. ”On and always on! It's the feeling that drives the prospector. We seem to have the same thoughts on a good many points.”

Evelyn did not answer this.

”I was glad you got that cart up the hill. What made you think of it?”

”The pony was played out, though it was a plucky beast. I suppose I felt sorry for it. I've been driven hard myself.”

The girl's eyes softened. She had seen him use his strength, though it was, she imagined, the strength of determined will and disciplined body rather than bulk of muscle, for the man was hard and lean. The strength also was a.s.sociated with a gentleness and a sympathy with the lower creation that appealed to her.

”How hard were you driven?” she asked.

”Sometimes, until I could scarcely crawl back to my tent or the sleeping-shack at night. Out yonder, construction bosses and contractors'

foremen are skilled in getting the utmost value of every dollar out of a man. I've had my hands worn to raw wounds and half my knuckles bruised until it was almost impossible to bend them.”

”Were you compelled to work like that?”

”I thought so. It seemed to be the custom of the country; one had to get used to it.”

Evelyn hesitated a moment; though she was interested.

”But was there nothing easier? Had you no money?”

”Very little, as a rule; and what I had I tried to keep. It was to give me a start in life. It was hard to resist the temptation to use some of it now and then, but I held out.” He laughed grimly. ”After all, I suppose it was excellent discipline.”

The girl made a sign of comprehending sympathy. There was a romance in the man's career which had its effect on her, and she could recognize the strength of will which had held him to the laborious tasks he might have s.h.i.+rked while the money lasted. Then a stain on the sleeve of his jacket caught her eye.

”You have hurt your hand!” she exclaimed.