Part 13 (1/2)

CHAPTER EIGHT.

A CACHE DISCOVERED--BERTRAM BECOMES VALOROUS--FAILURE FOLLOWS, AND A BRIEF SKIRMISH, FLIGHT, AND SEPARATION ARE THE RESULTS.

The sun was high, scattering the golden clouds in the bright sky, gilding the hilltops, flooding the plains, vivifying vegetable life, and gladdening the whole animal creation, when, on the following morning, our wearied trappers raised their heads and began to think of breakfast.

To do these trappers justice, however, we must add that their looks, when they became wide enough awake to take full cognisance of the scenery, indicated the presence of thoughts and emotions of a more elevated character, though, from the nature of their training from infancy, they wanted words to express their feelings.

It was otherwise with Bertram and March Marston. Their exclamations, the instant they arose, showed that both their hearts were keenly alive to the good and the beautiful which surrounded them--and their tongues were not altogether incapable of uttering the praise of Him who clothes so gorgeously the lovely earth and peoples it with millions of happy creatures--yes, happy creatures, for, despite the existence of death and sin and sorrow everywhere, and the croaking of misanthropes, there _is_ much, very much, of pure, overflowing happiness here below.

”Come, March--Mr Bertram, time presses,” said Redhand, interrupting the two friends in the midst of earnest conversation; ”we've got a long day before us, and, mayhap, a fight with redskins at the end o't, so it behoves us to make a good breakfast and set off as soon as we can.

We're late enough already.”

”Ah, Redhand!” exclaimed March, ”you're a terrible fellow for duty an'

business, an' all that sort o' thing. It's always 'time to be off,' or 'time to think o' this or that,' or 'we mustn't put off,' with you. Why won't ye let us take a breathin' spell once in a way to enjoy ourselves, eh?”

The old man pointed to the sun. ”You've enjoyed yourself late enough to-day, han't ye?”

”Come, March, you're in a fault-finding humour this morning,” said Bertram as they walked towards the camp. ”Let's enjoy ourselves in spite of circ.u.mstances. Do you know, I hold it to be exceedingly wise as well as philosophical, to make the best of things at all times.”

”Do you?” exclaimed March in a tone of affected surprise; ”now that's odd. You must be a real clever fellow to have made up your mind on that point. But somehow or other I'm inclined to think that most o' the trappers hereabouts are as wise as yourself on it, though, mayhap, they don't say it just in the same words. There's Waller, now, as 'll tell ye that when he 'can't help it he guesses he'll jist grin an' bear it.'

And there's an old Irish trapper that's bin in the mountains nigh forty years now, and who's alive at this day--if he bean't dead--that used to say to himself when ill luck came upon him, 'Now, Terence, be aisy, boy; an' av ye can't be aisy, be as aisy as ye can.' So you see, Mr Bertram, we have got a few sparks of wisdom in these diggins.”

”Now, then, stop yer feelosophy,” cried Bounce, hitching his shoulders so as to induce his light load to take up a more accommodating position.

”Ye didn't use to be a slow feller, March; wot's to do? Ye ain't a-goin' to cave in 'cause we're gettin' nigh the redskins, are ye?”

To this March deigned no reply, but, swinging his bundle over his shoulder, set off at a pace that speedily left his laughing comrades far behind. When, in the course of an hour after, they overtook him, he was discovered lying flat on his back, with his head resting on his bundle, and smoking his pipe with an air of perfect satisfaction.

During the course of that day the trappers walked about thirty miles.

Towards the afternoon they came to a large river, along the banks of which they pursued their way, led by Redhand, who seemed as familiar with the country as if he had dwelt there from infancy. The old trapper's kindly visage was lighted up with a smile of recognition, ever and anon, when some new and striking feature of the landscape opened up to view, as if he had met with and were greeting some personal friend.

He spoke occasionally in a low tone to March, who usually kept close to his side, and pointed to spots which were a.s.sociated in his memory with adventures of various kinds. But Redhand's observations were few. He preferred to listen to the conversations of his comrades, as they plodded steadily along, enlivening their march with many an anecdote and legend.

At last Redhand called a halt, and gazed inquiringly around him, as if in search of some object.

”Wot's up?” inquired Bounce earnestly.

”It was hereabouts, somewhere,” muttered Redhand, to himself rather than to his friend; then added quickly, as he threw down his pack, ”Ay, there it is--never touched. Now that's what I call luck.”

”_Wot's_ luck?” inquired Waller.

”Ah, dat is de keevestion,” added Gibault with a look of surprise.

”You must know, lads,” said Redhand, turning to his comrades, who observed his movements with considerable astonishment; ”you must know, lads, there was an old chap who once trapped beavers up in them parts--”

”Oh! it's a hanikdot,” interrupted Big Waller; ”then I guess we'd as well sot down.” So saying, he seated himself on his bundle and, as a matter of course, proceeded to fill his pipe. The others followed his example, with the exception of Redhand, who remained standing, and of Bertram, who quickly opened his sketch-book, that being the first opportunity he had enjoyed during the day of making an entry therein.

”Right,” exclaimed Bounce. ”It's allers more feelosophical to sot than to stand--also more ekornomical, 'cause it saves yer moccasins. Go on with yer story, old man.”

”It ain't a story,” said Redhand; ”nor I don't think it can even be called an anecdote. Well, this old chap that once trapped beaver in them parts came down to Pine Point settlement one year with a load o'

furs, sold 'em all off, took a ragin' fever, and died.” Redhand paused, and gazed dreamily at the ground.