Part 52 (2/2)

Balt had returned from the banks earlier in the morning with news of a struggle between his white crew and Marsh's men. George's boats had been surrounded during the night, nets had been cut, and several encounters had occurred, resulting in serious injury to his men. The giant, in no amiable mood, had returned for reinforcements, stating that the situation was becoming more serious every hour. Hearing of the desertion of the natives, he burst into profanity, then armed himself and returned to the banks, while Boyd, now thoroughly alarmed, took a launch and sped up the river to Cherry's house, in the hope that she could prevail upon her own recruits to return.

He found the girl ready to accompany him, and they were about to embark when Chakawana came running from the house as if in sudden fright.

”Where you go?” she asked her mistress.

”I am going to the Indian village. You stay here--”

”No, no! I no stop here alone. I go 'long too.” She cast a glance over her shoulder.

”But, Chakawana, what is the matter? Are you afraid?”

”Yes.” Chakawana nodded her pretty head vigorously.

”What are you afraid of?” Boyd asked; but she merely stared at him with eyes as black and round as ox-heart cherries, then renewed her entreaty.

When she had received permission and had hurried back to the house, her mistress remarked, with a puzzled frown:

”I don't know what to make of her. She and Constantine have been acting very strangely of late. She used to be the happiest sort of creature, always laughing and singing, but she has changed entirely during the last few weeks. Both she and Constantine are forever whispering to each other and skulking about, until I am getting nervous myself.” Then as the Indian girl came flying back with her tiny baby brother in her arms, Cherry added: ”She's pretty, isn't she? I can't bear ugly people around me.”

At the native village, in spite of every effort she and Boyd could make, the Indians refused to go back to work. Many of them, so they learned, had already reported to the other canneries, evidently still doubtful of Emerson's a.s.surances, and afraid to run the risk of offending their old employers. Those who were left were lazy fellows who did not care to work under any circ.u.mstances; these merely listened, then shrugged their shoulders and walked away.

”Since they can't use your money at the store, they don't seem to care whether it is good or not,” Cherry announced, after a time.

”I'll give them enough provisions to last them all winter,” Boyd offered, irritated beyond measure at such stupidity. ”Tell them to move the whole blamed village down to my place, women and all. I'll take care of them.”

But after an hour of futile cajolery, he was forced to give up, realizing that Marsh had been at work again, frightening these simple people by threats of vengeance and starvation.

”You can't blame the poor things. They have learned to fear the hand of the companies, and to know that they are absolutely dependent upon the cannery stores during the winter. But it's maddening!” She stamped her foot angrily. ”And I was so proud of my work. I thought I had really done something to help at last. But I don't know what more we can do. I've reached the end of my rope.”

”So have I,” he confessed. ”Even with those fifty Aleuts, we weren't running at more than half capacity, but we were making a showing at least.

Now!” He flung up his hands in a gesture of despair. ”George is in trouble, as usual. Marsh's men have cut our nets, and the yacht may arrive at any time.”

”The yacht! What yacht?”

”Mr. Wayland's yacht. He is making a tour of this coast with the other officers of the Trust and--Mildred.”

”Is--is she coming here?” demanded Cherry, in a strained voice.

”Yes.”

”Why didn't you tell me?”

”I don't know, I didn't think you would be interested.”

”So she can't wait? She is so eager that she follows you from Chicago clear up into this wilderness. Then you won't need my a.s.sistance any more, will you?” Her lids drooped, half hiding her eyes, and her face hardened.

”Of course I shall need your help. Her coming won't make any difference.”

”It strikes me that you have allowed me to make a fool of myself long enough,” said Cherry, angrily. ”Here I have been breaking my heart over this enterprise, while you have known all the time that she was coming.

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