Part 7 (1/2)
He turned a little red, conscious that in some way she must have discovered signs of his recent adventure on the road.
”Oh! no, it was not heavy at all, ma'am,” he replied, and then noting that her eyes were fastened on his cheek he put up his hand, in this way discovering for the first time, a little soreness there.
When he withdrew his fingers he saw a spot of blood.
”How did that happen then, Darry?” she asked, suspiciously.
”I think he must have hit me there, but I didn't know it until now,” he replied, relieved to feel that he could tell her the whole truth.
”Someone struck you--have you been fighting then?” she asked, a little coldly; for woman-like, Mrs. Peake did not approve of strenuous encounters.
”He said that I would have to leave you, and get out. I couldn't do anything else but defend myself when he came at me. I'm sorry, for I never tried to get in a fight in my life, and I never ran away from one either.”
”Who was it, Darry?” she asked again, looking uneasy.
”Jim Dilks,” he answered promptly, unconsciously squaring his shoulders.
”Oh! that terrible boy again! What a shame he can't pick out some one of his own size to beat! Did he hurt you very much, my poor boy?”
Then she was surprised to see Darry smile broadly.
”I didn't know he had even struck me until just now. You see Captain Harley allowed me to box with the sailors, and I learned how to defend myself. Jim says he is going to get even with me later on,” he said modestly.
”Do you mean to tell me you whipped that big loafer, that good-for-nothing bully who has run the place for years?” exclaimed the woman, in astonishment.
”I wouldn't just say that, ma'am, and Jim wouldn't admit it either; but I did knock him down twice, and the second time he said he wouldn't fight any more because, you see, his right hand was sprained. So he went off and left me alone.”
”Splendid! He deserved a lesson, the brute! Many's the time he has jeered at me when he pa.s.sed; and everyone has been afraid to put a hand on him because his father is a bad man. And you did that? Well, the boys of Ashley ought to vote you thanks. And you fought because he wanted you to leave _this_ house? You thought it was a home worth fighting for?
Then it shall be yours as long as you want to stay here, Darry.”
Before he suspected how greatly her feelings had been aroused, Mrs.
Peake threw her arms about his neck and gave him a resounding kiss--perhaps in her heart she was in this way demonstrating her undying affection for the boy who had vanished from that home one year ago, and never came back.
After that Darry worked with a light heart, such as he had never before known in all his life.
During the afternoon Abner's wife took pains to open a box that contained all the treasured possessions of the young trapper and naturalist whose greatest delight had been to spend his time in the swamps watching the animals at their play; and in the proper season setting his traps to secure the pelts of muskrats, 'c.o.o.ns and skunks, which, properly cured, would bring high prices at such centres where furs are collected, and secure many little luxuries for his mother during the winter season.
Darry handled these with a bit of reverence, for he knew what a wrench it must be to the devoted heart of the mother to see a stranger touching the things she had h.o.a.rded up as treasures, and over which she must have had many a secret cry.
Together with the traps and other things there was an old shotgun still in good condition, and Darry had visions of coming days in the marsh and swamp, where fat ducks and squirrels might fall to his aim, and provide good dinners for this little family into whose humble home he had now been fully taken.
His heart was filled with grat.i.tude, for he knew that his lines had fallen in pleasant places, since he was no longer a waif in the world.
CHAPTER VII
THE MIDNIGHT ALARM
Darry found himself greatly interested in the little diary left behind by the boy naturalist, and which, besides containing an account of his catches in the way of fur-bearing animals, also explained his methods of setting snares and traps, how he cured the skins when taken, and where he received the highest prices for the same.