Part 5 (1/2)
”It should be getting near supper-time,” said the elder McLeod, looking at the sun.
”Not far from it,” said Kenneth, flinging down his axe and wiping the perspiration from his brow, as he glanced in the same direction, ”what a comfort it is to have Flo to look after meals; it makes one feel--hallo!
who come here?--see, two men, rounding the cliff just above the house.”
The elder McLeod made no reply, but waited until the strangers were sufficiently near to be addressed; then, touching his cap, he said, ”Good evening,” heartily.
To this Reginald Redding replied, ”Good evening,” stiffly, while his man bestowed a gaze of unmistakable scorn all round.
A little surprised, but not much alarmed, by their manner, McLeod said that it was an unusual pleasure to meet with strangers in such an out-of-the-way place; that he and his sons, having finished their day's work, were about to return to their hut for supper, and that he would be more than delighted if they would take ”pot-luck” with them.
Redding, who was by nature of a kindly sociable disposition, felt rather put out by this reception, especially when the invitation was pressed on him with much cordiality by Kenneth, as well as by Ian. Even the scorn on Le Rue's lip began to melt away like the snow! But the fur-trader felt that the interests of his employers were at stake; besides, had he not said to others, had he not vowed to himself, that he would not give way an inch--no, not so much as a hair's-breadth--to these long-legged interlopers, who, now that he beheld them, were evidently fur-traders in disguise,--men who made use of a so-called saw-mill as a mere blind to divert attention from the real object they had in view.
”Sir,” said Redding, with quiet dignity, ”I am the Fur Company's agent in this district, in charge of the Cliff Fort.”
Had Redding been in charge of the Rock of Gibraltar, with its mighty armament of heavy guns, he could not have a.s.sumed an air of greater importance.
”I am glad to hear it,” replied McLeod, more and more perplexed by the youth's manner, ”because I have been anxious for some days to consult you as to the exact boundary line of your Company's reserve.”
”If you will accompany me to the creek,” replied Redding, pointing to the islet on which the McLeods had already marked off a portion of rock and planted a couple of stakes, ”I will enlighten you on that point.”
”Willingly,” answered McLeod, preparing to follow with his two sons.
”Hah!” thought Redding, as he drew near the spot and observed the stakes, ”not a doubt of it; inches indeed; they have encroached feet-- feet--if not _yards_ on our property.”
He gave no audible sound, however, to his thoughts, until the party had reached the islet, which was connected with the mainland by a plank, then he turned to McLeod with the air of a man who has resolved to wage war to the knife for his rights. Le Rue, seeing his master in this mood, drew himself up, compressed his lips, and darkened his frown.
”The line of demarcation,” said Redding slowly, but with much decision of tone and manner, ”runs _exactly_ down the centre of this stream and cuts _precisely_ across the centre of this rock. Now, sir,” he turned abruptly here to look his adversary full in the face. In doing so his vision, pa.s.sing over the shoulders of his enemy, encountered the bright face and astonished gaze of Flora McLeod, who had just come to let her father and brothers know that their evening meal awaited them.
Reginald Redding was struck dumb. Glancing round to see what had fascinated the gaze of the fur-trader, McLeod turned with a smile, and said:--
”My daughter Flora, Mister--ah!--I beg pardon--your name is, I think--”
”Redding,” murmured the fur-trader, with hesitation, for he had begun to doubt his own ident.i.ty.
”Just so. Flo has come to tell us, Mr Redding, that supper is ready, so, if you will condescend to accept of our rough and ready hospitality, we shall be delighted. But, before going, pray let us finish this matter. You were about to say--”
”Oh, nothing,--nothing worth mentioning,” said Redding hurriedly, endeavouring to recover himself; ”I merely--the fact is--that--a rock like this is so--so utterly insignificant that the idea of trespa.s.sing on it is quite absurd, quite out of--why, surely I _cannot_ be mistaken,” he added, lifting his cap, ”this must be the young lady whom I had the pleasure of meeting on the road hither, at a time when--”
”When your presence and aid were most opportune,” interrupted Flora, as she held out her hand with a gracious smile and a blush.
Why Flora blushed is best known to herself. The same may be said in regard to the fact that Reginald Redding felt rather awkward--though not naturally an awkward man--and looked rather sheepish as he took the hand timidly. It is also worthy of record that the touch of Flora's hand sent a galvanic stream up Redding's arm, which curled round his head, ran down his spine, and pa.s.sed out into the rock at the extremities of his ten toes!
”Indeed!” exclaimed McLeod senior, while a peculiar expression crossed his swarthy countenance as if a new idea had hit him; ”then, Mr Redding, I am your debtor; but come, let us to supper before it cools.
I suppose that no more need be said about the boundary line. I have not been guilty of trespa.s.sing, it seems, on your Company's reserves?”
”Not in the least,” answered the fur-trader promptly, with a glance at his man.
”Vraiment, non, cer'nly not!” exclaimed Le Rue emphatically, not a trace of scorn being now visible on his benign countenance.
Matters being thus amicably disposed of, the party adjourned to the hut, where they sat down to a substantial repast, the foundation of which was boiled bacon and tea; the superstructure, biscuits and b.u.t.ter.