Part 9 (1/2)
”Thank you,” replied McLeod, still stiffly, ”I am not quite dest.i.tute of fresh provisions, and happen to have a good supply of ammunition; besides, if I were starving I would not accept aid from one who has deceived me.”
”Deceived you!” exclaimed Redding, waxing indignant more at McLeod's tone and manner than his words, ”wherein have I deceived you?”
As he put the question his mind leaped to the line of demarcation between the properties at Jenkins Creek, and he racked his brains hastily to discover what he could have said or done at their first interview that could have been misunderstood. McLeod was one of those men in whom anger is easily increased by the exhibition of anger in others. It was therefore in a still more offensive tone that he said:--
”Sir, you deceived me by violating the laws of hospitality--by keeping silence when candour required you to speak.”
”Sir,” exclaimed Redding, still thinking of the line of demarcation, and losing his temper altogether, ”in all that has pa.s.sed between us I have invariably spoken with candour, and if at any time I have kept silence I consider that in so doing I have done you a favour.”
When two fiery men clash, an explosion is the natural result.
”Very well, sir,” said McLeod, with a look of withering contempt, ”as I don't accept your favours, I don't thank you for them, so you may take yourself off as soon as you please.”
He waited for no reply but turned abruptly on his heel and walked away, while Redding, with a face of scarlet, strode down the beach and leaped into his boat.
Not a word did he utter to his astonished men beyond ordering them to pull back to the fort. Apparently the rate of rowing was not fast enough to please him, for in a few minutes he ordered Michel to take the helm, and himself seized the oar, which he plied with such vigour that, as Michel afterwards averred, the rudder had to be kept nearly hard a-port all the time to prevent the boat being pulled round even though Le Rue was working like a steam engine and blowing like a grampus!
Towards the afternoon this exercise, coupled with reflection, cooled Reginald Redding's spirit while it warmed his body, and at last he deemed it right to pause for the purpose of letting the men have a pipe and a mouthful of food. While they were busy refres.h.i.+ng themselves he leant over the stern, gazed down into the water, and brooded over his supposed wrongs.
Whether it was the clearness of the still water, through which he could see the little fish and crabs floating and crawling placidly among the pebbles at the bottom, or the soothing influence of the quiet afternoon, or the sedative effect of a reflective condition of mind, we know not, but it is certain that, before the pipes were smoked out, he fur-trader observed that his reflected visage wore a very unpleasant-looking frown, insomuch that a slight smile curled his lips. The contrast between the frowning brows and the smiling lips appeared so absurd that, to prevent the impropriety of becoming too suddenly good-humoured, he turned his eyes towards his men, and encountered the perplexed gaze of Le Rue, as that worthy sat with his elbows on his knees in the calm enjoyment of his pipe.
Redding at once resumed his frown.
”Francois,” said he, ”did you have much conversation with McLeod before he dismissed you on the way down?”
”Oui, Monsieur, we had ver moche conversatione.”
”Can you remember what it was about?”
”Oh oui. 'Bout a'most all tings. I tell him de mos' part of my histoire,--me fadder, me moder, broder, sister, an' all dat, 'bout vich he seem not to care von b.u.t.tin. Den ve convarsatione 'bout de fur-trade, an' de--”
”Well well,” interrupted Redding, ”but what was the last thing, just before he sent you off?”
”Ah let me zee. Oui--it was 'bout you'self. I tell him 'bout de property--de Lock Doo vat you was--”
”Le Rue,” exclaimed Redding, suddenly and very angrily, ”you're a consummate a.s.s!”
”Vraiment,” said Le Rue, with a slight shrug of his shoulders, ”I am so for remaining in de service of von goose!”
There was such good-humoured impudence in the man's face as he said this that Redding laughed in spite of himself.
”Well,” he said, ”your readiness to talk has at all events caused bad feeling between me and the McLeods. However, it don't matter. s.h.i.+p your oars again and give way with a will.”
The men obeyed, and as Redding sat buried in meditation at the helm he became convinced that McLeod's anger had been aroused by his silence in regard to the purchase of Loch Dhu, for he himself had almost forgotten that the sudden entrance of the Indian had checked the words which were at the moment on his lips. When he thought of this, and of Flora, he resolved to pull back and explain matters, but when he thought of McLeod's tone and manner he determined to proceed to the fort. Then, when he thought of Roderick's precarious state, his mind again wavered, but, other thoughts and plans suggesting themselves, he finally decided on returning home.
That night he encamped in the woods and continued to brood over the camp-fire long after his men were asleep. Next day he reached the Cliff Fort, when, after seeing to the welfare of the wrecked men, he informed Bob Smart that he meant to absent himself for about a week, and to leave him, Bob, in charge. He also gave orders that no one should quit the post, or furnish any a.s.sistance to the McLeods.
”But, sir,” said Bob Smart, in surprise, ”they will be sure to starve.”