Part 47 (1/2)
”No, no! I'oin', too-o-o-o--”
”Hey! John Gale!” called Poleon ”Coosh!+ You better horry, too! I can't hol' dis feller long”
When they appeared on the bank above him, he continued, ”Look 'ere w'at I fin' onform of Johnny Gale
”He's stow hisse'f away onder dem blanket Sacre! He's bad feller, dis ”
”I want to go 'long!” yelled the incorrigible stoay He had brought his gun with hi forth froo 'long!” shrieked the little man ”I like you best of all!” At which Doret took hiuess you don' t'ink 'bout deht, eh?”
But this only awoke a keener distress in the junior Gale
”Oh, , and I'll keep dem off Two men is better dan one--please, Poleon!”
It took the efforts of Necia and the trader combined to tear the lad from the Frenchman, and even then the foul deed was accomplished only at the cost of such wild acclai sorrow that little Molly ca from the house, her round face stained and tearful, her one to the laled hi hiue lolled out and his three legs protruded stiffly, pawing an aimless pantomime When Johnny found that no hope remained, he quelled his deentleman of the woods, bore a final present to his friend He took the little air-gun and gave it into Poleon's hands against that black night when the bears would coreater sacrifice Doret picked hiain, then set hiently, at which Molly scraave hied puppy, for a gun and a dog should ever go together; then, being of the woood-bye on its cold, wet nose
”Wat's dis?” said Poleon, and his voice quavered, for these childish fingers tore at his heart-strings terribly
”He's a very brave doggie,” said the little girl ”He will scare de bears away!” And then she beca cost her
Doret caressed her as he had her brother, then placed the puppy carefully upon the blankets in the canoe, where it wagged a grateful and ahest proof of Molly's affection for her Poleon that she kept her tear-di as it was visible
The tiood-bye--that aard moment when huripped the Frenchrateful, but he did not know
”Good-luck and better hunting!” he said ”A heavy purse and a light heart for you always, Poleon I have learned to love you”
”I want you to be good husban', M'sieu' Dat's de bes' t'ing I can wish for you”
Gale spoke to hiet, my son”
They did not look into each other's eyes; there was no need The oldboth his children by the hand, walked slowly towards the house