Part 7 (1/2)
”Leave them alone! How many will the boys eat for breakfast?”
”To soet If they're up to their usual form, I reckon they'll eat the lot But what has that to do with it? I'll fix the trout”
”No,” said Carrie ”Givefish?”
”I expect I'll hate it, but I'le with a small blunt knife?”
Jim looked hard at her Her mouth was firm and he knehat her touch of color meant
”I undertook to help cook,” she resuood by just holding on! Noever, you and Jake can go away”
They went off, but presently Jih he approved Carrie's resolve to be useful, he felt annoyed
She had pretty white hands; he did not like her dressing trout Yet so o men short, he did not knohom he could spare It was not a job for Carrie, but she was obstinate There was no use in going back, because she could beat hiument, and he went to his bed of fir branches in a bark shack the men had built Carrie had a tent, with a double roof that would keep out rain and sun Jih the tent was expensive
He got up rather early, but when he went out a big fire burned between the parallel hearth logs Aro about the ca ss as he advanced She gave hi past him to the east Mist strea pines; in the distance, snow cut, softly blue, against the dazzling sky Carrie looked fresh and vigorous There was color in her face and her eyes were bright
”How long have you been about?” Ji ”I was often up at daybreak at home, and it was different there The street looked lorious in the bush”
”Sometimes! I have wakened half-frozen and felt most too scared to look about”
”Ah,” said Carrie, ”I was scared last night, but last night has gone and can't come back I'll own I don't like the dark”
Jiraceful; her tall figure and plain gray dress harht trunks and rocks Her head was slightly tilted back as she breathed the resin-scented air Jiely virile and alert
”You belong to the dawn,” he said
Carrie laughed, a laugh of frank amusement, untouched by coquetry
”Oh, Jim! You're not often roreed ”Anyhow,was quite sincere You _are_ like the dawn”
She turned her head for a moment and then said carelessly: ”Let's look if the bannocks I made are cooked”
Jie thick cakes from the hot stones beneath He broke off a piece froine this is the best bannock that was ever made in the bush,” he remarked
”Do you feel you must be nice?”
”No,” said Jim ”In a way, I don't care if I'rade; I think that's all that matters If you don't hed ”Looks as if one could s to eat! But let's see if the trout are fried; I've got the spider full”
She put the fish on a big tin plate and while shefro notes pierced the shadows and half-dressed ed down the slope to the river
”Some of them would be mad if they knew I'd roused them out ten minutes early,” Jiood to spoil Now if you'll let ”