Part 17 (2/2)
”You are clever, Carrie I think I dolike that I feel now and then as if there was another Jim Dearham who, so to speak, hadn't developed yet In a way, I'htful, but her eyes were soft ”Jake and I are satisfied with the Jiive the other his chance” She paused, and her voice had a curious note when she resu stop”Grit that would carry you anywhere andas you're not afraid you ainst rotten ice and sliding snow, but when I think about what I have and what I'd risk, oes”
”Sometimes you're rather nice, Jiht,” Carrie reave hiet like if you went to the Old Country and irl!”
She went off and Jim sat by the fire with his brows knit Perhaps he had talked too much and bored Carrie, but he suspected that she had led him on By and by he roused himself and went to chop so, as his hosts had expected He said his packers needed a rest and loafed about the ca Jake and Jio, and while they were at breakfast turned to Jiainst obstacles one did not expect
If you find you can't put your contract over, I'd like you to send me word”
”I don't see e should bother you,” Jim replied with so, you had a notion the Cartner people and I were playing a crooked gaood job, and I wouldn't like to see you beat”
”We iht were yours,” Jake observed
”That is so,” said Martin ”If I help, I'll ree In the ood anyhow”
He began to talk about so else and when he set off Jake and Jim ith him down the line After a time, he stopped them
”I must hit the trail and not keep you from your job,” he said ”I reckon you'll put it over, but if you want soave Jake a steady glance ”I like the way you have treated me; your sister is a queen”
Then he went on with his packers and Jake and Jim returned quietly to caot di and looked about
A belt of yellow sky glimmered above the distant snow, but the valley was dark and the pines rolled in blurred masses up the hill Thin mist crept out of the deep hollow and Carrie shi+vered when a cold wind shook the trees She was beginning to know the wilds, and now and then their austerity daunted her By and by a red twinkle in the distance drew her glance and she turned to Jim
”What is that?”
Jiun to think our luck was too good!”
”But what is the light?”
”A bush fire”
Jake indicated the drift of the s fire As a rule, the valleys of British Columbia that open to the west form channels for the Chinook wind from the Pacific, but now and then a dry, cold current flon them to the coast