Part 35 (2/2)
”Then who pulled Jim out?”
”I did,” said Carrie, with a touch of embarrassment
Bernard pondered Lance had not told him about this and it was possible he had an object for not doing so
”Well,” he said, ”I expect Jim has had other accidents; as you reet hurt when you ith him in the woods?”
”He took soet hurtabout your going to his rescue one night with a gun”
Carrie blushed and Bernard fixed his eyes on her face as he went on: ”Did you un?”
She lifted her head, her ot steady
”Yes If I'd thought the other fellow could reach Jim with his ax, I would have shot him!”
Bernard nodded ”Sometimes the primitive plan is the only plan One can see that you have pluck enough to meet a crisis But I have kept you and have soot up and when she ith hiave her his hand
”May I come back another day?”
”Of course, but unless he knows you're co, Jim will be occupied at the marsh”
”I won't mind if Jim is occupied”
”Then co ”I think you ot to work and under his superintendence a gang of men piled barrowsful of peat soil on the wreck of the dabbin
By noon a bank had advanced across the piles of broken clay and a cut that was to an to open Once or twice Jake iorse, as if watching the work, but he was not certain and said nothing
Jio home for lunch and when the men stopped at noon found a sheltered hollow and opened a basket of food Jiht, but a cold wind flecked the advancing tide with foam and swept the empty flats Dry reeds rustled in the creek and a flock of circling plover gleaainst a cloud that trailed its shadow across the marsh For all that, the sun arm in the corner where they ate their lunch
”Did Shanks send you notice that he had gone to the cottage?” Jake asked presently
”He told the teah”
”Wouldn't own up that he'd given in!” Jake reh I wonder whether he felt curious if you were hurt”
”I reckon he knew,” said Ji there was somebody about----”
He stopped abruptly, and Jake heard a step They were quiet for a few moments, and then To at them Jim's face was cut and rather white, but the stains on his clothes indicated that he had been working aht he looked surprised, as if he had not expected to see Jim there
”Do you want a job?” the latter asked
”I want nowt fra you You can give your job to them as will ca' you maister,” Shanks rejoined and went off