Part 2 (1/2)
She made him sit on the snohile she set about her preparations, for he seeoods were taken froe and piled in a heap at the foot of the forked trees The other sledge was brought alongside and unloaded also, then Katherine dragged the hand sledge on to the top of the packages, with the runners sticking upwards, so that a curious wolf ht think it was a trap of a fresh shape, and avoid it accordingly All this took tiot her father packed into the sledge in readiness for a start it was al down thicker than ever The brown-and-white dog was howling disain, while the black one which had a cropped ear see to guide the dogs now, and, falling into the rear, Katherine shouted to theo forward, and left it to their instinct to find the way ho to them the whole of the way If from very weariness her voice sank to silence, they dropped into a sloalk; but when it rang out again in a cheery shout, they plunged forward at a great pace, which wasBut at last, after what seemed an inter over Roaring Water Portage; the dogs heard it too, and the need for shouting ceased, for they knew they were almost at the end of the journey
CHAPTER III
Outwitting the Enehbours at Seal Cove, 'Duke Radford counted one very pronounced ene boats, and keeper of the only whisky saloon within twenty or thirty e The cause of the enood e Oily Dave had been supplying the red man with liquor, and this in defiance of the lahich forbade such sales; 'Duke Radford reported him, and Oily Dave was mulcted in a fine so heavy that it consuood itimate profits also Since then Oily Dave had hated the storekeeper with a zest and energy which bade fair to beco passion of his life; but except for a few reeables, that could hardly be said to count, his ill will had thus far not gone beyond sneer and invective
Katherine was always afraid of hiht do to her father if he had the chance; for his nature was sht not risk a reprisal which would bring him within the reach of the law, he would not hesitate at any sht injure his victi of her father's trouble, she had been more afraid of Oily Dave than ever, for there was a sinister look about the s, with theirclose behind, dashed up to the door of the store that evening, Oily Dave was the first person to step forward to lend a helping hand in getting 'Duke Radford housed and his hurts exa about the store that evening, and they all helped; so Katherine, when she had kicked off her snowshoes, was able to dart indoors to warn Mrs Burton about what had happened
”He ought to be put to bed at once, Nellie Night school ht, and if he has to keep his bed to-morrohy, I must teach in here, or even in the store,” she said hurriedly, deciding everything on the spot as was her wont, because Mrs Burton always found it so difficult to make up her mind on any subject
”Do you think that would be best, or shall we give hihtfully inconvenient, and I should be so worried to be obliged to put the children to bed in that other rooht, so far away frohed Mrs Burton, who stood still in theher hands in nervous distress, while Katherine dragged off her encu them in a heap on the floor
”Co away and leaving Mrs Burton's plaintive questions unanswered
The elder sister at once did as the younger requested, sighing a little as she went, yet relieved all the same because the matter had been settled for her By this tiht 'Duke Radford into the store, and, sitting hi off his outer wraps Sos, while Phil carried out their supper Miles, h these neighbours were so kind and helpful, some of them were not to be trusted farther than they could be seen, and would have helped the else which took their fancy if the opportunity had been given the so
Whilst two of the ot him safely into bed, another man approached Miles and asked for a particular kind of tobacco The boy sought for it in the place where it was usually kept, but, failing to find it, turned to Katherine, who stood in io to her father when the men had done with him
”Katherine where is the Black Crow tobacco kept now? It always used to be on the shelf below the tea packets”
”We are out of it,” she replied ”But we shall have plenty to-; but they are safe enough, for I turned the little sledge upside down on the top of theet at them to tear the packets to pieces”
”You won't be able to get them either, for with all this snow you will never be able to find thereat smoker who cared for only one sort of tobacco
”Oh! make yourFather's broken snowshoe in a branch of the tree, to o over quite early to-oods home”
Directly she had spoken she repented her words; for she saithout appearing to see, a look full ofwhich passed between Oily Dave and the custoht stand for nothing, but she had seen it and was angry with herself for the indiscretion which had made her utter words which had better not have been spoken The men cao in
'Duke Radford was considerably battered He had a broken collar bone; one shoulder was bruised so badly that it looked as if it had been beaten with a hammer; and one side of his face had a deep flesh wound Mrs Burton was a capital nurse: she and Katherine between them soon had the sufferer as comfortable as it was possible tohot broth, after which Mrs Burton remembered that Katherine had had no supper, and hustled her off to the other rooh the store that Oily Dave had gone, also the man who had wanted to buy the Black Crow tobacco
”Miles, can you leave Phil to look after things, and come with me for five minutes?” she said, with a thrill of anxiety in her tone She was faint and spent with hunger and fatigue, the prospect before her seemed too dreadful to be faced, yet deep down in her heart was the stern determination not to be outwitted if she could help it But she , which h to bear the weight of her body; so sitting down at the table she prepared to get a good square meal as the first step towards the successful accomplishment of as to co, because he had been attending to a customer ”What is the matter; is Father very bad?” he asked, with a quaver of fear in his tone Accidents, or sickness of any kind, always seemed so much worse in winter, and then death and disaster had already worked havoc in the fah, but I dare say he will do very ith care, and Nellie is a fa after sick folks,” Katherine answered, as cheerfully as she could, quick to understand as in the enuinely sorry for hione and done a fearfully stupid thing to-night, and I want to know if you feel brave enough to helpmuddle?”
Miles bristled up in an offended fashi+on ”I suppose I've got as much pluck as most people; anyhow I'm not quite a coward”
”Of course you are not, or I should not have dreaht,” Katherine said, with a nervous laugh; then in a jerky tone she went on: ”I want you to get the store shut up as soon as possible, then, directly the people have cleared off, we have got to go and bring those stores hoht, and in a snowstorlowed and his nostrils dilated, as if the very thought of such an expedition sent thrills of delight all through hi so badly now, and luckily the ht it will not be ofI fancy we shall find that most of the stores have disappeared, especially the Black Crow tobacco,” Katherine replied, then told him of the look she had seen pass between the man anted the tobacco and Oily Dave, after she had been so foolishly frank in explaining where the stores were to be found
”I'll go and shut up sharp, then we'll start as soon as possible,” Miles said, with a ju appealed to hiuess e are going to do!” cried Katherine, who felt that enough indiscretion had been co time to come
”Trustas a fiddle, and yawnup Oh, it will be rich to out-wit that precious pair! I had been wondering why Stee Jenkin should go off so quiet and early with Oily Dave, but I should never have guessed at the reason I shall be through with the shutting-up in about twentyto wait for”