Part 4 (2/2)
But what is one man's meat is another man's poison, according to the homely adage, and in this case what made Frank so happy made--Damase miserable. The jealous, revengeful fellow saw in it only another proof of the foreman's favouritism, and was also pleased to regard the relegating of Laberge to the dish-was.h.i.+ng and so forth as the degradation of a compatriot, which it behoved him to resent, since Laberge seemed lacking in the spirit to do it himself. Had he imagined that he would meet with the support of the majority, he would have sought to organize a rebellion in the camp. But he knew well enough that such a thing was utterly out of the question, so he was forced to content himself with fresh determinations to ”get even” with the foreman and his favourite in some way before the winter pa.s.sed; and, as will be seen, he came perilously near attaining his object.
CHAPTER VII.
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
Frank was very happy now that the way had been so opportunely opened for him to take part in the whole round of lumbering operations. He awaited with impatience the coming of noon and the rush of hungry men to their hearty dinner, because it was the signal for his release from ch.o.r.e-boy work and promotion to the more honourable position of a.s.sistant-teamster.
The long afternoons out in the cold, crisp air, amid the thud of well-aimed axes, the crash of falling trees, the shouts of busy men, and all the other noisy incidents of the war they were waging against the innocent, defenceless forest, were precisely what his heart had craved so long, and he felt clearer than ever in his mind that lumbering was the life for him.
After he had been a week at his new employment, Con Murphy, the big teamster to whom he had been a.s.signed by the foreman, with the injunction to ”be easy on the lad, and give him plenty of time to get handy,” was heard to say in public,--
”Faith, an' he's a broth of a boy, I can tell you; and I wouldn't give him for half-a-dozen of those _parlez-vous_ Frenchies like the chap whose place he took--indade that I wouldn't.”
Which, coming to Damase's ears, added further fuel to the fire of jealousy and hate that was burning within this half-savage creature's breast. So fierce indeed were Damase's feelings that he could not keep them concealed, and more than one of the shantymen took occasion to drop a word of warning into Frank's ear about him.
”You'd better keep a sharp eye on that chap Damase, Frank,” they would say. ”He's an ugly customer, and he seems to have got it in for you.”
Frank, on his part, was by no means disposed to laugh at or neglect these kindly warnings. Indeed, he fully intended repeating them to Johnston at the first opportunity. But the days slipped by without a favourable chance presenting itself, and Damase's wild thirst for the revenge which he thought was merited came perilously near a dreadful satisfaction.
February had come, and supplies at the shanty were running low, so that Foreman Johnston deemed it necessary to pay a visit to the depot to see about having a fresh stock sent out. The first that Frank knew of his intention was the night before he started. He had gone into the foreman's little room as usual to read his Bible and pray, and having finished, was about to slip quietly out, Johnston having apparently been quite un.o.bservant of his presence, when he was asked,--
”How would you like to go over to the depot with me to-morrow?”
How would he like! Such a question to ask of a boy, when it meant a twenty-five miles' drive and a whole day's holiday after months of steady work at the camp!
”I should be delighted, sir,” replied Frank, as promptly as he could get the words out.
”Very well, then; you can come along with me. We'll start right after breakfast. Baptiste will have to look after himself for one day,” said the foreman. And with a fervent ”Thank you, sir,” Frank went off, his face wreathed with smiles and his heart throbbing with joy at the prospect before him.
So eager was he that it did not need Johnston's shout of ”Turn out, lads, turn out!” to waken him next morning, for he was wide awake already, and he tumbled into his clothes with quite unusual alacrity. So soon as breakfast was over, the foreman had one of the best horses in the stable harnessed to his ”jumper,” as the low, strong, comfortable wooden sleigh that is alone able to cope with the rough forest roads is called; abundance of thick warm buffalo-robes were provided; and then he and Frank tucked themselves in tightly, and they set out on their long drive to the depot.
The mercury stood at twenty degrees below zero when they started, but they did not mind that. Not a breath of wind stirred the clear cold air.
The sun soon rose into the blue vault above them, and shone down upon the vast expanse of snow about them with a vigour that made their eyes blink. The horse was a fine animal, and, having been off duty for a few days previous, was full of speed and spirit, and they glided over the well-beaten portion of the road at a das.h.i.+ng pace. But when they came to the part over which there had been little travel all winter long the going was too heavy for much speed, and often the horse could not do more than walk.
This seemed to Frank just the opportunity for which he had been waiting, to tell the foreman about Damase and his threats of revenge. At first Johnston was disposed to make light of the matter, but when Frank told him what he had himself observed, as well as what had been reported to him by the others, the foreman was sufficiently impressed to say,--
”The rascal wants some looking after, that's clear. He's a worthless fellow, anyway, and I'm mighty sorry I ever let him into my gang. I think the best thing will be to drop him as soon as I get back, or he may make some trouble for us. I'm glad you told me this, Frank. I won't forget it.”
At the depot they found Alec Stewart, just returned from a tour of inspection of the different camps, and full of hearty welcome. He was very glad to see Frank.
”Ah ha, my boy!” he cried, slapping him vigorously on the back, ”I needn't ask you how you are. Your looks answer for you. Why, you must weigh ten pounds more than when I last saw you. Well, what do you think of lumbering now, and how does Mr. Johnston treat you? They tell me,”
looking at the foreman with a sly smile, ”that he's a mighty stiff boss.
Is that the way you find him?”
Frank was ready enough to answer all his friend's questions, and to a.s.sure him that the foreman treated him like a kind father, and that he himself was fonder of lumbering than ever. Both he and Johnston had famous appet.i.tes for the bountiful dinner that was soon spread before them, and the resources of the depot permitting of a much more extensive bill of fare than was possible at the shanty, he felt in duty bound to apologize for the avidity with which he attacked the juicy roast of beef, the pearly potatoes, the toothsome pudding, and the other dainties that, after months of pork and beans, tasted like ambrosia.
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