Part 29 (2/2)

I'll have company back to camp, was the Boy's first thought, and then--would there be any fun in that after all? It was plain Brother Paul was no such genial companion as Father Wills.

And so it was that he did not desert Nicholas, although Brother Paul's companions failed to put in an appearance on the following morning.

However, on the third day after the incident of the Shaman (who seemed to have vanished into thin air), Brother Paul shook the snow of Pymeut from his feet, and with three Indians from the Holy Cross school and a dog-team, he disappeared from the scene. Not till he had been gone some time did Nicholas venture to return to the parental roof.

They found Muckluck subdued but smiling, and the old man astonis.h.i.+ngly better. It looked almost as if he had turned the corner, and was getting well.

There was certainly something very like magic in such a recovery, but it was quickly apparent that this aspect of the case was not what occupied Nicholas, as he sat regarding his parent with a keen and speculative eye. He asked him some question, and they discussed the point volubly, Muckluck following the argument with close attention.

Presently it seemed that father and son were taking the guest into consideration. Muckluck also turned to him now and then, and by-and-by she said: ”I think he go.”

”Go where?”

”Holy Cross,” said the old man eagerly.

”Brother Paul,” Nicholas explained. ”He go _down_ river. We get Holy Cross--more quick.”

”I see. Before he can get back. But why do you want to go?”

”See Father Brachet.”

”Sister Winifred say: 'Always tell Father Brachet; then everything all right,'” contributed Muckluck.

”You tell Pymeut belly solly,” the old Chief said.

”Nicholas know he not able tell all like white man,” Muckluck continued. ”Nicholas say you good--hey? you good?”

”Well--a--pretty tollable, thank you.”

”You go with Nicholas; you make Father Brachet unnerstan'--forgive.

Tell Sister Winifred--” She stopped, perplexed, vaguely distrustful at the Boy's chuckling.

”You think we can explain it all away, hey?” He made a gesture of happy clearance. ”Shaman and everything, hey?”

”Me no can,” returned Nicholas, with engaging modesty. ”_You_--” He conveyed a limitless confidence.

”Well, I'll be jiggered if I don't try. How far is it?”

”Go slow--one sleep.”

”Well, we won't go slow. We've got to do penance. When shall we start?”

”Too late now. Tomalla,” said the Ol' Chief.

They got up very early--it seemed to the Boy like the middle of the night--stole out of the dark Kachime, and hurried over the hard crust that had formed on the last fall of snow, down the bleak, dim slope to the Ol' Chief's, where they were to breakfast.

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