Part 62 (1/2)

”Well, it'll be warmin', anyway,” returned the Colonel, ”and I can't say as much for your fire.”

It was luck that the first forty miles of the trail had already been traversed by the Boy. He kept recognising this and that in the landscape, with an effect of good cheer on both of them. It postponed a little the realization of their daring in launching themselves upon the Arctic waste, without a guide or even a map that was of the smallest use.

Half an hour after setting off, they struck into the portage. Even with a snow-blurred trail, the Boy's vivid remembrance of the other journey gave them the sustaining sense that they were going right. The Colonel was working off the surprising stiffness with which he had wakened, and they were both warm now; but the Colonel's footsoreness was considerable, an affliction, besides, bound to be worse before it was better.

The Boy spoke with the old-timer's superiority, of his own experience, and was so puffed up, at the bare thought of having hardened his feet, that he concealed without a qualm the fact of a brand-new blister on his heel. A mere nothing that, not worth mentioning to anyone who remembered the state he was in at the end of that awful journey of penitence.

It was well on in the afternoon before it began to snow again, and they had reached the frozen lake. The days were lengthening, and they still had good light by which to find the well-beaten trail on the other side.

”Now in a minute we'll hear the mission dogs. What did I tell you?” Out of the little wood, a couple of teams were coming, at a good round pace. They were pulled up at the waterhole, and the mission natives ran on to meet the new arrivals. They recognised the Boy, and insisted on making the Colonel, who was walking very lame, ride to the mission in the strongest sled, and they took turns helping the dogs by pus.h.i.+ng from behind. The snow was falling heavily again, and one of the Indians, Henry, looking up with squinted eyes, said, ”There'll be nothing left of that walrus-tusk.”

”Hey?” inquired the Boy, straining at his sled-rope and bending before the blast. ”What's that?”

”Don't you know what makes snow?” said Henry.

”No. What does?”

”Ivory whittlings. When they get to their carving up yonder then we have snow.”

What was happening to the Colonel?

The mere physical comfort of riding, instead of serving as packhorse, great as it was, not even that could so instantly spirit away the weariness, and light up the curious, solemn radiance that shone on the Colonel's face. It struck the Boy that good old Kentucky would look like that when he met his dearest at the Gate of Heaven--if there was such a place.

The Colonel was aware of the sidelong wonder of his comrade's glance, for the sleds, abreast, had come to a momentary halt. But still he stared in front of him, just as a sailor in a storm dares not look away from the beacon-light an instant, knowing all the waste about him abounds in rocks and eddies and in death, and all the world of hope and safe returning is narrowed to that little point of light.

After the moment's speculation the Boy turned his eyes to follow the Colonel's gaze into s.p.a.ce.

”The Cross! the Cross!” said the man on the sled. ”Don't you see it?”

”Oh, that? Yes.”

At the Boy's tone the Colonel, for the first time, turned his eyes away from the Great White Symbol.

”Don't know what you're made of, if, seeing that... you needn't be a Church member, but only a man, I should think, to--to--” He blew out his breath in impotent clouds, and then went on. ”We Americans think a good deal o' the Stars and Stripes, but that up yonder--that's the mightier symbol.”

”Huh!” says the Boy. ”Stars and Stripes tell of an ideal of united states. That up there tells of an ideal of United Mankind. It's the great Brotherhood Mark. There isn't any other standard that men would follow just to build a hospice in a place like this.”

At an upper window, in a building on the far side of the white symbol, the travellers caught a glimpse, through the slanting snow, of one of the Sisters of St. Ann shutting in the bright light with thick curtains.

_”Gla.s.s!”_ e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the Colonel.

One of the Indians had run on to announce them, and as they drew up at the door--that the Boy remembered as a frame for Brother Paul, with his lamp, to search out iniquity, and his face of denunciation--out came Father Brachet, brisk, almost running, his two hands outstretched, his face a network of welcoming wrinkles. No long waiting, this time, in the reception-room. Straight upstairs to hot baths and mild, reviving drinks, and then, refreshed and already rested, down to supper.

With a shade of anxiety the Boy looked about for Brother Paul. But Father Wills was here anyhow, and the Boy greeted him, joyfully, as a tried friend and a man to be depended on. There was Brother Etienne, and there were two strange faces.

Father Brachet put the Colonel on his right and the Boy on his left, introducing: ”Fazzer Richmond, my predecessor as ze head of all ze Alaskan missions,” calmly eliminating Greek, Episcopalian, and other heretic establishments. ”Fazzer Richmond you must have heard much of.

He is ze great ausority up here. He is now ze Travelling Priest. You can ask him all. He knows everysing.”

In no wise abashed by this flourish, Father Richmond shook hands with the Big Chimney men, smiling, and with a pleasant ease that communicated itself to the entire company.

It was instantly manifest that the scene of this Jesuit's labours had not been chiefly, or long, beyond the borders of civilization. In the plain bare room where, for all its hospitality and good cheer, reigned an air of rude simplicity and austerity of life--into this somewhat rarefied atmosphere Father Richmond brought a whiff from another world.