Part 19 (1/2)
Pleading exhaustion, he had refused to tell his story in reply to eager questions Where had he found her? How? When? The thought of even sketching to these plain-round-work on which had been reared such a structure of poetry seee
No, he would keep silent
At the door, a loafing trapper, sreeted him by name The factor, even in this wilderness, uard to his dwelling No doubt the diplomatic and silent Tee-ka-mee was inside McTavish waited until the sentry had announced his presence, and had returned with the word for hi surroundings for the lord of a dos formed the walls, and the roof consisted of slabs and branches which, with the sifted and frozen snow, for In the corner away frohs, supported the factor
Donald was struck by the autocrat's appearance The old buffalo-head, with its shaggy white hair and beard, did not seem to have the poise of former times; the cheeks were hollow, and the whole body thinner But the eyes, burning as of old, looked fiercely out frorief over Jean's disappearance had eaten away the body, although the spirit burned like a fla, invincible
Tee-ka-reeted McTavish with his pleasant sh door The two men were face to face
For a little while, there was silence, as the older one pierced the younger with his glance
”I have so much to say to you, Captain McTavish, that I hardly knohere to begin,” he said finally, speaking in a cal, voice ”I see you here under most peculiar circumstances”
”Yes, sir, you do, and, because of their nature, I alad and sorry”
”I am only sorry,” ca heaven all night that you were deserted in the right spot to drag irl from the water, and save her life It was a brave act, McTavish, and I appreciate it”
”Thank you, sir I thought I was saving Charley Seguis until afterward”
”You would have been a fool not to throw him back in the water, if it had been he” The factor's tones dripped venom like a snake's mouth at the mention of the half-breed ”But will you kindly explain to me why you broke out of Fort Severn?
”Because I considered my i in the matter There was, also, a duty side to the question I could not reer, and feel that I was a man”
”And as this duty, pray?” The voice was sarcastic
”The finding of J--your daughter”
”What right have you to consider yourself so duty-bound in that direction that you overturn discipline, disregard -stock of ht of a lover, Mr Fitzpatrick To that right, I set no liht, young irl's father, the one who,to such a search? Did I leave the Company's business to take care of itself?”
”No, but it is well I did, or else you would never have seen Jean again I don't think, Mr Fitzpatrick, that there is anything gained arguing in this circle What else have you to say to ,” went on the factor painfully, shi+fting on his rough bed ”In fact, she got quite excited over your chivalrous treatether Of course I believe hter, and, when she tells me that you acted merely as friends, I take her word At the same tihtest reason why you should have forced yourself into the same cabin with her”
Donald briefly explained the situation, outlining the treachery of Maria and her Indian son, Tom, who should, by this time, be safe in Fort Severn
”If I had not done as I did, I should have frozen to death,” he concluded
”Better you should,” cried the factor passionately, ”than that irl should be ruined for life before the whole world”
”Hoill she be ruined?” de man, crisply ”No one knows the story except Braithwaite and his two h”
”It is impossible!” said the other ”You know yourself that Napoleon Sky's tongue is swiveled tays, and is the only successful perpetual-motion machine ever invented If we bribed theularly for blackmail, and even that would fail; the neould leak out somewhere I know these wild places; I knohat rumor can do Perhaps, the hispers it; perhaps, the birds carry it, or the streaht Whatever is done, I know this: that rumor will leap across a practically uninhabited country like wild-fire, and, by the ti, I could not hold ues in cheek What I want to know, Captain McTavish, is, what can you do about it?”
”Is the Reverend Mr Gates in the camp?”
”Yes”