Part 33 (1/2)

Followed an uncanny stillness, which was broken only by the horrid sounds of the wounded and dying Then, down the little declivity broke fiftywildly, and a minute later the Hudson Bay Company took possession of its own They found McTavish and Buxton pale and open- their arrival with blank faces Behind theuis sat dazedly, one leg pierced, and an arm helpless because of Timmins's bullet in his shoulder One or two others rested on their elbows, half-conscious

The newcomers spoke to McTavish, but he did not see that had started down the incline

He saw a tea a polished cariole of wonderful workmanshi+p It was piled with furs, and from the curled enamel lip two little staffs arose, and on the the furs sat ablue eyes

”Father!” cried Donald, and fell forward unconscious across the bullet-splintered logs

CHAPTER XXVI

RENUNCIATION

”I'nized when he came to himself in the little shed-tent that quick hands had erected

”I'lad you came,” was the simple reply ”They'd have done for us in another half- to capture that fort”

”Dr Craven says you mustn't talk for a bit, but you can listen while I tell you Last night, Peter Rainy and I came upon the Fort Severn men in possession of the French traders' supply trains”

”Peter Rainy! Good old Peter! Is he back, too?”

”Yes, but you mustn't talk Obey orders”

Donald snized the familiar, brusque speech, and closed his eyes

”Yes, sir”

”All right Thisaway frouis, and figured that his men must have come down to try to rescue the trains, but that, when they saw the number in the party, they decided to return to their caht in the last ditch Naturally, when they found you in possession--and I must tell you that was a clever piece of work for a boy--they started in to drive you out It was their only chance”

Donald sain If he were fifty years old, he would always be a ”boy” to his father

”By that stubborn defense of yours, you have wiped the Free-Traders'

Brotherhood out of existence, as well as saved a lot of exceptionally fine furs (so I'm told) for the Coainst that toughness I'm awfully sorry so many men lost their lives, and, of course, we'll look out for their families, if they have any

”Now, about the ed into this delicate subject with his son fearlessly, but with a deep breath, like a ot to be pretty et out of it with a whole skin What I'd like to know is, how they saddle this half-breed on me”

”If you don't knoho does?” The eyes of the son were steady in their wordless accusation ”It's this way, father: If you never h to prove”

”I didn't htn't to be any trouble”

”Oh, yes, there ought, my boy I didn't say she never had a place inof the elder aze, and understood