Part 49 (1/2)

”Whichever way you went you must have crossed the range,” she said.

”That box was heavy. How did you carry it?”

”On my back,” said Ingleby. ”That is the usual way. We had sold all the horses off to the freighter for a few dollars quite a while ago. Of course, as I hadn't asked your permission, it was a liberty.”

Grace made a little gesture. ”What did you go down to the settlement for?”

”Provisions.”

”But n.o.body could carry many of them over the mountains.”

”I think I managed forty pounds,” said Ingleby incautiously. ”Most of the boys had considerably more.”

The clear rose colour crept into Grace's cheeks, and she did not trouble to prevent his seeing it. She knew what the simple admission meant, and that it must have cost him toil incredible to make that journey with a double burden. It was for her he had borne it.

”And the box?” she asked.

Ingleby's embarra.s.sment was evident, and she turned to the major with a curious little laugh and a faint ring in her voice.

”Do you understand what Mr. Ingleby has done?” she said. ”He has carried that box besides his own load up from the settlement--over the mountains--so that we should not suffer for anything.”

Coulthurst also appeared embarra.s.sed. In fact, his face was distinctly red. ”I'm very much obliged to him,” he said. ”It's devilishly unfortunate you got drawn into that outpost business, Ingleby. Excuse me, Grace, it is--unfortunate. Can't you see how you have placed me? As a man who has served his nation, even though he has been kicked for it, I can't very well----”

He stopped a moment, still a trifle flushed, and then broke into a little laugh. ”Well,” he said, ”you're too strong for me--I'll capitulate. You know the ground I ought to take as well as I do; but it's more than could reasonably be expected of any man, under the circ.u.mstances. Still, that storekeeper fellow might have put in something a little more exhilarating than tea.”

Ingleby opened the flour-bag with something as nearly approaching a grin on his gaunt face as was compatible with the deferential att.i.tude he had a.s.sumed.

”I feel a little diffident about the next proceeding, sir,” he said. ”In fact, it is a piece of almost intolerable presumption on the part of a man setting const.i.tuted authority at defiance, as I'm afraid I am.

Still, you see, people must eat and drink, in any case.”

He took two carefully wrapped bottles out of the bag, and the major's eyes twinkled, while as he spread out the rest of its contents Grace felt her heart grow very soft towards him. He had, it seemed, thought of everything that could minister to her comfort. Then she saw that he had guessed what she was thinking, and his honesty became apparent.

”The storekeeper had his wife there,” he said. ”I had a little talk with her.”

”It is to be hoped she didn't drink whisky of that kind,” said the major, with a chuckle. ”You couldn't get anything better in a Montreal club.”

Ingleby laughed. ”I fancy some of my comrades have belonged to a.s.sociations of the kind, and a good many of them have cultivated tastes,” he said. ”As a matter of fact, they can afford them.”

”Will you be good enough to tell me how much those things cost?” asked the major.

”If you insist. In fact, there's an invoice here. Still, after the little kindnesses you have shown me I would much sooner not let you see it.”

Coulthurst looked at him sharply, and then, reaching out, laid his hand upon the grocery bill. After that he rose and went into the adjoining room, and when he came back he handed Ingleby a cheque on a Vancouver bank. Grace watched the miner curiously as he did so.

”Now you have relieved your feelings, sir, I can make what use I like of what is my own,” he said.

He crossed the room and flung the paper into the fire, then turned with a little smile to the major. It was a bold step, and the boldness of it appealed to the girl. She understood it as an a.s.sertion of equality, something he owed to himself, and withal it was done with deference and not aggressively. For a moment Coulthurst gazed at him in astonishment.

Then he laughed, and made a little sign of comprehension.