CHAPTER III
AN ESTRAY FROM CIVILIZATION
They paused by the cabin door, left open by Angelique, and listenedintently. She, too, had caught the alien sound, the faint, appealinghalloo of a human voice--the rarest of all cries in that wilderness.Even the eagle's screeches could not drown it, but she had had enoughof anxieties for one day. Let other people look out for themselves;her precious ones should not stir afield again, no, not for anything.Let the evil bird devour the dead chickens, if he must, her place wasin the cabin, and she rushed back down the slope, fairly forcing theothers inward from the threshold where they hesitated.
"'Tis a loon. You should know that, I think, and that they're alwayscryin' fit to scare the dead. Come. The supper's waited this longtime."
With a smile that disarmed offense Margot caught the woman's shoulderand lightly swung her aside out of the way.
"Eat then, hungry one! I, too, am hungry, but---- Hark!"
The cry came again, prolonged, entreating, not to be confounded withthat of any forest wilding.
"It's from the north end of our own island!"
The master's ear was not less keen than the girl's, and both had theacuteness of an Indian's, but his judgment was better.
"From the mainland, across the narrows."
Neither delayed, as a mutual impulse sent them toward the shore, butagain Angelique interposed.
"Thoughtless child, have you no sense? With the master just out of afaint that was nigh death itself! With nothin' in his poor stomachsince the mornin' and your own as empty. Wait. Eat. Then chase loons,if you will."
Mr. Dutton laughed, though he also frowned and cast a swift, anxiousglance toward Margot. But she was intent upon nothing save answeringthat far-off cry.
"Which canoe, uncle?"
"Mine."
The devoted servant made a last protest, and caught the girl's arm asit pushed the light craft downward into the water.
"My child, he is not fit. Believe me. Best leave others to their fatethan he should over-tax himself again, so soon."
Margot was astonished. In all her life she had never before associatedthought of physical weakness with her stalwart guardian, and a sharpfear of some unknown trouble shot through her heart.
"What do you mean?"
The master had reached them and now laid his own hand upon Angelique'sdetaining one.
"There, woman, that's enough. The storm has shaken your nerves. Ifyou're afraid to stay alone, Margot shall stop with you. But let'shave no more nonsense."
Mother Ricord stepped back, away. She had done her best. Let come whatmight, her conscience was clear.
A few seconds later the canoe pushed off over the now darkening waterand its inmates made all speed toward that point from which the cryhad been heard, but was heard no more. However, the steersman followeda perfectly direct course and, if he were still weak from his seizure,his movement showed no signs of it, so that Margot's fear for him waslost in the interest of their present adventure. She rhymed her ownstroke to her uncle's and when he rested her paddle instantly stopped.
"Halloo! Hal-l-oo!" he shouted, but as no answer came, said:"Now--both together!"
The girl's shriller treble may have had further carrying power thanthe man's voice, for there was promptly returned to them an echoinghalloo, coming apparently from a great distance. But it was repeatedat close intervals and each time with more distinctness.
"We'll beach the boat just yonder, under that tamarack. Whoever it ishas heard and is coming back."
Margot's impatience broke bounds and she darted forward among thetrees, shouting: "This way! this way! here we are--here!" Her peculiarlife and training had made her absolutely fearless, and she would havebeen surprised by her guardian's command to "Wait!" had she heard it,which she did not. Also, she knew the forest as other girls know theircity streets, and the dimness was no hindrance to her nimble feet. Ina brief time she caught the crashing of boughs as some person, lessfamiliar than she, blundered through the underbrush and finally cameinto view where a break in the timber gave a faint light.
"Here! Here! This way!"
He staggered and held out his hands, as if for aid, and Margot claspedthem firmly. They were cold and tremulous. They were, also, slenderand smooth, not at all like the hands of any men whom she was used toseeing. At the relief of her touch, his strength left him, but shecaught his murmured:
"Thank God. I--had--given up----"
His voice, too, was different from any she knew, save her own uncle's.This was somebody, then, from that outside world of which she dreamedso much and knew so little. It was like a fairy tale come true.
"Are you ill? There. Lean on me. Don't fear. Oh! I'm strong, verystrong, and uncle is just yonder, coming this way. Uncle--uncle!"
The stranger was almost past speech. Mr. Dutton recognized that atonce and added his support to Margot's. Between them they half-led,half-carried the wanderer to the canoe and lifted him into it, wherehe sank exhausted. Then they dipped their paddles and the boat shothomeward, racing with death. Angelique was still on the beach andstill complaining of their foolhardiness, but one word from her mastersilenced that. "Lend a hand, woman! Here's something real to worryabout. Margot, go ahead and get the lights."
As the girl sprang from it, the housekeeper pulled the boat to a spotabove the water and, stooping, lifted a generous share of the burdenit contained.
It had not been a loon, then. No. Well, she had known that from thebeginnin', just as she had known that her beloved master was in no fitcondition to go man-huntin'. This one he had found was, probably, deadanyway. Of course. Somebody had to die--beyond chickens and such--hadnot the broken glass so said?
Even in the twilight Mr. Dutton could detect the grim satisfaction ofher face and smiled, foreseeing her change of expression when thisseemingly lifeless guest should revive.
They laid him on the lounge that had been spread with blankets forMargot, and she was already beside it, waiting to administer the herbtea which had, also, been prepared for herself, and which she hadmarveled to find so opportunely brewed.
Mr. Dutton smiled again. In her simplicity the girl did not dream thatthe now bitter decoction was not a common restorative outside theirprimitive life, and in all good faith forced a spoonful of it betweenthe closed lips.
"After all, it doesn't matter. The poor fellow is doubtless used toricher cordials, but it's hot and strong and will do the work. You,Angelique, make us a pot of your best coffee, and swing round thatdinner-pot. The man is almost starved, and I'm on the road to followhim. How about you, Margot?"
"Poh! I guess I'm hungry--I will be--see! He's swallowing it. Fast.Give me that bigger spoon! Quick!"
"What would you? Scald the creature's throat? So he isn't dead, afterall. Well, he needn't have made a body think so, he needn't. There,Margot! You've messed him with the black stuff!"
Indignantly brushing her child aside the woman seized the cup anddeftly administered its entire contents. The stranger had not yetopened his eyes, but accepted the warm liquid mechanically, and hisnurse hurried to fill a bowl with the broth of the stew in the kettle.This, in turn, was taken from her by Margot, who jealously exclaimed:
"He's mine. I heard him first, I found him first, let me be the firsthe sees. Dish up the supper, please, and set my uncle's place."
So when, a moment later, having been nearly choked by the moresubstantial food forced into his mouth, the guest opened his eyes,they beheld the eager face of a brown skinned, fair haired girl veryclose to his and heard her joyous cry:
"He sees me! he sees everything! He's getting well already!"
He had never seen anybody like her. Her hair was as abundant as amantle and rippled over her shoulders like spun silver. So it lookedin the lamplight. In fact, it had never been bound nor covered, andwhat in a different social condition might have been much darker, hadin this outdoor life become bleached almost white. The weather whichhad whitened the hair had tanned the skin to bronze, making the bluee
yes more vivid by contrast and the red lips redder. These weresmiling now, over well kept teeth, and there was about the wholebearing of the maid something suggestive of the woodland in which shehad been reared.
Purity, honesty, freedom, all spoke in every motion and tone, and tothis observer, at least, seemed better than any beauty. Presently, hewas able to push her too willing hand gently away and to say:
"Not quite so fast, please."
"Oh! uncle! Hear him? He talks just as you do! Not a bit like Pierre,or Joe, or the rest."
Mr. Dutton came forward, smiling and remonstrating.
"My dear, our new friend will think you quite rude, if you discuss himbefore his face, so frankly. But, sir, I assure you she means nothingbut delight at your recovery. We are all most thankful that you arehere and safe. There, Margot. Let the gentleman rest a few minutes.Then a cup of coffee may be better than the stew. Were you longwithout food, friend?"
The stranger tried to answer but the effort tired him, and with abeckoning nod to the young nurse, the woodlander led the way back tothe table and their own delayed supper. Both needed it and both ate itrather hastily, much to the disgust of Angelique who felt that herskill was wasted; but one was anxious to be off out of doors, to learnthe damage left by the storm, and the other to be back on her stoolbeside the lounge. When Mr. Dutton rose, the housekeeper left her ownseat.
"I'll fetch the lantern, master. But that's the last of Snowfoot'sgood milk you'll ever drink," she sighed, touching the pitcher sadly.
"What? Is anything wrong with her?"
"The cow-house is in ruins. So are the poultry coops. What withfalling ill yourself just at the worst time and fetchin' home othersick folks we might all go to wrack and nobody the better."
The familiar grumbling provoked only a smile from the master, whowould readily have staked his life on the woman's devotion to "herpeople" and knew that the apparent crossness was not that in reality.
"Fie, good Angelique! Never so happy as when you're miserable. Comeon. Nothing must suffer if we can prevent. Take care of our guest,Margot, but give him his nourishment slowly, at intervals. I'll getsome tools, and join you at the shed, Angelique."
He went out and the housekeeper followed with the lantern, not neededin the moonlight, but possibly of use at the fallen cow-house.
They were long gone. The stranger dozed, waked, ate, and dozed again.Margot, accustomed to early hours, also slept and soundly, till afearful shriek roused her. Her patient was wildly kicking and strikingat some hideous monster which had settled on his chest and would notbe displaced.
"He's killing me! Help--help! Oh-a-ah!"