IV
THE STOPPING-HOUSE YARD
Next morning, Old Paul, assisted by Nell's dark companion, and thehalf-breed Xavier, was hitching up in the yard of Forbie's, when NickGrylls appeared from the house, and walked heavily up and down at somedistance moodily chewing a cigar. Big Nick was wondering dully whatin hell was the matter with him. He had tossed in his bunk the nightthrough; and now, at the beginning of the day, when a man should be athis heartiest, he found himself without appetite for his breakfast, andin a grinding temper, without any object to vent it on. In his littleeyes, bloodshot with the lack of sleep, and unwonted emotion, there wasan almost childish expression of bewilderment.
A deep sense of personal injury lay at the root of his discomfort. Nickwas accustomed to think of himself as a whale of a fine fellow, as theysay in the West; he heard every day that he was the smartest man upNorth; and, of course, he believed it. He regarded himself as a princeof generosity; for was not his liberality to the half-breed women areproach among cannier white men? He was fond of children, too; and oneof his amusements was to distribute handfuls of candy over the counterof his store. And candy ("French creams," God save the mark!) is worthseventy-five cents a pound on Lake Miwasa. When any poor fellow frozeto death, or went "looney" in the great solitudes, it was Nick Gryllswho dug deepest in his pocket for the relief of the unfortunate family.This, then, was the meat of his amazed grievance; that he, the greatman, the patron, should, here in his own country, be coolly ignoredby a mere boy and girl.
There was good in Nick Grylls; and Garth travelling alone would have gotalong very well with him, and worked him for copy; but having Natalieto look after, he instinctively put himself on his guard against thetriumphant Silenus. Grylls, with an enormous capacity for pleasure, hadcarelessly taken his fill. He had to content himself with the coarseplants of the North; and up to now he had desired no other. But he hadarrived at the age when, the passions beginning to cool, the grossestman conceives of fastidiousness; and at this crisis Fate had thrust aperfect blossom before him. Never so close to a woman of Natalie's worldbefore, he had been free to look at her throughout an entire day; andshe had actually spoken to him once. He did not realize what was thematter with him yet; but presently, when Natalie came out of the house,he would know.
Garth strolled out from breakfast; and filled his pipe while he waitedfor Natalie to repack her valise within. Nick's chaotic passions leapedto meet the aspect of the cool young man, and fastened on him. But therewas no relief here; his hearty and irresistible career over prostratenecks was suddenly arrested in the light of Garth's cool glance. In hisheart Nick suspected he was despised, and the fact emasculated his rage.He hung his head, and looked elsewhere.
When the horses were hitched, Xavier went into the bunkhouse for hismaster's bedding, old Paul pottered around the harness, while Albert,Nell's companion, strolled back to join Grylls.
"What do you make of this young couple?" asked Nick, assuming anindifferent air.
"I dunno," Albert returned lethargically.
"There wasn't anything about a girl in the newspaper," pursued Nick;"and young reporters don't generally have coin enough to travel witha wife."
"They ain't married," said Albert.
"What!" exclaimed Nick eagerly.
"Nell says she heard her call him Mr. Pevensey before the stage started;and he called her Miss What's-this."
Nick's little eyes glittered. "Then what in hell are they doing up heretogether?" he muttered.
"Search me!" said Albert indifferently. "Nell says she can't make itout."
"She seems to have taken a kind of shine to Nell," suggested Nickcarefully. "Women are sly as links. Pass a quiet word to Nell to drawher out."
"She's tried," said Albert. "Nice as you please but mum. Why don't youpump _him_?" he suggested, indicating Garth.
"Because he's a damned, self-sufficient dude!" Nick burst out with astring of curses. "One of these porridge-mouthed Easterners that run uptheir eyebrows with a 'my word!' at any free speech or liberality in aman! The first time he finds himself in man's country he patronizes us!Going to write us up! My God! My stomach turns over every time I lookat him!"
"Well, he better not get _you_ down on him," said Albert propitiatingly.
Natalie came sailing out of the farmhouse as fresh and smiling asthe morning itself. Garth hastened to meet her. A dark flush rose inGrylls's cheeks, and he gritted his teeth, until the muscles stoodout in lumps on either side his jaw. He felt a desire to possess thisslender, swimming figure mounting in his brain to the pitch of madness.As she passed him Natalie nodded not unkindly, and the big man's eyesfollowed her in a sort of dog's agony.
Nell followed her out of the house; and Garth handed them both into thestage. He did not get in himself, but stood on the ground below Natalie,talking up to her. One of the horses had refused to drink at the trough,and old Paul, wishing to give him another chance, sent Xavier for a pailof water.
This Xavier deserves a word. The young breeds run to extremes of goodlooks or ill; and in his case it was the latter. In downright English hewas hideous. A shock of intractable, lank hair hung over what he had ofa forehead; and underneath rolled a pair of whitey-blue eyes, with avillainous cast in one of them. Some accident had carried Nature's workeven further, for one swarthy cheek was divided from temple to chin by adirty white scar. He wore a pair of black-and-white checked trousers,which, once Nick's, hung strangely on his meagre frame. He was absurdlyproud of this garment. His outer wear was completed by a black cottonshirt, and the inevitable stiff-brimmed hat, without which no brownyouth feels himself a man. Xavier's face wore an expression of blanknessverging on idiocy; but he was by no means deficient in cunning. His fullname was St. Francois Xavier Zero.
Returning from the pump with the pail of water, as he passed Nick,the big man threw him an idle word or two in Cree. Xavier grinnedcomprehendingly; and Nick and Albert followed him a little way. Xaviercame up close behind Garth; and in passing him, made believe to stumble.Some of the water splashed over Garth's legs. Garth swung around, andtook in the situation at a glance; Grylls and Albert were grinning inthe background. There was a crack as his fist met the half-breed's jaw;and Xavier rolled in the dust. In falling the pail capsized, emptyingits contents on the cherished trousers.
Nick's guffaw was quickly changed for a scowl; Garth saw that an explosionwas imminent; and that quick thought was necessary. He knew he must at allcost to his pride avoid trouble until he got Natalie off his hands. Hewalked over to Nick; the big fellow clenched his fists as he approached.
"Hope I haven't hurt the beggar," said Garth blandly. "Perhaps he didn'tmean to spill the water; but you have to deal quickly with a breed.That's your way, I'm told."
Nick was completely disconcerted by this unexpected line of action. Hishands dropped; and he muttered something which might pass for agreement.Garth coolly returned to Natalie.
The breed picked himself up, and went crouching to his master with avoluble, whining complaint in his own tongue. Nick lifted his hand;and with a vicious, backhanded stroke sent Xavier again reeling acrossthe yard. It was the blow which was meant for Garth. Passion had setNick dancing to a strange tune. Albert, seeing the look in his eye,instinctively edged out of reach.
Old Nell looked at these things with a resigned air that spoke volumesfor her daily life. Natalie kept perfectly quiet; but a bright spotburned in either cheek, and she turned a pair of shining eyes on Garthwhen he came back to her. His difficulties were by no means over. OldPaul, feeling that it might be well to forego the pail of water, gavethe word to start. Grylls climbed in by the rear step, and sat next toNell with a dogged air. This brought him opposite Garth, and very nearNatalie. Albert and the half-breed following him, they started. Xavier,covered with dirt, snivelling, and nursing a split lip, was as ugly asa gargoyle.
Garth saw a way out in the vacant place beside Paul. "The front seatwould be more comfortable for you; it's wider," he said to Natalie, loudenough for all to hear.
"Paul," he called, "have you room beside you forthe young lady? She wants to hear some more stories."
Paul, delighted, immediately pulled up, and held out a hand. Natalieclimbed over the mail-bags and took her place beside him. In crossing,she gave Garth's hand a grateful squeeze; and he returned to his placewith a swelling heart, ready for Nick Grylls and any like him. But hewould not allow himself to depart from the course he had laid out. Inthe past he had been compelled to conciliate, to flatter, to mould suchmen as Grylls for the advantage of the _Leader_; and he could certainlydo it once more for the sake of Natalie. Nick faced him with a venomouseye, but was unable to make an opening for more trouble.
Old Paul, whenever they came to a hill and he could allow his four towalk, turned around; and half to Natalie, half to Garth, delivered himselfof one of his characteristic stories. Neither was Nick impatient with hismonologues to-day; for when Paul turned Natalie half turned also; and thenNick could watch her face.
Garth had asked the old man about the half-breed rebellion.
"Sure, I was through it all," he began. "I was buildin' boats in PrinceGeorge; and scoutin'. Upwards of three months we hadn't no news fromoutside and the settlement was in a continuous state of scare. It wassupposed the Crees had been joined by the Montana Indians; and all saidwe was cut off on the south. Women, children and cattle was crowdedtogether in the stockade; but I didn't bring my family in. My old womanweren't afraid; and somepin' told me it was just one of these herepanics like.
"Well, one day up came word to the commandant to send a force down theriver to Fort Pitt, as they called it, to jine with General Middleton.Then it was Smiley here, and Smiley there, and they couldn't do nothin'without Smiley. I started down the river at last with two work boatscarryin' fifty men under Major Lewis and Cap'n Caswell. It was a Saturdaynight, I mind. Lewis was one of these stuck-up, know-it-all johnnies, notlong breeched. But Caswell was an old Crimea veteran; his face had beenspiled by a powder explosion; but he certainly was a sporter! Me and himgot along fine. My! My! what a randy old feller he was! The men used tosit around him with their mouths open waitin' to laugh. Grimy Caswellthey called him, along of his speckled face--great big man!
"We travelled for three days and three nights without stoppin'; andwould you believe it, that damn fool Lewis--'scuse me, Miss--made uslight a lantern at night! A mark for all the reds in the country! I wassteerin' the first boat; and signallin' the channel to Dave Sinclair inthe boat behind, with my hand; this way and so. But the second day Daveran her aground. Young Lewis wouldn't allow that we knew how to lift aboat off a shoal up North. I let him break all the ropes tryin' to dragher off; then I showed him. Meanwhile, all this time, Grimy Caswell wasdressin' himself up like a redskin in my boat; and smearin' his facewith red earth. When it got dusk-like, he hid in the bushes; and by andby Lewis came along the shore. All of a sudden, Grimy in his war-paintpopped out in front of him, let out a hell of a screech, and sent a shotover his head. Say, that young man near died right there. He turned thecolour of a lead bullet; and made some quick tracks to the rear boat.Grimy sneaked back to ours and washed and dressed; and all night long heplagued Lewis to light the lantern; but he wouldn't; and the men neardied holdin' theirselves in. Oh! Grimy Caswell was a humorous feller,he was!
"We landed at Fort Pitt on the fourth day; and at the same time thesteamboats come up from Battle Run with the whole army. They landed 'emall; and say, they had a brass band; and General Middleton rode a whitehorse. Never see such a grand sight in all my born days; they must havebeen all of seven hundred and fifty men!"
At the foot of another long hill Natalie expressed a wish to walk up;and Garth helped her down. They set off briskly, ahead of the horses;and for the first time found themselves free to talk to each other.
"How good you have been to me!" she murmured.
"Don't think of thanking me," said Garth, almost roughly.
"If I had known how literally you would have to take care of me, I wouldnot have been so quick to ask you."
"It was nothing, really."
"Nothing, you mean to what is before us?" she asked quickly.
"I look for nothing worse," he said.
"Perhaps my appearance is too conspicuous," she suggested with ahumility new to her.
"A little, perhaps," Garth admitted.
"What shall I do?" she said. "I have nothing else."
"At the Landing I will dress you in a rough sweater, and a felt hatstrapped under your chin," he said with a smile.
Natalie was aggrieved. "I like to look nice," she protested.
"You would--even then," said poor Garth.
She changed the subject. "What a gross beast that big man is!" she saidstrongly.
"Poor devil!" said Garth unconsciously. He understood from his ownfeelings a little of what Nick was going through.
Natalie turned a surprised face on him. "Are you sorry for him?" shedemanded.
"A little."
"Why?"
"Well--I think perhaps he never saw any one like you before," he saidquietly.
"But he _hates_ you!"
"Naturally!"
"Why?" she demanded again--and was immediately sorry she had spoken.
Garth looked away. "He thinks I am--I am more than I am," he saidoracularly.
She affected not to hear this. "What shall we do about him?" she asked.
"He won't trouble us after the Landing," said Garth. "He is bound downthe river to Lake Miwasa, while we go up to Caribou Lake."
"It's a precious good thing for me I didn't start off alone," she saidfeelingly.
"I'm glad if I've won your confidence a little," said Garth hanging hishead.
This meant: "Aren't you going to tell me about yourself?" Natalie'smystery had been a thorn in his flesh all the way along the road. Hewas ashamed to speak of it, for seeming to imply a doubt of her; buthe couldn't help approaching it in this roundabout way.
Natalie understood. "I'll tell you now, gladly," she said at once. "Butnot here; there isn't time. We have to get in directly."
This was precisely what Garth desired her to say. He longed for her towant to tell him; but for the story itself, he dreaded it, and was quitewilling to have the telling deferred.
Later in the day they reached Nell's house, quite a fine edifice builtwith lumber instead of the usual logs. Natalie, true to her word,allowed herself to be shown through; and did not stint her admirationof Nell's treasures. When they drove on, she looked back with a genuinefeeling for the old girl, who was so anxious to please. They left herstanding in the doorway in her finery, with the sullen, black-browedbravo slouching beside her.
The way became very much rougher; and Garth was glad of Natalie's havinggreater comfort on the front seat. About five o'clock they climbed theirlast hill. At the top Old Paul, pulling up his horses, swept his whipwith an eloquent gesture over the magnificent prospect lying below.
"All the water this side goes to the Arctic," he said.
Looking over a wealth of greenery, away below them they saw the mightyMiwasa River coming eastward from the mountains, make its southernmostsweep, and shape a course straight away for the North. The Miwasa river!There was magic in the name; they gazed down at it with a feeling akinto awe. Off to the left lay the roofs of the Landing, farthest outpostof civilization.
Presently they were rattling down the steep village street at a greatpace, traces hanging slack; past the factor's house, the "Company's"store, the blacksmith shop and the "French outfit"; with a dash anda clatter that brought every inhabitant running to the hotel. Most ofthem were already there; for the arrival of the mail is the event of theweek. Old Smiley swept up to the gallery at Trudeau's with a flourishworthy of coaching's palmiest days. The passengers alighted; and againthe girl with the green wings in her hat became the cynosure of everyeye. Garth delivered her into the comfortable arms of Mrs. Trudeau, whotook her upstairs. Turning back into the general room, he asked thefirst man he met where the Bishop lived.
"Up the stree
t and to the left a piece," was the reply. "But say--"
"Well?" said Garth.
"The Bishop and his party started up the river two days ago."
Garth, turning, saw Nick Grylls listening with an evil grin.