CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
THE CLOUDS ARE BROKEN, THE SUN BURSTS THROUGH AND ONCE MORE IRRADIATEPORT CHIMO--HOPES AND FEARS FOR MAXIMUS.
The wings of time moved slowly and heavily along at Fort Chimo. Hopelong deferred, expectation frequently reviving and as oftendisappointed, crushed the spirits of the little party. The song, andjest, and laugh seldom sounded from the houses of the men, who wentthrough their daily avocations almost in silence. Not only had the lossof Edith--the bright spirit of the place, the tender rosebud in thatsavage wilderness--cast an overwhelming gloom upon the fort, but thefailure of the trade, to a great extent, had added to the generaldepression, and now fresh anxiety was beginning to be felt at thenon-appearance of Frank Morton.
"Jessie," said Stanley one day, as he rose from the desk at which he hadbeen writing, and put on his cap with the intention of taking a strollalong the beach, "will you come with me today? I know not how it is,but every time I go out now I expect to hear the ship's gun as it comesthrough the narrows."
Mrs Stanley rose, and throwing on a shawl and hood, accompanied herhusband in silence.
"Perhaps," she said at length, "you expect to hear the gun because thevessel _ought_ to be here by this time."
As she spoke, La Roche came up and touched his cap. "Please, madame,vat you vill have pour dinner?"
"Whatever you please, La Roche. Repeat yesterday's," answered MrsStanley, with the air of one who did not wish to be troubled further onthe subject. But La Roche was not to be so easily put down.
"Ah, madame! pardonnez moi. Dat is impossible. Ve have fresh fishyesterday, dere be no fresh fish to-day. More de pity. C'est dommage--dat Gaspard him gone away--"
La Roche was interrupted by a sudden exclamation from his master, whopointed, while he gazed earnestly, towards the narrows of the river. Itseemed as if the scene of last year were repeated in a vision. Againstthe dark rock appeared the white, triangular sail of a vessel. Slowly,like a phantom, it came into view, for the wind was very light; whilethe three spectators on the beach gazed with beating hearts, scarcelydaring to credit their eyes. In a few seconds another sail appeared--aschooner floated into view; a white cloud burst from her bows, and onceagain the long, silent echoes of Ungava were awakened by the roaring ofartillery. The men of the fort left their several employments andrushed to the beach to welcome the vessel with a cheer; but although itwas heartfelt and vigorous, it was neither so prolonged nor soenthusiastic as it was on the first occasion of the ship's arrival.
As the vessel dropped anchor opposite the fort, Frank Morton leaped onher bow, and along with the crew returned the cheer with a degree ofenergy that awakened memories of other days.
"There's Frank!" cried Stanley, turning on his wife a glance of joy."Bless the boy! It warms my heart to see him. He must have picked upsome Indian woman by the way. I see the flutter of a petticoat."
As he spoke, the boat pushed off from the vessel's side, and a few rapidstrokes sent it bounding towards the shore.
"Eh! what's this?" exclaimed Stanley, as his wife broke from him, andwith a wild shriek rushed into the lake.
The figure of a child stood on the boat's bow, with her arms extended tothe shore.
"Hurrah, lads! give way!" shouted Frank's deep voice.
"Mother! mother!" cried the child.
In another moment Frank bounded over the boat's side and placed Edith inher mother's arms!
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Reader, there are incidents in the histories of men which cannot beminutely described without being marred. Such an one was the meetingbetween the father and mother and their long-lost child. We refrainfrom attempting to draw aside the curtain further than to say that thejoy and gratitude in more than one heart at Ungava found vent that nightin thanksgiving to Him who can bring light out of darkness and turnsorrow into joy.
The greater part of the day was spent at the fort in that feverishexcitement which cannot calm down to steady conversation, but ventsitself in eager, rambling questions and abrupt replies. Meanwhile, thenecessity of discharging the cargo of the vessel, and preparing the fursfor shipment, served to distract the attention and occupy the hands ofthe whole party.
As evening advanced, La Roche, true to his duty, placed supper on thetable, and Stanley and his wife, along with Edith and Frank, while theypartook of the meal, continued their inquiries.
"Whereabouts was it, Frank, that you fell in with the boat?" saidStanley.
"Not more than five miles from the mouth of the river, at about six thismorning. We observed the boat beset by a pretty solid pack of ice, andyou may be sure we were not a little surprised when we saw the UnionJack run up to her peak; so I ordered our boat to be lowered, intendingto go to her assistance. While the men were doing this, I examined herwith the glass, and then it was that I found, to my amazement andinexpressible joy, that the boat contained Prince, Gaspard, and Edith."
"Ah! Frank," said Mrs Stanley, "was it not a strange providence thatyou, who were so sad at being compelled to give up the search, should bethe one appointed to find our beloved child, and bring her back to us?"
"Nay," replied Frank, "it was not I who found her. Let me not rob DickPrince and Gaspard of the honour and gratitude which they have noblywon."
"And what do you think of the non-arrival of Maximus?" said Stanley,whose feelings were still too much perturbed to allow him to dwell formore than a few minutes at a time on any subject. Frank shook his head.
"I know not what to think," said he. "As I have told you already, weleft him at Moose Fort with his recovered bride, and we got themissionary to marry them there in due form. Next day they started in asmall canoe on their return voyage to Ungava, and the day following Ileft for Lake Superior. I fully expected to find them here on myreturn."
Stanley looked grave. "I fear much," said he, "that some mischance hasbefallen the good-hearted Esquimau. He was well armed, you say, andamply supplied with provisions?"
"Ay, most certainly. He took two guns with him, saying that his wifewas as good a shot as himself."
"The men wish to know where the heavy goods are to be put," said Massan,as he opened the door, and stood, cap in hand, awaiting orders.
Stanley rose to leave the room.
"I'll be with you in a minute, Massan.--Then, Frank, we'll expect anaccount of your journey to-night. Eda is very anxious that we should betold all about your wonderful adventures in the mountains. Meanwhile Ishall be off to look after the men."
When the sun had set that night, and the song of the sailors had ceased,and most of the wearied inhabitants of Fort Chimo were enjoying afragrant pipe after the labours of the day, Frank and Stanley seatedthemselves, one on either side of the fire-place, with Mrs Stanley andEdith in front of the hearth between them. An extra pine-knot wasthrown on the fire, which, in a few minutes, rendered the candle on thetable unnecessary. Stanley lit his pipe, and after drawing one or twowhiffs to make sure that it would keep alight, said,--"Now, Frank, myboy, we're ready for you; fire away."
Frank fired away, literally, for he applied a piece of glowing charcoalto his pipe, and fired off half a dozen rapid puffs in reply, as itwere, to his friend opposite. Then he began.