Joan of Arc of the North Woods Part 50

She flung her arms about his neck and kissed his cheek.

"Now let the winged word take flight through the region!" she told herself. No man could misunderstand the declaration of that kiss!

When Latisan came to his senses sufficiently to move his muscles, she avoided his groping arms and ran to the wagon. For a moment the big bays crouched, expecting the whistling sweep of the whip, bending their necks to watch the pa.s.senger climbing to her seat.

"Wait!" begged Latisan. He stumbled toward the wagon, staring at her, tripped by the earth ridges to which he paid no heed.

"Yes!" she promised. And then in tones that were low and thrilling and significant with honest pledge she said, "I'll wait for you--at home--at home!"

Jeff obeyed her quick command and swung the whistling whip, and Latisan stood gazing after her.

The men respected his stunned absorption in his thoughts. They went scattering to their work. Felix walked with Vittum.

"Ba gor!" The French Canadian vented the e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n after taking a deep breath. "When she say it to him--as she say it--it make goose flesh wiggle all over maself!"

"As I have said!" Vittum was trudging along, his eyes on a big plug of tobacco from which he was paring a slice. "As I have said!" He slid the slice into his mouth from the blade of the knife. "She knows her business!"

BOOKS BY HOLMAN DAY

JOAN OF ARC OF THE NORTH WOODS WHEN EGYPT WENT BROKE ALL-WOOL MORRISON THE RIDER OF THE KING LOG THE SKIPPER AND THE SKIPPED THE RED LANE THE RAMRODDERS THE LANDLOPER WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS SQUIRE PHIN BLOW THE MAN DOWN

Harper & Brothers Publishers New York and London