The Wilderness Castaways Part 23

CHAPTER XIII

WINTER SHELTER AND HARD WORK

"Paul," said Dan, after the half-breed cook who brought them the tea had returned to his preparation of supper, "you're wonderful brave.

I'm thinkin' now you would have hit th' master if I hadn't been interferin'."

"I'm afraid I would, and then he'd have pitched us both out," admitted Paul. "It wasn't because I was brave, though, but I was mad all through when he called us thieves. Think of it!"

"'T were brave o' you. I'm thinkin' you'd fight anything if 't were called for. But when we gets on th' ice pan, first off, I were misjudgin' you; you seemed scared and I were thinkin' you timid.

You're a rare lot braver 'n me."

"No, I'm not, Dan."

"Yes you is. See th' way you fit th' lynx, an' killed un, too. An'

th' way you stands up t' that man is sure wonderful."

"I had to fight the lynx; it made me. And that man's a big coward.

What do you suppose he's going to do with us? Turn us out in the snow to starve or freeze to death? I feel as though I'd like to punch him now!" And Paul clenched his fists. "Called us thieves! Why, Dan, I never had any reason to steal, and you wouldn't take a pin that didn't belong to you."

"Neither of us would steal, an' I'm thinkin' he knows un well enough."

"What shall we do if he turns us out?"

"'Tis hard t' say. I'm thinkin' we'll be goin' back in th' bush, an'

stop t' hunt when we finds a good place."

The wind had risen to a tempest, and it shrieked and howled around the building now in a way that made the boys appreciate the snug warmth of the shelter, and led Dan to remark:

"We needs clothes. We'll be sure freezin' t' death without un, an' th'

cold weather comin' on."

Somewhere outside a bell clanged several strokes. Presently the door opened, and three men, shaking snow from their caps and stamping it from their feet, entered.

"'Tis a wild nicht," said one, a big, grizzly bearded fellow, after they had formally greeted Paul and Dan. "Ye arrived just in time, laddies. Are ye up from York Factory?"

"No," answered Paul, "we came from the north."

"And how, now, could that be? The s.h.i.+p's away this lang time."

Paul explained briefly how they had gone adrift, and their subsequent adventures, up to the time of meeting Factor MacTavish.

"My name," he added, "is Paul Densmore, and my friend is Dan Rudd."

"I'm glad t' meet ye lads. My name is Tammas Ferguson, and this is Sam'l Hogart, and this Amos Tupper," introducing his companions.

During this conversation and ceremony the men were was.h.i.+ng and preparing for supper, and as they sat down Amos invited:

"Set in to the tyble, and 'ave a bite to heat."

"Thank you, we've eaten," answered Paul.

"Coom, laddies, and have a bite mair," urged Tammas. "'T will do ye no harm this cowld nicht."

Chuck, the half-breed cook, at this juncture placed a plate piled high with bread upon the table, and this offered a temptation too great to resist. They were longing for bread above all things in the world, and with a "Thank you" they took the seats a.s.signed them without further objection.

"Ye'll be bidin' wi' us the winter, and ye must no be backward,"

encouraged Tammas.

They were not in the least backward. They ate a great deal of Chuck's indifferent, soggy bread, sopped in black mola.s.ses, and thought it delicious, and each drank at least three cups of strong tea.

"And did ye see the master?" asked Tammas when supper was over and all were seated about the hot stove.

"Yes," answered Paul, "and he told us we could stay only tonight."

"Did he say that now?"

"'E needs men. 'E's short'anded, and 'e needs more men," broke in Amos. "Tomorrow 'e'll be hengaging you."

"There's no doot o' that. So don't worry, lads, aboot the morrow,"

encouraged Tammas.

The men filled their pipes with tobacco cut from black plugs, and chatted with each other and the boys, whom they drew hospitably into their group. Dan played several airs upon his harmonica, to their great delight, and Paul described the wonders of New York, which Amos always endeavored to discount with descriptions of what he considered the greater wonders of London.

When bedtime finally came, Tammas stepped out of doors for "a look at the weather."

"'Tis an awfu' nicht," he announced upon his return. "'Tis fortunate you lads made post as ye did. Ye'd ha' perished in the cowld and snow of this nicht."

Paul and Dan spread their blankets on the floor, and very thankful they were for the shelter. Outside the wind howled dismally, and dashed the snow against the windows.

Morning brought no abatement of the storm. If possible the snow fell more thickly and the wind blew more fiercely. The office building, ten yards from the door of the men's house, could scarcely be made out, and the boys rejoiced anew at their safety.

Breakfast was eaten by lamplight. Tammas insisted that the lads join in the meal, and when the bell clanged to call the men to work, he admonished:

"If the master is hard, and says ye canna' remain, coom to me at the smithy. I'll ne'er be seein' ye turned out in this awfu' storm, an'

neither will Sam'l or Amos. If there's no ither way, we'll pay for your keep."

"Aye, that we will," a.s.sented both Amos and Samuel.

"Thank you," said Paul. "If you do, my father will pay you back."

"The master's apt to be 'ard, but stand up to 'im. 'E likes men with grit to stand up and face 'im," advised Amos, as the three went out to their work.

"Well, those are men with hearts, and true friends, and even if they are rough looking, they're gentlemen," remarked Paul, as the door closed.

"'T ain't clothes or money as makes a man," said Dan. "Dad says 'tis th' heart under th' s.h.i.+rt."

They dreaded the meeting with David MacTavish, the factor, and for half an hour they hesitated to face the ordeal.