COMRADES.
The young Canadian sat for a few minutes mute, as though turning over
this proposition of Cuthbert's in his mind; then suddenly raising his
eyes he looked his new friend straight in the face and said:
"That's awfully white of you, and I'm going to accept your invitation.
I'll be only too glad to stay with you, for a time at least, and serve
you as guide. And if you still persist in your determination to ascend
the river further, to see all you can while in this country, who should
know that region better than myself. Let come what will, I am going
back!"
The impulsive American, after his kind, was bound to seal the bargain
with a hearty handshake; and Eli, not to be outdone in the matter, also
thrust out his broad "paw" as he called it, squeezing that of the other
with a strength that made Owen wince a bit.
At the same time the observing Cuthbert could not but note the gritting
of Owen's teeth when he declared that he was ready to go back into the
country from which he had apparently just come; it would appear as
though some recent experience up the river did not linger fondly in his
memory, and that when he came paddling downstream in his battered old
bullboat it might have been with the idea of quitting the country for
good.
Naturally this aroused a little curiosity in the other's mind, though he
was not addicted to this failing overly much.
What could there be in the depths of the wilderness to bring about this
aversion on the part of young Dugdale?
If Cuthbert had allowed himself to ruminate upon this subject all sorts
of suspicions might have been aroused; but he was by nature too frank
and generous to judge a stranger before he had been given a chance to
explain; and the more he looked in the face of the lad, and noted the
calm depths of his gray eyes the stronger grew his conviction that Owen
Dugdale, as he called himself, could not descend to anything wrong.
Some persons carry their character in their faces, and he was of the
number. So Cuthbert made up his mind to chase all suspicion from his
mind; if in his own time the Canadian chose to confide in him, well and
good; until then he would forget what he had seen of first anxiety and
then grim determination, stamped upon that young face.
Both of the would-be explorers were cast in somewhat of a merry mould,
and it was impossible to be in their company long without partaking of
their happy-go-lucky spirit.
To the sober Owen this was about as fine a thing as could ever have
happened, for he found it utterly out of the question to ponder gloomily
upon the bitter past while these two chaps were whipping jokes back and
forth, and insidiously drawing him into the conversation, until greatly
to his astonishment he even burst out into a hearty peal of laughter,
the first expression of merriment that had sprung from his heart for
many a day.
Perhaps a benign Providence had taken pity upon him, and was now bent on
sending sunshine where hitherto there had been little save clouds and
storm.
The more he saw of these cousins from over the line the better he liked
them.
It was a favorite joke of Cuthbert's to compare himself with that
wonderfully humorous character of Spanish literature, who took himself
so solemnly even while he furnished merriment for everybody--Don
Quixote, the Knight of La Mancha--this wild expedition into the depths
of the Northwestern Unknown Land was now, in the originator's mind,
about as weird and ridiculous a proposition as any of the adventures of
the crazy knight; and he never tired of cracking broad jokes upon the
subject.
Of course, as was natural, honest Eli must pose for the faithful squire,
Sancho Panza; and long since he had been told the whole story, so that
he was now acquainted with most of the peculiarities of that worthy, and
even at times managed to tickle his friend and employer by carrying out
the idea in some manner.
Owen was not ignorant as to the facts, for it chanced that he had read
the book, having found an old copy in his cabin home, the property of
his mother; so that he was in a condition to enjoy the joke whenever
there happened to be a reference made to the ancient couple.
The storm had long since passed away down the river, growling in the
distance for quite a time; but gradually the stars came peeping out in
the broad blue dome overhead, and while the woods dripped with the
moisture the prospect for a good day on the morrow seemed propitious.
There was room in the tent for three, with a little good-natured
crowding; and while Owen protested against intruding he was turned down
instantly, and compelled to take his place.
Never in all his life had he been drawn to any one as he was toward
these two big-hearted fellows from across the border; and when he lay
down finally, after busying himself for half an hour about the fire, he
felt like a new boy; such is the confidence generated in the human heart
by comradeship.
Owen had intentionally chosen a position near the exit of the tent, for,
seeing that he had spent his life under similar conditions, and it was
second nature with him to attend to a fire during the night, he would
not hear of either of his new friends attempting it.
In spite of his getting up several times between that hour and the
breaking of dawn Owen slept sounder than he had done for many a day; he
seemed to feel a new confidence in himself, as if matters had taken a
turn for the better, and in this accidental meeting with his benefactors
his fortunes had begun to assume a less gloomy aspect.
Once, as he was about snuggling down under the extra blanket which had
been assigned to him he rested his head upon his hand, his elbow being
on the ground, and surveyed the two sleeping lads, for the firelight
crept through the opening of the tent, and revealed the interior.
It was difficult for him to believe that he had only known these good
fellows a comparatively few hours; so strong a hold had they taken upon
his heart that it seemed as though he must have met them in his dreams,
for they appeared to be occupying a space in his affections that was
theirs by right.
So the morning found them.
When Cuthbert awoke he discovered that the new addition to the exploring
party was already busily employed in getting things ready for breakfast;
whereupon there arose a friendly argument as to whose duty it was to
hustle things for the morning meal.
This was finally settled by arranging matters so that the three of them
could take turns about in the daily duties; and Owen chose to begin
then.
The others were not adverse to letting him have a whack at the culinary
department, for they had been going together for a long time now, and
both had about exhausted their repertoire in the line of cookery, so
that a change would really be a delightful diversion; for almost every
camper has his favorite dishes upon which he prides himself, and when
two such come together there is always more or less of a friendly
rivalry to see which can outdo the other.
By degrees such a party comes to recognize the particularly strong
points of each member, so that in the end they make a fine team, every
one being a star in his favorite line.
Breakfast was eaten with more or less good natured chaff, such as boys
will always indulge in, and older campers as well; for when in the woods
it seems as if being brought close back to Nature makes children of us
all, showing that it is only the care and worry of a strenuous battle
for wealth or power that forces men to appear aged and serious.
After that came a portage, for the canoes and all the camp duffle had to
be transported above the rapids.
Eli now seemed to notice for the first time that their new friend had
virtually nothing but his boat and paddle, and loudly he bewailed the
wretched misfortune that had caused everything to be swallowed up in the
hungry maw of the swift rapids.
At this Owen smiled in a curious manner, and openly confessed that the
only damage he had sustained besides getting wet, was the loss of his
jacket; and he surely had little regret for that missing garment since
Cuthbert had so kindly clothed him with a spare one of his own.
Eli may not have been as able to grasp the true significance of this
frank declaration as his comrade; but even he realized that the subject
must be a sore one with Owen, and that it was not wise to ask questions
or seem curious, so he immediately turned to other matters.
Really, he could not be blamed for this wonder, since it was indeed a
strange thing to meet with a wanderer in this vast territory so far from
the outposts of civilization entirely destitute of the commonest
necessities for comfort or the procuring of food--no blanket, cooking
utensils, food, and even a gun missing--well, there surely lay back of
this a story of unusual interest; and for one Eli hoped their new friend
would soon take them into his confidence, at least so far that they
might be able to help him.
After some hard work all the stuff was carried to a point above the
rapids, where they could readily launch their craft without being
carried down into the hungry maw of the swirling flood.
The river had risen somewhat after the rainstorm of the previous night,
and evidently there would be no lack of water above; this is always a
welcome fact to those who navigate toward the headwaters of rivers,
since it is no sport to track canoes over almost dry beds of streams,
making "shoes" for the boats in order to prevent their being torn by
sharp rocks during the passage.
Owing to the current, which was particularly swift in the region of the
rapids, they had to bend to the paddle with considerable vim when the
start was eventually made; but the cruisers were young, and their
muscles well seasoned by more or less hard work, so that they gradually
drew away from the vicinity of Owen's mad voyage among the rocks and
sucking whirls of the drop in the river; and the further they went the
easier the paddling became.
The morning was cool and invigorating after the storm, so that it was
not to be wondered at that our young friends felt joyous, and presently
Eli broke out in a lumberman's "chanty" that he had picked up while in
camp--Cuthbert joined in the chorus, and unable to withstand the
seductive strains, Owen found himself also lifting his voice and adding
volume to the merry sound.