THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
An absolute silence followed Simon Grampierre's unexpected words. The
astute old man had withheld his proposal until the psychological
moment. Ambrose was a little dazed by it. He rose, feeling every
eager eye upon him, and said slowly:
"I must have a little time to consider. I must talk with Simon
Grampierre. I will give him my answer before morning."
Simon said to the company: "Men, will you sell your wheat to Ambrose
Doane at a dollar-seventy-five?"
The question broke the spell of silence. There could be no mistake
that the proposal was successful. A chorus of acclamations filled the
room.
"Very good!" said Simon. "I will talk with Ambrose Doane and try to
make him trade with us."
The meeting broke up. It was then a little after nine.
Simon and Ambrose went apart to a bench on the river bank. There were
innumerable questions to be asked and answered. Simon estimated that
the grain in question, provided they had no frost, would amount to
twenty thousand bushels of wheat, and half as much oats. It was a
momentous decision for a youth like Ambrose to be called upon to make.
The greatest difficulty was how to grind the wheat.
"You have an engine here?" asked Ambrose.
"Yes, for our thrashing-machine," said Simon.
"I could order a small process mill from outside," said Ambrose, "but
it's doubtful if we could get it in this year."
"I have a hand mill," said Simon. "We call her the mankiller. Work
all day, grind a couple bags of flour. It is very old."
"Could it be rigged to the engine?" Ambrose asked.
"Wa! I never think of that," said Simon. "Maybe grind four bags a
day, then."
Ambrose had no intention of giving an answer until he had communicated
with Colina. Strongly against Simon's advice, he insisted that
Gaviller, as he said, must be given one more chance to relent. Simon
unwillingly yielded. At ten o'clock Ambrose and Tole started down the
river in a dugout.
Ambrose did not mean to seek the interview with Colina. Before
starting he scribbled a hasty note.
DEAR COLINA:
The farmers have asked me to buy their grain. I've got to do it unless
you will pay their price. It's not much good to say it now, but I'd
sooner cut off my hand than seem to be fighting you.
I can't help myself. You won't believe it, but it's a fact just the
same, if you won't pay their price I must, in order to save you. If
you will agree to pay them one-seventy-five, I'll go back to Moultrie
to-morrow, and never trouble you again. AMBROSE.
Landing below Gaviller's house Ambrose sent Tole up the bank with this.
In a surprisingly short time he saw the half-breed returning.
"Did you see her?" he demanded.
"Yes," said Tole.
"Did she send an answer back?"
"Only this."
Ambrose held out his hand, and Tole dropped the torn fragments of his
own letter into it. Ambrose stared at them stupidly. He had steeled
himself against a possible humiliation at her hands--but to be
humiliated before the half-breed!
He drew a long breath to steady himself, and opening his hand, let the
fragments float away on the current.
"Let us go back," he said quietly.
During the whole of the way he did not speak.
Grampierre was waiting for them in the big kitchen.
"I will now give you my answer," said Ambrose.
"Well?" said the old man eagerly.
"It is only a partial answer. I agree to purchase enough of your grain
at one-seventy-five to see you all through the winter; and I agree to
bring a stock of goods here to supply your necessities."
Simon warmly grasped his hand. "It is well!" he cried. "I expected no
more."
"I will return to Moultrie to-morrow," Ambrose went on in his dull,
quiet way. "I will consult with my partner, and if we can finance it,
we will buy all your grain."
"Tole shall go with you," said Simon. "You can send him back to me
with a letter."
Ambrose went to bed, and slept without dreaming. Nature is merciful.
After a certain point of suffering has been passed, she administers an
anesthetic.
Next morning Ambrose transacted his business with Simon, and prepared
for the journey, to all appearances his usual matter-of-fact self.
Only Job perceived the subtle change in his master. The faithful brown
eyes continually sought Ambrose's face, and the ridiculous curly tail
was agitated in vain to induce a smile.
On the afternoon of the sixth day following, Ambrose and Tole landed at
Moultrie. Nothing was changed there. The sight of Peter's honest red
face was like balm to Ambrose's sore heart.
Seeing Ambrose, the remnants of Peter's anger evaporated like mist in
the sun. He clapped his young partner on the back until the other's
lungs rang.
Peter's blue eyes beamed with honest gladness, meanwhile he uttered
loud abuse in his own style.
"So you're back, damn you! You ornery little whipper-snapper! To
sneak off from working like a breed after you feed him! I was hoping
I'd never lay eyes on you again. But here you are to plague me!"
Ambrose smiled sheepishly, and gripped his hand.
Peter sent Tole off to Eva to be fed, while he went with Ambrose to the
latter's little shack. Ambrose looked around his own place curiously.
It was like another man's house now. He had lost the old self who used
to live here.
"What's happened to you?" asked Peter with an offhand air.
"Why do you ask?" said Ambrose quickly. He hated to think it was all
written in his face.
"You look older," said Peter. "I don't see you grinning so much."
Ambrose immediately grinned--after a fashion. "I've got a lot to tell
you," he said. "We'll talk after supper."
Half the night they talked. Ambrose laid his proposal before Peter in
anxious trepidation. Peter earned the young man's lifelong gratitude
by the promptness and heartiness of his response.
"You did right!" he cried with another clap on the back. "It will be a
fine adventure! We'll go into Fort Enterprise and make a killing!
We'll buy all the grain in sight!"
"It's a big weight to swing," murmured Ambrose.
"Sure!" cried Peter. "But no man would refuse it. What if it does
break us? We're young. And we'll have a grand run for our money."
The excess of Ambrose's relief unnerved him a little. "Peter, you're a
man!" he murmured brokenly. "I was near crazy, wondering if you'd
stand by me!"
"Hey, cut it out!" cried Peter. "Buck up! We got work to do to-night!"
Throughout the hours of darkness they counted up their resources,
decided as to the friends they could call on for assistance, and
planned ways and means.
There was not a day to be lost, and it was first of all decided that
Ambrose must start for the outside world next morning. Once started he
would be out of touch with his partner for good, therefore every
question had to be discussed that night, and there were a hundred.
Ambrose was astonished by Peter's pluck and dash in business affairs.
Like many another junior partner he had been accustomed to patronize
his elder a little.
"I'll stand by you to the limit," Peter had said. "But this is your
put. You must do everything yourself."
Therefore, after the details had been arranged, it fell to Ambrose to
compose the letter to Simon Grampierre. It was the longest letter he
had ever written.
Tole and I arrived yesterday after a quick trip. I have talked with my
partner. We agree to purchase all the grain grown around Fort
Enterprise this season at one-seventy-five per bushel.
We will load up a york boat immediately with a small load of supplies
for present use. Tole will steer it up the river. He will take this
letter to you. It may take four or five days to get a crew.
(Here followed an inventory of the goods they had decided to send.)
We appoint you our agent to distribute these goods. I will send you a
book in which to put down all the charges. Let the crew of the york
boat have two dug-outs to return home in, and keep the york boat at
your place to send down grain and flour later.
I have missed the steamboat on her first trip out. I will start to-day
by canoe with an Indian. It will take me ten days to cross the lake
and go up the Miwasa to the landing and so to town.
I will order a full outfit in town, and bring it in immediately by way
of Caribou Lake, and down stream to you. I will bring a little process
mill if I can get one. If I have no trouble you will see me about the
first of September. Anyway I will be in before the ice begins to run.
Coming back I will have no trouble going up the Miwasa or Musquasepi or
across Caribou Lake, because Martin Sellers has steamboats there, and
he is independent and friendly to us. They can't stop me on the Spirit
River either, because I can build a raft and bring my stuff down.
Where they will try to get me is on the portage between Caribou Lake
and the Spirit. They will try to tie up the teams. On my way out I
will see Martin Sellers about it. He has power.
As soon as the grain is begun to be thrashed start the mankiller going
to try and get a little ahead with the flour.
Send Tole and another good man in a dugout up to the crossing to meet
me. Let them start August 8.
I am sending by Tole two bottles of Madeira wine. Send it to the sick
man at the fort without letting him know it comes from me. For
yourself Peter Minot sends a box of cigars with his compliments.
If I think of anything else I'll write at the landing and send it in by
the August mail. My regards to the boys.
Yours truly,
AMBROSE DOANE.