"And, once a forest is set on fire, we never know where it may end."
We walked on, chatting about the beauty of the country, which every
minute grew more open; and I was listening full of interest, when Esau
gave my jacket a tug.
"I say, who is he?" came in a whisper.
"Don't know. Going to show us the way to the Fort."
"Is it much further?"
"Oh no," I whispered back; "only a mile or two."
"Thank goodness," murmured Esau; "I am getting so tired."
It proved to be only about a mile and a half, or, as I ought to call it
in that country of no roads and many climbs and descents, about
three-quarters of an hour's walk, before we came upon a wide, open spot,
dotted with trees like a park, through which the river ran, making a
sharp elbow, at the corner of which there was what seemed to be a high
fence, with square wooden buildings at two of the corners. These took
my attention directly, for they looked like strong, square, wooden
towers, trying to be like the sides of a man-of-war, inasmuch as they
were fitted with portholes, out of which projected the muzzles of small
cannon. I could see that there was a rough trail leading up to a grim
gateway in the square fence, and that the nearer we got to the place,
the bigger and stronger that fence looked, and that inside was quite a
large square with huts and other buildings, and what seemed to be a
garden, beside which there were cultivated fields with corn growing and
potatoes, outside.
"So that's Fort Elk, is it?" said Gunson, thoughtfully. "Why, I suppose
you could stand quite a siege there from the Indians."
"We could, and have done so before now."
"But what about fire?" continued Gunson.
"That is our worst enemy," said the stranger, as he struck the rough
beaten path.
"But where is your garrison?" said Gunson. "Oh, busy about in the
stores and garden. We are not at war with any of the people about, so
there is no occasion to play at soldiers now."
"But where is your ranch?" I said, as we approached the gate.
"Oh, inside the fence, of course."
"Then you live in the Fort?" I said, looking at him curiously, for a
suspicion was beginning to rise in my breast, as we came right up to the
great palisade, and I realised how much bigger it all was than it had
seemed.
"Yes," he replied, smiling, "I live in the Fort--the Hudson's Bay
Company's trading store and station; and I bid you all a hearty
welcome."
"May I know whom we have to thank before you show my young friend Gordon
here to the chief's place. You ought to go to him first, Gordon, my
lad."
"Yes, that is quite right," said our friend, smiling; "but you can do
that without trouble, for my name is Raydon. I am the chief officer
here."
I stopped short and stared, and Esau's jaw seemed to drop so as to show
the whole interior of his mouth.