The White Guard slept.
IV
"No, Captain; leave me here and push on to Manitou Mountain. You ought to
make it in two days. I'm just as safe here as on the sleds, and less
trouble. A blind man's no good. I'll have a good rest while you're gone,
and then perhaps my eyes will come out right. My foot's nearly well now."
Jeff Hyde was snow-blind. The giant of the party had suffered most.
But Hume said in reply: "I won't leave you alone. The dogs can carry you
as they've done for the last ten days."
But Jeff replied: "I'm as safe here as marching, and safer. When the dogs
are not carrying me, nor any one leading me, you can get on faster; and
that means everything to us, now don't it?"
Hume met the eyes of Gaspe Toujours. He read them. Then he said to Jeff:
"It shall be as you wish. Late Carscallen, Cloud-in-the-Sky, and myself
will push on to Manitou Mountain. You and Gaspe Toujours will remain
here."
Jeff Hyde's blind eyes turned towards Gaspe Toujours, who said: "Yes. We
have plenty tabac."
A tent was set up, provisions were put in it, a spirit-lamp and matches
were added, and the simple menage was complete.
Pages:
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40