The
people of the fort had said they had never seen him so irascible, yet so
gentle; so uneasy, yet so reserved; so stern about the mouth, yet so kind
about the eyes as he had been since Hume had gone on this desperate
errand.
Already the handful of people at the fort had gathered. Indians left the
store, and joined the rest; the factor and Sergeant Gosse set out to meet
the little army of relief. To the factor's "In the name of the Hudson's
Bay Company, Mr. Hume," when they met there came "By the help of God,
sir," and he pointed to the sled whereon Lepage lay. A feeble hand was
clasped in the burly hand of the factor, and then they all fell into line
again, Cloud-in-the-Sky running ahead of the dogs. Snow had fallen on
them, and as they entered the stockade, men and dogs were white from head
to foot.
The White Guard had come back. Jaspar Hume as simply acknowledged his
strident welcome as he had done the God-speed two months and more ago.
With the factor he bore the sick man in, and laid him on his own bed.
Then he came outside again, and when they cheered him once more, he said:
"We have come safe through, and I'm thankful.
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