Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/47

 and put an end to the fearful threats of Ole Peterson. Hugh received his mail almost the first of all, a short and very hasty note from his  father, which did not say openly that they were  about to embark but contained more than one  veiled hint to that effect. He read it through three times, trying to make the most of the censored information it contained. Then, his attention caught by the complete silence that had fallen around him, he looked up to see what had happened.

Nothing, apparently, had really occurred except that a newcomer had entered abruptly and banged the door behind him. Yet as he strode over to the middle of the room every person in  the crowded place drew back, the big Swedes elbowing the quick Canadians, the children standing on tip-toes to peer under the arms or around  the shoulders of their protecting elders. The space that had been filled a moment before by a  chattering, friendly group, became all in an instant silent and empty with the big man standing  quite alone.