Page:GB Lancaster--law-bringer.djvu/352

350 the canoes shoot round the grey bend of the river curiosity on his good-humoured face.

"Dat white man go straight to Sleepy-face like a wolf to de kill," he said. "Now, why?"

Tempest was heart-sick to see the utter letting-go of all traditions of manhood in Ducane, the man who had once been outwardly his equal. He kept away from him when ever occasion allowed. Myers and Depache did the same; very much as dogs who sniff suspiciously and from a distance at a stranger in the camp whom they have been forbidden to touch. But Dick seemed to find actual pleasure in this derelict thing which he had salvaged. Often Tempest caught him watching the other man in speculative interest, as a cat watches a mouse; and he was repelled and utterly disgusted, not understanding that Dick was learning this man through and through in order that he might be able to guard Jennifer against him at all points.

Except Ducane no man in the little patrol ever complained. But, according to Myers' often-asserted belief "that waster growls enough fer a 'ole bloomin' regimint. Why don't Inspector make 'im take 'is turn o' doin' the bloomin' canoes?"

This was to Dick after Dick had stood thigh-deep in icy water, hanging on to his canoe that it might not bang itself to pieces on the rocky landing before the others could load it up. Tempest had done the same for his, and the day before that duty had fallen on Myers and Depache. For all the earth was wild and barren and lonely now. Trees had gone with the Thelon River, and moss was far to seek and little to find after much labour. Dick laughed.

"Why, he takes his turn at eating the bannock, anyway," he said, and Myers departed in fervent profanity.

Very soon Tempest discovered that Ducane had neither the strength for the portages nor the physical courage for the rapids, and he was sick always when they put the sails up and charged into choppy water. And, because he did not work, the chill of his constantly-wetted clothes struck in to the marrow of him, until Tempest feared sometimes that a real sickness would force an indefinite halt on these Barren Grounds.

It was on the night following a long and dangerous day