Page:GB Lancaster--law-bringer.djvu/386

384 guments. A month of sleigh-driving behind the ringing horse-bells; of impatient waiting at side-way houses for a team; of cold beds and discomfort and the magic of the North pulling at his heart-strings and the shame of his purpose heavy on his soul. He faced that knowledge, looking out into the white world with sullen eyes and bitten lips. Again Life was making a jest of him. But this time he could not fling the jest back. The barb had gone too deep. His pride was touched, and he could not contemplate the loss of that even in his secret heart and hold his head up.

He looked worn and thin and sulky when he knocked the snow of Grey Wolf off his over-boots on the familiar step and went into the barracks to report to Sergeant Jones. And the sight of the florid, fleshy little man in the chair which had once been Tempest's did not ease his spirit. Sergeant Jones had many things to say, and the short winter twilight had already shut down when Dick escaped and went through the kitchen to find Poley. His impatience to see Jennifer was over-riding most things now; but the human part of him had to obey the calls of cold and hunger. And something of the keen edge of his temper softened at the old man's welcome, and at the hot food, and the warmth, and at Kennedy bursting in, rosy-faced and incoherent with delight.

The boy looked older, with little lines showing already about the corners of his eyes. His manner was more assured, and Dick looked on that piece of his work with pleasure. He was going out of it all, and Kennedy was exactly the kind of fellow to curse him with tears in his eyes and the bitterest profanity he knew. But he would not be able to forget that Dick had made him. The mess-room was dearly familiar, with the smells of old from the kitchen and the mat before the stove where Dick's pipe had burnt a hole. And Poley was dearly familiar, with his red rough beard where the grey hairs showed and his watery blue eyes either side the bloated nose. The man who had taken Dick's place was away, and Dick was thankful. For one little hour he lived here again in his own right. Then he stood up.

"I think I'll go round and see if Grey Wolf has got all