"
The tall girl turned away with her morning's kettle of fresh water, and
the man stood by the well watching her swinging easily to its weight,
forgetful of the canoes, manned and waiting on the river's breast for
their leader, forgetful of the factor .of the post, waiting in the
shadow of the wall, on whose face there sat a deeper shade.
Then he turned and ran lightly down the bank, leaped into the canoe
held ready, once more bowed, and as the little craft swept out to
midstream, he shook back his curls and lifted his face toward the
country of the Saskatchewan.
CHAPTER VI SPRING TRADE
So passed out of Fort de Seviere one who was destined to be interwoven
with its fortunes.
Anders McElroy watched him go until the shadow of the great trees on
the eastern shore, long in the level sun, quenched the light on his
silken head and the men of the five canoes had taken up a song of the
boats, their voices lifting clear and fresh on the wings of the new
day, until the first canoe turned with the curve of the river above and
was lost, the second and the third, and even until the last had passed
from view and only the song came back.
Then he turned back into the gate and the tender mouth that was all
Irish above the square Scottish jaw was set tight together.
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