Without a
word McElroy took his punishment as the lagging became more pronounced
from arms overtaxed at the paddles, but the long-haired adventurer from
the Saskatchewan taunted them to their faces.
Taunt and fling were unavailing. Of an unearthly poise were these
savages from the distant north. With grinning good humour they withheld
their anger, knowing full well that time would doubly repay.
Here and there among them appeared those worst monsters of the wilds,
INDIANS WITH BLUE EYES AND SQUARED-OUT TOES.
Far up ahead went forward the canoe of the dead chief, with Edmonton
Ridgar sitting in silence among the blackened warriors.
Never once did he glance backward, never once at the night camps did he
come near his factor.
Throughout the long days McElroy pondered this in his heart and turned
it over and over without satisfaction. Unable to form any conclusion he
fell to thinking of their friendship and of the gentle nature of the
man, the unbending faith of him.
It was all a sorry riddle.
"Brace up, M'sieu," De Courtenay would laugh, even in the midst of
exhaustion; "sing,--smile,--perhaps it will be only the stake, not
something worse.
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