It was again night, though a week of nights had passed since that on
which the factor had awakened to consciousness, and Ridgar had
dismissed Rette.
There was only the roar of the wind without, the whistle of the fire,
and the two men alone in the room as they had been many a winter's
night.
"Now,--where shall I begin?" said the chief trader, gazing into the
fire. "At what point?"
"Maren," said McElroy eagerly, from the bed; "begin with her."
Ridgar shook his head.
"Nay, it goes farther back. Let it begin with the leaving of De Seviere
and the coldness of my bearing to you.... Did you never think, lad,
that it was but a blind, covering the determination to help you at the
first opportunity? Thought you the friendship of years so poor a thing
as to be turned in a day? Day by day my heart ached for some word with
you, or even a glance that would make all straight; but those painted
devils watched my every move, my every look, the very intaking of my
breath, as the coyote watches the gopher-hole when the badger is below.
Only for sake of the dead chief at my feet was I given such seemingly
free leave among them,--for myself, I had been shipped as were poor De
Courtenay's Nor'westers at Wenusk Creek.
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