Lucky for us the Hares have a huntincamp fifty
miles up-river. Helped byBrother Onesime, who had the artists soul.
Penned near it wasan assortment of half-starved
dogs who filled the heavens withtheir clamour.
I have been here seven years, Father Duplessis told
him. Well, shegot something mortally wrong with her innards, and was dying
allright.
The clear skies had gone,and the ceiling was not
more than a thousand feet. Here was a snug life being lived in what hadseemed a
place of death.
I want to die on my feet,if you see what I
mean.
He hadwearied of the world which He had made and
left this end of it toancient Chaos. No such travellers as Galliard and Lew
Frizelhad as yet been reported north of the railways.
If thats their game itwont be easy to hit their
trail.
But now he had no thoughts except for the job
onhand.
At thattime the Big Hare River had come out of the
mountains underground. On the way to thetent they came on an Eskimo
cemetery.
He found himself in a mood almost of regret. Once
there had been asettlement here which years ago had been abandoned. It dont do to be
trapped up here in winter. Weve got to face the chance of awinter in the mountains.
The Eskimo has never seena horse or an automobile, but he knows all about
aeroplanes.
Say,did you ever hear of the Sick Heart River? Im
just a poordevil thats been born in the wrong century.
Taverners serious face relaxed in a smile. While
Johnny slept thedeep, short sleep of the woodsman, Leithen had a word with
FatherWentzel. On it one could readclearly PAUL LOUIS GAILLARD and a date eighteen
months back. Say,did you ever hear of the Sick Heart River? The schooner was as
clean as a new pin, and the instruments as wellkept as on a man-o-war. The Eskimo
has never seena horse or an automobile, but he knows all about aeroplanes. I guess
hes got a grouse against the wholeworld. They hadcanoes, but no Indians, and had
gone in the first instance to LoneTree Lake.
He had flown little before, and the air atfirst
made him feel very sleepy. Probably he had never seen a white manbefore. He looked
at Johnnys bat ears and bullet head.
They hadcanoes, but no Indians, and had gone in the
first instance to LoneTree Lake. I was a sick man three yearsago and I came back
from Great Bear Lake champing like a prize-fighter.
So I guess that Lew and yourpal were here, for Lew
wouldnt have come on his own. I didnt get a great deal out of the old man, said
Johnny.
It dont do to be trapped up here in winter. Then he
straightened himself, filled a pipe,and had a look at Leithen.