The Gaspards of Pine Croft: A Romance of the WindermereConnor, Ralph
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The Gaspards of Pine Croft: A Romance of the Windermere
Connor, Ralph
British Columbia -- Fiction; Canadian fiction -- 20th century
“He has saved himself this time,” he muttered. “Get to your place,
Tanna.” The girl with a loud cheery cry called again to the dogs, her
hand on the head of the leader. Once more with a whine they responded
and the toboggan was on its way again over the crusted snow.
“Now then, a little run here, the going is good,” cried Paul, picking up
his lead line. But the woman’s voice stayed him.
“Wait, Paul,” she said, raising herself on her elbow. She pushed the
hood back from her face and gazed about her at sky and woods. “No, Paul,
we shall make camp,” she said. “A storm is coming.” She pointed to the
angry sun and the four brilliant sun-dogs surrounding it. “We must make
camp, Paul, and quick. Look! There is good wood.” She pointed to a thick
clump of pines and underbrush at the edge of the lake. The young man
growled impatiently.
“We can make it,” he said in a voice of sullen desperation. “How far is
the Post yet?” She held up her two hands twice. “Twenty miles yet!” he
exclaimed in dismay. “We could make it before morning,” he added
stubbornly.
“Yes, if the storm kept off and if I could walk,” said the woman, a
bitter weariness in her voice.
Quickly Paul surrendered. “We will camp,” he said, swinging off toward
the bushy pine bluff. “Come on, Lynx, you!” With a glad whimper the dogs
strained on their traces and set off on a limping gallop. They knew as
well as any that the welcome camp ground lay before them.
In among the thick undergrowth of scrub pine they dragged the toboggan
where they found shelter from the cutting wind.
“Lie where you are, Mammy,” said Paul. “We will have a fire in a minute
or two.” The woman turned over with a groan.
“Is it very bad, Mammy?” said the little girl, kneeling down beside the
toboggan.
“The pain? That matters not,” said the woman bitterly. “It is hard to
drag you all back, perhaps to——” she paused abruptly.
“Everybody at work!” shouted Paul, seizing the axe and slashing down
with swift, sure blows the young spruce and balsams, and flinging them
in a heap near the toboggan. Swiftly the little girl fell upon them with
a long hunting knife, slicing off the boughs for the bed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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