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twg_000012588000 | Rollo to look a little confused. "Come along, lads, we'll begin at once," he continued, "it will be full tide in an hour or so. Get the tackle ready, Francois; the rest of you set to work, and clear away the stones and rubbish from under her sides." Jack threw off his coat, and began to work like a hero--as | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588001 | he was. The others followed his example; and the result was that when the tide rose to its full height the sloop was freed of all the rubbish that had collected round the hull; the block tackle was affixed to the mast; the rope attached to a tree on the opposite side of the creek; and the party were ready | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588002 | to haul. But although they hauled until their sinews cracked, and the large veins of their necks and foreheads swelled almost to bursting, the sloop did not move an inch. The tide began to fall, and in a few minutes that opportunity was gone. There were not many such tides to count on, so Jack applied all his energies ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588003 | ingenuity to the work. By the time the next tide rose they had felled two large pines, and applied them to the side of the vessel. Two of the party swung at the ends of these; the other two hauled on the block-tackle. This time the sloop moved a little at the full flood; but the moment of hope soon | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588004 | passed, and the end was not yet attained. The next tide was the last high one. They worked like desperate men during the interval. The wedge was the mechanical power which prevailed at last. Several wedges were inserted under the vessel's side, and driven home. Thus the sloop was canted over a little towards the water.... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588005 | at the full, one man hauled at the tackle, two men swung at the ends of the levers, and Jack hammered home the wedges at each heave and pull; thus securing every inch of movement. The result was that the sloop slid slowly down the bank into deep water. It is wonderful how small a matter will arouse human enthusiasm! | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588006 | The cheer that was given on the successful floating of the _Fairy_ was certainly as full of fervour, if not of volume, as that which followed the launching of the _Great Eastern_. Setting sail down the gulf they ran before a fair breeze which speedily increased to a favouring gale. Before night a small bay was descried... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588007 | on the shore. This was the new fort. They ran into the bay, grazing a smooth rock in their passage, which caused the _Fairy_ to tremble from stem to stern, and cast anchor close to a wooden jetty. On the end of this a solitary individual, (apparently a maniac), was seen capering and yelling wildly. "What fort is this?"... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588008 | Jack. "Sorrow wan o' me knows," cried the maniac; "it's niver been christened yet. Faix, if it's a fort at all, I'd call it Fort Disolation. Och! but it's lonesome I've been these three days--niver a wan here but meself an' the ghosts. Come ashore, darlints, and comfort me!" "Fort Desolation, indeed!" muttered Jack Rob... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588009 | sadly; "not a bad name. I'll adopt it. Lower the boat, lads." Thus Jack took possession of his new home. CHAPTER THREE. DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL MATTERS. Jack Robinson's first proceeding on entering the new fort and assuming the command, was to summon the man, (supposed to be a maniac), named Teddy O'Donel, to his presenc... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588010 | is Teddy O'Donel?" said Jack. "The same, sir, at your sarvice," said Teddy, with a respectful pull at his forelock. "They was used to call me _Mister_ O'Donel when I was in the army, but I've guv that up long ago an' dropped the title wid the commission." "Indeed: then you were a commissioned officer?" inquired Jack, w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588011 | "Be no manes. It was a slight longer title than that I had. They called me a non-commissioned officer. I niver could find in me heart to consociate wid them consaited commissioners--though there was wan or two of 'em as was desarvin' o' the three stripes. But I niver took kindly to sodgerin'. It was in the Howth militi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588012 | was. Good enough boys they was in their way, but I couldn't pull wid them no how. They made me a corp'ral for good conduct, but, faix, the great review finished me; for I got into that state of warlike feeling that I loaded me muskit five times widout firin', an' there was such a row round about that I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588013 | didn't know the dirty thing had niver wint off till the fifth time, when she bursted into smithereens an' wint off intirely. No wan iver seed a scrag of her after that. An' the worst was, she carried away the small finger of Bob Riley's left hand. Bob threw down his muskit an' ran off the ground howlin', so I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588014 | picked the wipon up an' blazed away at the inimy; but, bad luck to him, Bob had left his ramrod in, and I sint it right through the flank of an owld donkey as was pullin' an apple and orange cart. Oh! how that baste did kick up its heels, to be sure! and the apples and oranges they was | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588015 | flyin' like--Well, well--the long and the short was, that I wint an' towld the colonel I couldn't stop no longer in such a regiment. So I guv it up an' comed out here." "And became a fur-trader," said Jack Robinson, with a smile. "Just so, sur, an' fort-builder to boot; for, being a jiner to trade and handy wid the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588016 | tools, Mr Murray sent me down here to build the place and take command, but I s'pose I'm suppersheeded now!" "Well, I believe you are, Teddy; but I hope that you will yet do good service as my lieutenant." The beaming smile on Teddy's face showed that he was well pleased to be relieved from the responsibilities of offi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588017 | said he, "the throuble I have had wid the min an' the salvages for the last six weeks--it's past belavin'! An' thin, whin I sint the men down to the river to fush--more nor twinty miles off--an' whin the salvages wint away and left me alone wid only wan old salvage woman!-- och! I'd not wish my worst inimy in | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588018 | me sitivation." "Then the savages have been giving you trouble, have they?" "They have, sur, but not so much as the min." "Well, Teddy," said Jack, "go and fetch me something to eat, and then you shall sit down and give me an account of things in general. But first give my men food." "Sure they've got it," replied Tedd... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588019 | with a broad grin. "That spalpeen they calls Rollo axed for meat the first thing, in a voice that made me think he'd ait me up alive av he didn't git it. So I guv 'em the run o' the pantry. What'll yer plaze to dhrink, sur?" "What have you got?" "Tay and coffee, sur, not to mintion wather. There's | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588020 | only flour an' salt pork to ait, for this is a bad place for game. I've not seed a bird or a bear for three weeks, an' the seals is too cute for me. But I'll bring ye the best that we've got." Teddy O'Donel hastened to the kitchen, a small log-hut in rear of the dwelling-house, and left Jack | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588021 | Robinson alone in the "Hall." Jack rose, thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and walked to the window. It was glazed with parchment, with the exception of the centre square, which was of glass. "Pleasant, uncommonly pleasant," he muttered, as he surveyed the landscape. In front lay a flat beach of sand with the gul... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588022 | veiled in mist. Up the river there was a flat beach with a hill beyond. It was a black iron-looking hill, devoid of all visible verdure, and it plunged abruptly down into the sea as if it were trying fiercely to drown itself. Down the river there was a continuation of flat beach, with, apparently, nothing whatever beyo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588023 | objects that enlivened the dreary expanse were, the sloop at the end of the wooden jetty and a small flagstaff in front of the house, from which a flag was flying in honour of the arrival of the new governor. At the foot of this flagstaff there stood an old iron cannon, which looked pugnacious and cross, as if it | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588024 | longed to burst itself and blow down all visible creation. Jack Robinson's countenance became a simple blank as he took the first survey of his new dominions. Suddenly a gleam of hope flitted across the blank. "Perhaps the back is better," he muttered, opening the door that led to the rear of the premises. In order to ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588025 | had to pass through the kitchen, where he found his men busy with fried pork and flour cakes, and his lieutenant, Teddy, preparing coffee. "What is that?" inquired Jack, pointing to a small heap of brown substance which Teddy was roasting in a frying-pan. "Sure it's coffee," said the man. "Eh?" inquired Jack. "Coffee, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588026 | is it made of?" inquired Jack. "Bread-crumbs, sur. I'm used to make it of pais, but it takes longer, d'ye see, for I've got to pound 'em in a cloth after they're roasted. The crumbs is a'most as good as the pais, an' quicker made whin yer in a hurry." Jack's first impulse was to countermand the crumbs and order | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588027 | tea, but he refrained, and went out to survey the back regions of his new home. He found that the point selected for the establishment of the fort was a plain of sand, on which little herbage of any kind grew. In rear of the house there was a belt of stunted bushes, which, as he went onward into the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588028 | interior, became a wood of stunted firs. This seemed to grow a little more dense farther inland, and finally terminated at the base of the distant and rugged mountains of the interior. In fact, he found that he was established on a sandbank which had either been thrown up by the sea, or at no very remote period had for... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588029 | part of its bed. Returning home so as to enter by the front door, he observed an enclosed space a few hundred yards distant from the fort. Curious to know what it was, he walked up to it, and, looking over the stockade, beheld numerous little mounds of sand with wooden crosses at the head of them. It was the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588030 | burial-ground of the establishment. Trade had been carried on here by a few adventurous white men before the fort was built. Some of their number having died, a space had been enclosed as a burying-ground. The Roman Catholic Indians afterwards used it, and it was eventually consecrated with much ceremony by a priest. W... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588031 | of intelligence was removed, Jack Robinson returned to the fort and sat down in solitary state in the hall. In the act of sitting down he discovered that the only arm-chair in the room was unsteady on its legs, these being of unequal length. There were two other chairs without arms, and equally unsteady on their legs. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588032 | as everything in the room, were made of fir-wood-- as yet unpainted. In the empty fire-place Jack observed a piece of charcoal, which he took up and began, in an absent way, to sketch on the white wall. He portrayed a raving maniac as large as life, and then, sitting down, began insensibly to hum-- "I dreamt that I dwe... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588033 | in marble halls." In the midst of which he was interrupted by the entrance of his lieutenant with a tray of viands. "Ah, yer a purty creatur," exclaimed Teddy, pausing with a look of admiration before the maniac. "Come, Teddy, sit down and let's have the news. What have we here?" said Jack, looking at three covered pla... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588034 | placed before him. "Salt pork fried," said Teddy removing the cover. "And here?" "Salt pork biled," said the man, removing the second cover; "an' salt pork cold," he added, removing the third. "You see, sur, I wasn't sure which way ye'd like it, an' ye was out whin I come to ax; so I just did it up in three | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588035 | fashions. Here's loaf bread, an' it's not bad, though I say it that made it." As Jack cut down into the loaf, he naturally remembered those lines of a well-known writer: "Who has not tasted home-made bread, A heavy compound of putty and lead!" "Are these cakes?" he said, as Teddy presented another plate with something ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588036 | pancakes they is, made of flour an' wather fried in grease, an' the best of aitin', as ye'll find;--but, musha! they've all stuck together from some raison I han't yet diskivered: but they'll be none the worse for that, and there's plenty of good thick molasses to wash 'em down wid." "And this," said Jack, pointing to ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588037 | kettle, "is the-- the--" "That's the coffee, sur." "Ah! well, sit down, Teddy, I have seen worse fare than this. Let's be thankful for it. Now, then, let me hear about the fishery." Nothing pleased Teddy O'Donel so much as being allowed to talk. He sat down accordingly and entertained his master for the next hour with ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588038 | and particular account of every thing connected with Fort Desolation. We will not, however, inflict this on the reader. Reduced to its narrowest limits, his information was to the following effect:-- That the Indians, generally, were well disposed towards the traders, though difficult to please. That a good many furs h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588039 | more coming in. That the salmon fishery was situated on a river twenty miles below the fort, and was progressing favourably; but that the five men engaged there were a quarrelsome set and difficult to keep in order. Teddy thought, however, that it was all owing to one of the men, named Ladoc, a bully, who kept the othe... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588040 | in bad humour. But the point on which poor Teddy dilated most was his solitude. For some time he had been living with no other companions than an old Indian woman and her half-caste daughter, and they having left him, during the last three days he had been living entirely alone "among the ghosts," many of which he desc... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588041 | This intelligence was brought to an abrupt close by a row among the men in the kitchen. Rollo had been boasting of his walking powers to such an extent, that Pierre had become disgusted and spoke contemptuously of Rollo; whereupon the bully, as usual, began to storm, and his wrath culminated when Pierre asserted that, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588042 | to his marrow-bones ere long." "Jack Robinson!" exclaimed Rollo with contempt; "I'd walk him blind in two hours." Just at that moment the door opened, and Jack stood before them. "You are too noisy, men," said he, in a quiet voice, (Jack almost always spoke in a soft voice); "remember that this kitchen is within hearin... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588043 | go down to the beach and haul up the sloop's boat, I see the tide is making on her." Rollo hesitated. "You hear?" said Jack, still in a quiet tone, but with a look--not a fierce look, or a threatening look, but--a peculiar look, which instantly took effect. One has often observed a cat when about to spring. It makes | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588044 | many pauses in its prowling towards its prey, and occasional motions that lead one to expect a spring. But the motion which precedes the actual spring is always emphatic. It may not be violent; it may be as slight as all the previous motions, but there is that in it which tells irresistibly, somehow, of a fixed purpose... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588045 | it, doubtless, with tigers; so was it with Jack Robinson. His first remark to the men was a prowl; his order to Rollo was a pause, with an _intention_; his "you hear?" softly said, had a _something_ in it which induced Rollo to accord instant obedience! On returning to the hall, Jack paced up and down indignantly. "So ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588046 | _two_ bullies in the camp," he soliloquised; "I must cure them both;--but softly, Jack. It won't do to fight if you can secure peace by other means. Let blows be the last resource. That's my motto. He'll walk me blind! Well, we shall see, _to-morrow_!" CHAPTER FOUR. TAMING A BULLY. The morrow came, and Jack Robinson ro... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588047 | Long before his men were astir he had inspected the few books and papers of the establishment, had examined the condition of the fur and goods store, and had otherwise made himself acquainted with the details of the fort; having gone over its general features with Teddy the day before. When the "lieutenant" arose, he f... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588048 | master having been everywhere before him, and noted the fact! As Teddy was by no means a man of order--although a good and trustworthy man--there was enough to be done before breakfast. Jack purposely put Rollo into the kitchen to prepare the morning meal, this being comparatively light work. He himself worked with the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588049 | was necessarily a great deal of lifting and shifting and clearing, in all of which operations he took the heaviest part of the work, and did his work better and more thoroughly than any of the others. Teddy observed this also, and noted the fact! At breakfast there was naturally a good deal of talk among the men, and s... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588050 | mention was of course made of the energy of their master. Breakfast over, Jack assembled the men and apportioned to each his day's work. "I myself," said he, "mean to walk down to the fishery to-day, and I leave O'Donel in charge; I shall be back to-morrow. Rollo, you will prepare to accompany me." "Yes, sir," answered... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588051 | knowing very well how to take this. The others glanced at each other intelligently as they departed to their work. A few minutes sufficed for preparation, and soon Jack stood with his rifle on his shoulder in front of the house. Rollo quickly made his appearance with an old trading gun. "You can leave that, we won't re... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588052 | Jack; "besides I want to walk fast, so it is well that you should be as light as possible." "No fear but I'll keep up with you, sir," said the man, somewhat piqued. "I do not doubt it," replied Jack, "but one gun is enough for us, so put yours by, and come along." Rollo obeyed, and resolved in his | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588053 | heart that he would give his new master a taste of his powers. Jack started off at a good rattling pace, somewhat over four miles an hour. For the first mile Rollo allowed him to lead, keeping about a foot behind. Then he thought to himself, "Now, my friend, I'll try you," and ranged up beside him, keeping a few | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588054 | yards to one side, however, in order to avoid the appearance of racing. After a few minutes he pushed the pace considerably, and even went ahead of his companion; but, ere long, Jack was alongside and the pace increased to nearly five miles an hour. Only those who have tried it know, or can fully appreciate, what is me... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588055 | adding a mile an hour to one's pace. Most active men go at four miles an hour when walking at a good smart pace. Men _never_ walk at five miles an hour except when in the utmost haste, and then only for a short distance. Anything beyond that requires a run in order to be sustained. It was curious to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588056 | watch the progress of these two men. The aim of each was to walk at his greatest possible speed, without allowing the slightest evidence of unwonted exertion to appear on his countenance or in his manner. They walked on the sands of the shore--there being no roads there--and at first the walking was good, as the tide w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588057 | the sand hard. But before they had got half way to the fishery the sea came in and drove them to the soft sand, which, as nearly every one knows, is terribly fatiguing and difficult to walk in. Up to this point the two men had kept abreast, going at a tremendous pace, yet conversing quietly and keeping down every | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588058 | appearance of distress; affecting, in fact, to be going at their usual and natural pace! Many a sidelong glance did Rollo cast, however, at his companion, to see if he were likely to give in soon. But Jack was as cool as a cucumber, and wore a remarkably amiable expression of countenance. He even hummed snatches of one... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588059 | songs, as though he were only sauntering on the beach. At last he took out his pipe, filled it, and began to smoke, without slackening speed. This filled Rollo with surprise, and for the first time he began to entertain doubts as to the result of the struggle. As for Jack, he never doubted it for a moment. When they | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588060 | were compelled to take to the heavy sand and sank above the ankles at every step, he changed his tactics. Putting out his pipe, he fell behind a few paces. "Ha!" thought Rollo, "done up at last; now I'll give it you." The thought that he was sure of victory infused such spirit into the man that he braced himself | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588061 | to renewed exertion. This was just what Jack wanted. He kept exactly a foot behind Rollo, yet when the other ventured to slacken his pace, (which was now too great to be kept up), he pushed forward just enough to keep him at it, without disheartening him as to result. In the midst of this they both came to a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588062 | full stop on discovering a box made of birch bark, which seemed to have been dropped by some passing Indians. "Hallo! what have we here?" cried Jack, stooping down to examine it. "My blessin' on't whatever it is," thought Rollo, to whom the momentary relief from walking was of the greatest consequence. Jack knew this, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588063 | was a box of bear's fat. "Come, not a bad thing in times like these," observed Jack; "will you carry this or the rifle, my man? See, the rifle is lighter, take that." Again they stepped out, and the sand seemed to grow softer and deeper as they advanced. They were now five miles from the end of their journey, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588064 | so Jack began to exert himself. He pushed on at a pace that caused Rollo to pant and blow audibly. For some time Jack pretended not to notice this, but at last he turned round and said-- "You seem to be fatigued, my man, let me carry the rifle." Rollo did not object, and Jack went forward with the box | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588065 | and rifle more rapidly than before. He was perspiring, indeed, at every pore profusely, but wind and limb were as sound as when he started. He finally left Rollo out of sight, and arrived at the fishery without him! Half an hour afterwards Rollo arrived. He was a stout fellow, and by taking a short rest, had recovered ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588066 | come in with some degree of spirit; nevertheless, it was evident to all that he was "used up," for, "it is not the distance but the pace that kills!" He found the fishermen at dinner, buttering their cakes with the bear's grease that had been discovered on the way down. Jack Robinson was sitting in the midst of them, c... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588067 | quietly and smoking his pipe beside the fire-place of the hut. Jack introduced him as one of the new men, but made no reference to the walk from Fort Desolation. He felt, however, that he had conquered the man, at least for that time, and hoped that further and more violent methods would not be necessary. In this he wa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588068 | disappointed, as the sequel will show. That night Jack slept on a bed made of old salmon-nets, with a new salmon-net above him for a blanket. It was a peculiar and not a particularly comfortable bed; but in his circumstances he could have slept on a bed of thorns. He gazed up at the stars through the hole in the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588069 | roof that served for a chimney, and listened to the chirping of the frogs in a neighbouring swamp, to which the snoring of the men around him formed a rough-and-ready bass. Thus he lay gazing and listening, till stars and strains alike melted away, and left him in the sweet regions of oblivion. CHAPTER FIVE. THE SALMON... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588070 | Jack Robinson went out at daybreak to inspect the salmon fishery. The river, up which the fish went in thousands, was broad, deep, and rapid. Its banks were clothed with spruce-fir and dense underwood. There was little of the picturesque or the beautiful in the scenery. It was a bleak spot and unattractive. Two of the ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588071 | the fishery were stationed at the mouth of the river. The other two attended to the nets about six miles farther up, at a place where there was a considerable fall terminating in a long, turbulent rapid. With his wonted promptitude and energy, Jack began to make himself master of his position long before the men were s... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588072 | who was superintendent, had lighted his first pipe and strolled down to the boat to commence the operations of the day, Jack had examined the nets, the salt boxes, the curing-vats, the fish in pickle, the casks, and all the other _materiel_ of the fishery, with a critical eye. From what he saw, he was convinced that La... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588073 | the best manager that could be desired, and, remembering that Ladoc was a bully, he was strengthened in an opinion which he had long entertained, namely, that a bully is never a trustworthy man. He was in the act of forming this opinion, when Ladoc approached. "Good morning, Ladoc," said he; "you rise early." "Oui, sai... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588074 | more earlier." "Yes, I am fond of morning air. The fishery prospers, I see." "It doos, monsieur," said Ladoc, accepting the remark as a compliment to himself; "ve have catch fifteen casks already, and they is in most splendid condition." "Hum!" ejaculated Jack, with a doubtful look at a cask which was evidently leaking... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588075 | pretty well, but--" Here Jack "hummed" again, and looked pointedly at one of the large vats, which was also leaking, and around which there was a great deal of salt that had been scattered carelessly on the ground. Raising big eyes to the roof of the low shed in which the salt-boxes stood, he touched with his stick a t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588076 | piece of its tarpaulin covering, through which rain had found its way in bad weather. He "hummed" again, but said nothing, for he saw that Ladoc was a little disconcerted. After some minutes Jack turned to his companion with a bland smile, and said-- "The next station is--how many miles did you say?" "Six, monsieur." "... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588077 | go up and see it. You can show me the way." "Breakfast be ready ver' soon," said Ladoc, "monsieur vill eat first, p'r'aps?" "No, we will breakfast at the upper station. Ho, Rollo! here, I want you." Rollo, who issued from the hut at the moment, with a view to examine the weather and light his pipe, came forward. "I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588078 | am going with Ladoc to the upper station," said Jack; "you will take his place here until we return." "Very well, sir," replied Rollo, fixing his eyes upon Ladoc. At the same moment Ladoc fixed his eyes on Rollo. The two men seemed to read each other's character in a single glance, and then and there hurled silent defi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588079 | each other's teeth through their eyes! Ladoc was annoyed at having been silently found fault with and superseded; Rollo was aggrieved at being left behind; both men were therefore enraged--for it is wonderful how small a matter is sufficient to enrage a bully--but Jack ordered Ladoc to lead the way, so the rivals, or e... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588080 | of defiance. That day, Jack Robinson had a somewhat rough and remarkable experience of life. He began by overhauling the nets at the mouth of the river, and these were so prolific that the small flat-bottomed boat used by the fishermen was soon half filled with glittering salmon, varying from ten to fifteen pounds in w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588081 | having his mocassins and nether garments soiled, Jack, who pulled the sculls, sat with bare feet and tucked-up trousers. In less than an hour he rowed back to the landing-place, literally up to the knees in salmon! Among these were a few young seals that had got entangled in the nets, while in pursuit of the fish, and ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588082 | These last were filled with water to such an extent, that they resembled inflated bladders! "Breakfast is ready, sir," said one of the men, as the boat-party leaped ashore. "Very good," replied Jack; turning to Ladoc, "now, my man, are you ready to start for the upper fishery?" "Eh? ah--oui, monsieur." There was a titt... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588083 | expression of their big comrade's face, for Ladoc was ravenously hungry, and felt inclined to rebel at the idea of being obliged to start on a six-miles' walk without food; but as his young master was about to do the same he felt that it was beneath his dignity to complain. Besides, there was a _something_ peculiar abo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588084 | that puzzled and overawed the man. The fact was, that Jack Robinson wanted to know what his bullies were made of, and took rather eccentric methods of finding it out. He accordingly set off at his best pace, and pushed Ladoc so hard, that he arrived at the upper fishery in a state of profuse perspiration, with a very r... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588085 | face, and with a disagreeably vacuous feeling about the pit of his stomach. They found the men at the station just landing with a boat-load of fish. They were all clean-run, and shone in the bright sunshine like bars of burnished silver. "Now, Ladoc," said Jack, "get breakfast ready, while I look over matters here." It... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588086 | that the man obeyed most willingly. His master went to examine into details. Half-an-hour sufficed to make him pretty well acquainted with the state of matters at the station, and, during breakfast, he soon obtained from the men all the knowledge they possessed about the fishery, the natives, and the region. One of the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588087 | grave, earnest fellow, who spoke English pretty well. His name was Marteau. "The seals and the bears are our worst enemies, sir," said Marteau, in the course of conversation. "Indeed! and which of the two are worst?" inquired Jack. "Another slice of pork, Ladoc, your appetite appears to be sharp this morning; thank you... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588088 | something about the bears and seals." "It's not easy to say which of them is worst, sir. I think the bears is, for the seals eat the bits that they bite out o' the fish, and so get some good of it; but the bears, they goes to the vats and pulls out the salt fish with their claws, for | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588089 | you see, sir, they can't resist the smell, but when they tries to eat 'em--ah, you should see the faces they do make! You see, they can't stand the salt, so they don't eat much, but they hauls about and tears up an uncommon lot of fish." "It must make him ver' t'irsty," observed Ladoc, swallowing a can of tea | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588090 | at a draught. "It makes one thirsty to think of it," said Jack, imitating Ladoc's example; "now, lads, we'll go and overhaul the nets." Just as he spoke, Ladoc sprang from his seat, seized Jack's gun, which leant against the wall, shouted, "A bear!" and, levelling the piece through the open doorway, took aim at the bus... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588091 | the hut. At the same moment Jack leaped forward, struck up the muzzle of the gun just as it exploded, and, seizing Ladoc by the collar, hurled him with extraordinary violence, considering his size, against the wall. "Make yourself a better hunter," said he, sternly, "before you presume to lay hands again on my gun. Loo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588092 | he spoke, in the direction in which the man had fired, where the object that had been mistaken for a bear appeared in the form of a man, crawling out of the bushes on all-fours. He seemed to move unsteadily, as if he were in pain. Running to his assistance, they found that he was an Indian, and, from the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588093 | blood that bespattered his dress and hand, it was evident that he had been wounded. He was a pitiable object, in the last stage of exhaustion. When the party ran towards him, he looked up in their faces with lustreless eyes, and then sank fainting on the ground. "Poor fellow!" said Jack, as they carried him into the hu... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588094 | placed him on one of the low beds; "he must have met with an accident, for there is no warfare in this region among the Indians to account for his being wounded." "'Tis a strange accident," said Marteau, when the man's clothes were stripped off and the wounds exposed. "An accident sometimes puts _one_ bullet through a ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588095 | puts _two_!" "True," said Jack, "this looks bad, here is a hole clean through the fleshy part of his right arm, and another through his right thigh. An enemy must have done this." On farther examination it was found that the bone of the man's leg had been smashed by the bullet, which, after passing through to the other... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588096 | of the limb, was arrested by the skin. It was easily extracted, and the wounds were dressed by Jack, who, to his many useful qualities, added a considerable knowledge of medicine and surgery. When the Indian recovered sufficiently to give an account of himself to Marteau, who understood his language perfectly, he told ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588097 | his double wound was indeed the result of an accident, and, moreover, that he had done the deed with his own hand. Doubtless it will puzzle the reader to imagine how a man could so twist himself, that with an unusually long gun he could send a bullet at one shot through his right arm and right thigh. It puzzled | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588098 | Jack and his men so much, that they were half inclined to think the Indian was not telling the truth, until he explained that about a mile above the hut, while walking through the bushes, he tripped and fell. He was carrying the gun over his shoulder in the customary Indian fashion, that is, by the muzzle, with the sto... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588099 | behind him. He fell on his hands and knees; the gun was thrown forward and struck against a tree so violently, that it exploded; in its flight it had turned completely round, so that, at the moment of discharge, the barrel was in a line with the man's arm and leg, and thus the extraordinary wound was inflicted. To craw... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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