United States or Svalbard and Jan Mayen ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
This time with infinite difficulty they made fifty yards, and Alton's face showed what his silence had cost him when they set him down again. Seaforth stooped and drew the blanket about him with a great gentleness. "We did our best. I'd change places with you, Harry, if I could," he said.
"I have come from Carnaby, England," said Deringham, watching the effect upon the man. "You are, I presume the grandson of its late owner." This shot got home, but the effect was not altogether what Deringham had anticipated, for Alton's big hands tightened on the axe and his face grew very stern. "I'm not proud of the connection, anyway," he said. "Alton of Somasco is good enough for me."
Alton's face was once more flushed, and the girl fancied his fingers quivered a little, but while he sat silent there was a tapping at the door and an urchin flung a journal into the room. "Colonist," he said, and vanished suddenly. Forel, who appeared glad of the diversion, picked up the paper, and then stood up. "News at last," he said excitedly.
Seaforth wondered a little, because the snow lay a foot deep in the bush and he could have filled the kettle beside the fire, but he floundered down to the river and felt a little more prepared to face what must be done when he returned. When he did so he found that Tom had rolled back Alton's jean trousers to the knee, and saw a red smear that broadened across the brawny limb.
Seaforth smiled dryly. "There is no use in denying it, because you did," he said. Alton's face grew clouded. "I'd have bitten my tongue right through if I'd known. There were one or two things I'd been through that would come back to me, things one would sooner forget." Seaforth appeared thoughtful, but evidently decided that frankness was best.
You see, Atkinson told us one night at mess, and I was inclined to fancy he came near including you in the bag." Alton's face was suspiciously grave, but his answer strengthened the incipient friendship between the men. "It is a little difficult for a stranger to distinguish things in the bush." Thorne nodded. "You had Deringham and Miss Deringham staying with you?" "Yes," said Alton.
"A little plainer, Charley." "You have Somasco, the liking of all the ranchers down the valley, the timber rights and mill. You have also Carnaby, and most folks would think you a fortunate man. Now the man who wants too much is occasionally sorry when he gets it." Alton's eyes glinted. "I have a partner, too, who doesn't know where to stop," he said. Seaforth met his comrade's gaze steadily.
Alton appears to have been doubtful respecting his right to Carnaby, and seems to have felt in the first place that it would not be fitting for him to receive as a favour what was his father's by right. I do not know that many men would have regarded it in that light." "I think," said the girl with a little quickening of her pulses, "that Mr. Alton's view was right!"
Again the darker colour showed in Alton's bronzed forehead, but he spoke gravely. "I don't think that's quite fair," he said.
"Pleased to see you again, Miss Deringham." She got no further, for the girl, who looked her full in the face, passed on, and the other woman flushed a trifle. "I'm afraid she must have heard you," said somebody. "Miss Deringham is, I believe, a connection of Alton's, and Hettie Forel hinted there was something more than that between them.
Word Of The Day