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"To the Fort," said Ambrose. "You don't have to come." "We are together," said Simon grimly. Ambrose, deeply moved by gratitude, growled inarticulately. He felt himself young to stand alone against such powerful forces. Crossing the river, they landed below the big yellow house and applied at the side door for Colina. She had returned from her ride, they were told.
I haven't told him yet what has happened; but Dr. Giddings and I agreed that he must be told. He never mixes with the natives." "Of course he must know your father was wounded, but he needn't be told how seriously. And I would issue orders to him as if they came from your father's bed." "How can I?" said Colina. "I know nothing of the business." "I can help you," said Ambrose "if you want me to.
The minute I saw you I knew how it was. I knew I had to have you or live like a priest till I died." Colina was not to be comforted. "You think so now!" she said. "Later, when you have tired of me a little, or if we quarreled, you would remember that I I was too easily won!" "Ah, don't!" he cried exasperated. "If you say it again I'll have to swear. What more can I say? I love you like my life!
Peter inquired facetiously. Eelip was Poly's wife. "Eelip?" queried Poly, surprised. "Colina is the trader's daughter," he carefully explained. "She live in the big house. I would cut off my hand to serve her." "I suppose Miss Colina has plenty of suitors?" said Peter. Ambrose hung with suspended breath on the reply. Poly shook his curly pate. "Who is there for her?" he demanded.
I have to keep telling myself you are only a woman of flesh and blood like myself else I would be groveling on the floor at your feet, and you would despise me!" Colina stared at him in haughty silence. "I love you!" he whispered with odd abruptness. "No woman need be insulted by hearing that. You came upon me to-day like a bolt of lightning. You have put your mark on me for life!
"In the slack season," she murmured sarcastically. "I couldn't have come in the winter," he said naïvely. Colina despised herself for disputing with him. She knew she ought to have left at once but she was unable to think of a sufficiently telling remark to cover a dignified retreat. "You are presumptuous!" she said haughtily. "Presumptuous?" he repeated with a puzzled air.
"I can't believe he's as bad as you say," said Colina gravely. "Why, he was here long before I was born. But I will be prudent. With your help I'll try to run things myself." Ambrose sent her a grateful glance shot with apprehension. He dreaded what was still to come. "This question of the price of the wheat," Colina went on; "we have to give him an answer or confess father is very ill."
"He married a Cree, didn't he?" inquired Gaviller casually. Colina glanced at her father in surprise. This was hardly playing fair according to her notions. "A half-breed," corrected Ambrose. "Of course, Eva Lajeunesse, I remember now," said Gaviller. "She was quite famous around Caribou Lake some years ago." Ambrose with an effort kept his temper. "She has made him a good wife," he said loyally.
This was Cora, a stolid Cree half-breed, doggedly devoted to her mistress and accustomed to receiving her impulsive orders like inscrutable commands from Heaven. Upon being notified, therefore, that they were about to set off on a long journey overland instead of by the launch, she set to work to get ready without surprise or question. Colina wrote the letter to Ambrose and another to her father.
"I'm not quarreling," she said with an odd, flinty quietness. "I'm trying to find out something necessary for me to know. You might as well answer. Do you think the breed was justified in shooting my father?" Ambrose, baited beyond endurance, cried: "I do! He went into the man's house and laid hands on his property. Even a breed has rights." Colina bowed her head as if in polite acceptance.
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