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"Get aboard as quick as you can!" Festing was swung across the river, but waited until Charnock arrived, when they ran up the hill to the former's shack. The fire was out and Festing's face was blue, while Charnock's teeth chattered as he threw off his clothes. Festing gave him another suit. "I'm afraid they're not very dry, but they're the best I've got," he said. "You did a plucky thing, Bob."
She liked to think he was compassionate. As a matter of fact, Festing's pity was soon mixed with rage as he came upon a scene of barbarous cruelty. Three or four rabbits lay quiet upon the grass, but there were others that struggled feebly at his approach; their eyes protruding and strangling wires cutting into their throats.
"Then why didn't you put the bush right before you started?" "I don't know. I expect you think it's typical." Helen laughed. Bob was taking the proper line, and she studied him with curiosity. He looked older than she thought, but remembering Festing's hints, she did not see the mark of dissipation she had expected.
"Well, I suppose it was an infliction to be forced to talk." Festing's annoyance vanished. "I mustn't make too much of it. I really don't object to talking when I've finished my work." "When do you finish your work, Stephen?" "That's a fair shot! In summer, I stop when it's too dark to see. The annoying thing wasn't so much the stopping as Bob's attitude.
One must work or go, and when a cascade of gravel poured off the cars as the plow moved along he pulled himself together. It began to rain soon afterwards and he had left his slickers at the bunk-house, but he stuck to his work, while the sweat the effort caused him ran down his face, until the whistle blew. Then he went limply up the hill to Festing's shack.
He paused with a dry smile. "I allow you're smart enough to figure this out." "I have," said Sadie. "There's much I don't know and couldn't learn here. If I'm to move up, my husband must help." "Then I only know two men round the settlement who could help. Festing's my choice." A wave of color flushed Sadie's white skin, but her voice was quiet. "He isn't mine.
Old sweetheart of his in England, though he turned her down to marry Sadie. Now she's got hold of him again tired of Festing or has a pick on Mrs. Charnock, perhaps. Anyhow, Bob's round the Festing place all the time, and I don't know that I blame him much. Mrs. Festing's a looker and Sadie's a difficult woman to live with." "But what has Festing got to say?" Wilkinson laughed.
Then he got on his feet awkwardly and set off for Festing's shack. The rain and cold revived him, but walking was difficult, and when he reached the shack he fell into a chair. Festing was not in, and Charnock remembered he had said something about having extra work to do.
"We are through the worst!" Then he caught Festing's arm and laughed. "Say something wise, partner; I want to shout and dance." "You had better go to bed. It will be thawing hard to-morrow, and there's much to be done. A Chinook doesn't last long in the mountains." "This Chinook is going to last until we put the rails down," Charnock replied.
Then he flung up his arm, a second too late, for Festing struck him a smashing blow and he staggered, with the blood running down his face. He recovered in a moment, and seizing a billiard cue brought the thick end down on Festing's head.
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