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Updated: May 3, 2025
They evidently did not feel inclined to "come to the scratch." Yet they saw by the peculiar way in which their master grasped his cudgel, that it would be worse for both of them if they did not obey. "Well," said Ladoc, turning with a somewhat candid smile to Rollo, "I's willin' to shake hands if you be." He held out his hand to Rollo, who took it in a shamefaced sort of way and then dropped it.
He said nothing at first, but, from the quiet settled expression of his face, the men felt convinced that he did not mean to let it pass. He ordered Ladoc to repair the roof forthwith, and bade Rollo commence a general clearing-up. He also set the other men to various occupations, and gave each to understand, that when his job was finished he might return to breakfast.
There was a titter amongst the men at the 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.
The monotony of the night march to the fishery was enlivened by the unexpected apparition of a boat. There was just enough of moonlight to render it dimly visible a few hundred yards from the shore. "Indians!" exclaimed Ladoc, breaking silence for the first time since they set out. "The stroke is too steady and regular for Indians," said Jack. "Boat ahoy!"
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 red 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.
"The next station is how many miles did you say?" "Six, monsieur." "Ah, six! well, let us 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 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.
Ladoc vanished with an abrupt, "Oui, monsieur," and Jack proceeded, with a real smile on his good-humoured face, to equip himself for the road.
Before Ladoc, 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.
"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, go on, Marteau, you were saying something about the bears and seals." "It's not easy to say which of them is worst, sir.
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