The Big Otter - Robert Michael Ballantyne 6 стр.

Well, you see, sir, not long after my accident, there came a sharp frost which made the surface of the snow hard after the thaw, so the dogs could run on the top of the crust without breaking it, but Big Otter, bein heavy, broke throughby the way, I hope hes bein looked after.

You may be sure of that, said Spooner. I saw him safely placed in the mens house, and Salamander, who, it turns out, is a sort of relation of his, set to work to stuff him with the same sort of soup you think so much of. I only hope theyve enough to keep him going, for before I left the house he had drunk off two bowls of it almost without taking breath, though it was scalding hot.

Good. Hell do it ample justice, returned Macnab, taking another pull at his own bowl. I hope youre well provisioned, for Big Otters an awful consumer of victuals. Well, as I was saying, the surface of the snow got frozen thinly, and the work o tramping after the sled and holding on to the tail-line was uncommonly hard, as I could see, for I lay with my head to the front, looping back on the poor man. But it was on the exposed places and going down the slopes that the greatest difficulty lay, for there the dogs were keen to run away. Once or twice they did fairly get off, and gave me some rough as well as long runs before my man could catch them up. At last we came one afternoon to an open plain where the snow had felt the thaw and been frozen again pretty hard. The moment we got on it away went the dogs. Big Otter tried to run, but one of his shoes went through the crust and the other didnt, so down he came, and had to let go the line. I felt easy enough at first, for the plain was level, but after a time it became lumpy, and I got some ugly bumps. Never mind, thought I, theyll be sure to come to some bushes, and thatll pull them up. Just as I thought so, we came to a slope, and the team went slap over a bank. The sled and I threw a complete somersault. Fortunately we came down on the dogs, which broke our fall, though it half killed them!

When Big Otter came and turned me right side up, I found that I had sustained no damage whatever, but, woes me! our tin kettle was almost knocked flat. The worst of it was that in trying to put it right we drove a big hole in the bottom of it, so we had to bid farewell to hot food, except what we roasted. We could also melt snow by plastering up the hole so as to get enough to drink, but boiling water was quite out of the question.

Well, Macnab, said our chief, rising, since you have got the soup over at last, come along with me and lets hear about your Indian friends proposals.

We assisted our visitor into the mess-room, which was also our principal council-chamber, and there left him to talk business with Mr Strang while we returned to Bachelors Hall to let off our effervescing spirits by indulging in a running commentary on the unexpected visit, and a minute analysis of the characters of Macnab and Big Otter, which, I must add, was decidedly favourable.

It seems to me a piece of good luck that he has got here at all, said Lumley, after we had finished the analysis.

Why so? asked Spooner.

Because there are some unmistakable symptoms that winter is about over, and that snow-shoe and dog-sleigh travelling will soon be impossible.

That Lumley was right, the change of weather during the next few days clearly proved, for a thaw set in with steady power. The sun became at last warm enough to melt ice and snow visibly. We no longer listened with interest to the sounds of dropping water from eaves and trees, for these had become once more familiar, and soon our ears were greeted with the gurgling of rills away in mysterious depths beneath the snow. The gurgling ere long gave place to gushing, and it seemed as if all nature were dissolving into liquid.

While this pleasant change was going on we awoke with song and laugh and story the echoes of Bachelors Hallat no time very restful echoes, save perhaps in the dead hours of early morning; and even then they were more or less disturbed by snoring. For our sociable Highlander, besides having roused our spirits by his mere presence to the effervescing point, was himself much elated by the mighty change from prolonged solitude to joyous companionship.

My spirit feels inclined, he remarked one day, to jump clean out of my body.

Youd better not let it then, said Lumley, for you know it might catch cold or freeze.

Not in this weather, surely, retorted Macnab, and if I did feel coldish in the circumstances, couldnt I borrow Spooners blanket-capote? it might fit me then, for Id probably be a few sizes smaller.

Come, Mac, said I, give us a song. You know Im wildly fond of music; and, most unfortunately, not one of us three can sing a note.

Our visitor was quite willing, and began at once to sing a wild ditty, in the wilder language of his native land.

He had a sweet, tuneful, sympathetic voice, which was at the same time powerful, so that we listened to him, sometimes with enthusiasm swelling our hearts, at other times with tears dimming our eyes. No one, save he who has been banished to a wilderness and long bereft of music, can understand the nature of our feelingsof mine, at least.

One evening, after our wounded man had charmed us with several songs, and we all of us had done what we could, despite our incapacity, to pay him back in kind, he pulled a sheet of crumpled paper out of his pocket.

Come, said he, unfolding it, Ive got a poet among the men of Muskrat House, who has produced a song, which, if not marked by sublimity, is at least distinguished by much truth. He said he composed it at the rate of about one line a week during the winter, and his comrades said that it was quite a picture to see him agonising over the rhymes. Before they found out what was the matter with him they thought he was becoming subject to fits of some sort. Now, then, lets have a good chorus. Its to the tune of The British Grenadiers.

It almost seemed as though the world of ice and snow itself had taken umbrage at Macnabs song, for, while we were yet in the act of enthusiastically prolonging the last snooow, there sounded in our ears a loud report, as if of heavy artillery close at hand.

It almost seemed as though the world of ice and snow itself had taken umbrage at Macnabs song, for, while we were yet in the act of enthusiastically prolonging the last snooow, there sounded in our ears a loud report, as if of heavy artillery close at hand.

We all leaped up in excitement, as if an enemy were at our doors.

There it goes at last! cried Lumley, rushing out of the house followed by Spooner.

I was about to follow when Macnab stopped me.

Dont get excited, Max, theres no hurry!

Its the river going to break up, said I, looking back impatiently.

Yes, I know that, but it wont break up to-night, depend on it.

I was too eager to wait for more, but ran to the banks of the river, which at that place was fully a mile wide. The moon was bright, and we could see the familiar sheet of ice as still and cold as we had seen it every day for many months past.

Macnabs right, said I, there will be no breakup to-night.

Not so sure of that, returned Lumley; the weather has been very warm of late; melting snow has been gushing into it in thousands of streams, and the strain on the icesix feet thick though it ismust be tremendous.

He was checked by another crashing report; but again silence ensued, and we heard no more till next morning. Of course we were all up and away to the river bank long before breakfast, but it was not till after that meal that the final burst-up occurred. It was preceded by many reportstowards the end by what seemed quite a smart artillery fire. The whole sheet of ice on the great river seemed to be rising bodily upwards from the tremendous hydraulic pressure underneath. But though the thaws of spring had converted much snow into floods of water, they had not greatly affected the surface of the ice, which still lay hard and solid in all its wintry strength.

A greater Power, however, was present. If the ice had been made of cast-iron six feet in thickness, it must have succumbed sooner or later.

At last, as Macnab said, She went! but who shall describe how she went? It seemed as if the mighty cake had been suddenly struck from below and shattered. Then the turmoil that ensued was grand and terrible beyond conception. It was but an insignificant portion of Gods waters at which we gazed, but how overwhelming it seemed to us! Mass rose upon mass of ice, the cold grey water bursting through and over all, hurling morsels as large as the side of a house violently on each other, till a mighty pile was raised which next moment fell with a crash into the boiling foam. Then, in one direction there was a rush which seemed about to carry all before it, but instead of being piled upwards, some of the masses were driven below, were thrust deep into the mud, and a jam took place. In a few minutes the ice burst upwards again, and the masses were swept on to join the battalions that were already on their way towards the distant lake amid noise and crash and devastation. It seemed as if ice and snow and water had combined to revive the picture if not the reality of ancient chaos!

Thus the drapery of winter was rudely swept away, and next morning we had the joy of seeing our river sweeping grandly on in all the liquid beauty of early and welcome spring.

Chapter Six.

An Express and its Results

Some weeks after the breaking up of the ice, as we were standing at the front gate of Fort Dunregan, we experienced a pleasant surprise at the sight of an Indian canoe sweeping round the point above the fort. Two men paddled the canoe, one in the bow and one in the stern.

It conveyed a message from headquarters directing that two of the clerks should be sent to establish an outpost in the regions of the far north, the very region from which Macnabs friend Big Otter had come. One of the two canoe-men was a clerk sent to undertake, at Dunregan, the work of those who should be selected for the expedition, and he said that another clerk was to follow in the spring-brigade of boats.

Thats marching orders for you, Lumley, said Macnab, who was beside us when the canoe arrived.

You cannot tell that, returned Lumley. It may be that our chief will select Max or Spooner. Did you hear any mention of names? he asked of the new clerk, as we all walked up to the house.

No, our governor does not tell us much of his intentions. Perhaps your chief may be the man.

Hes too useful where he is, suggested Macnab. But we shall know when the letters are opened.

Having delivered his despatches, the new arrival returned to us in Batchelors Hall, where we soon began to make the most of him, and were engaged in a brisk fire of question and reply, when a message came for Mr Lumley to go to the mess-room.

Ive sent for you, Lumley, said our chief, to say that you have been appointed to fill an honourable and responsible post. It seems that the governor, with his wonted sagacity, has perceived that it would be advantageous to the service to have an outpost established in the lands lying to the westward of Muskrat House, on the borders of Lake Wichikagan. As you are aware, the Indian, Big Otter, has come from that very place, with a request from his people that such a post should be established, and you have been selected by the governor to conduct the expedition.

As our chief paused, Lumley, with a modest air, expressed his sense of the honour that the appointment conferred on him, and his willingness to do his best for the service.

I know you will, Lumley, returned Mr Strang, and I must do you the justice to say that I think the governor has shown his usual wisdom in the selection. Without wishing to flatter you, I think you are steady and self-reliant. You are also strong and big, qualities which are of some value among rough men and Indians, not because they enable you to rule with a strong hand, but because they enable you to rule without the necessity of showing the strength of your hand. Bullies, if you should meet with any, will recognise your ability to knock them down without requiring proof thereof. To say truth, if you were one of those fellows who are fond of ruling by the mere strength of their arms, I should not think you fit for the command of an expedition like this, which will require much tact in its leader. At the same time, a large and powerful frameespecially if united to a peaceable spiritis exceedingly useful in a wild country. Without the peaceable spirit it only renders its possessor a bully and a nuisance. I am further directed to furnish you with the needful supplies and men. I will see to the former being prepared, and the latter you may selectof course within certain limits. Now go and make arrangements for a start. The lakes will soon be sufficiently free of ice, and you are aware that you will need all your time to reach your ground and get well established before next winter sets in.

Excuse me, sir, said Lumley, turning back as he was about to depart. Am I permitted to select the clerk who is to go with me as well as the men?

Certainly.

Then I should like to have Mr Maxby.

Our chief smiled as he replied, I thought so. I have observed your mutual friendship. Well, you may tell him of the prospect before him.

Need I say that I was overjoyed at this prospect? I have always felt something of that disposition which animates, I suppose, the breast of every explorer. To visit unknown lands has always been with me almost a passion, and this desire has extended even to trivial localities, insomuch that I was in the habit, while at fort Dunregan, of traversing all the surrounding countryon snow-shoes in winter and in my hunting canoe in summeruntil I became familiar with all the out-of-the-way and the seldom-visited nooks and corners of that neighbourhood.