按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
from a circle of loving friends of which she was the pride and joy；
to this home in the forest。 There； isolated from all congenial
companionship with her own kind； deprived of all the luxuries and
of many of the comforts of her young days； and of the mental
stimulus of that contact of minds without which few can maintain
intellectual life； she gave herself without stint to her husband's
people； with never a thought of self…pity or self…praise。 By day
and by night she labored for her husband and family and for her
people； for she thought them hers。 She taught the women how to
adorn their rude homes； gathered them into Bible classes and sewing
circles； where she read and talked and wrought and prayed with them
till they grew to adore her as a saint； and to trust her as a
leader and friend； and to be a little like her。 And not the women
only； but the men； too； loved and trusted her； and the big boys
found it easier to talk to the minister's wife than to the minister
or to any of his session。 She made her own and her children's
clothes； collars； hats； and caps； her husband's shirts and
neckties； toiling late into the morning hours； and all without
frown or shadow of complaint； and indeed without suspicion that any
but the happiest lot was hers； or that she was； as her sisters
said； 〃just buried alive in the backwoods。〃 Not she！ She lived to
serve； and the where and how were not hers to determine。 So； with
bright face and brave heart； she met her days and faced the battle。
And scores of women and men are living better and braver lives
because they had her for their minister's wife。
But the day had been long； and the struggle with the March wind
pulls hard upon the strength； and outside the pines were crooning
softly； and gradually the brave head drooped till between the
stitches she fell asleep。 But not for many minutes； for a knock at
the kitchen door startled her； and before long she heard Jessie's
voice rise wrathful。
〃Indeed； I'll do no such thing。 This is no time to come to the
minister's house。〃
For answer there was a mumble of words。
〃Well； then； you can just wait until morning。 She can go in the
morning。〃
〃What is it； Jessie？〃 The minister's wife came into the kitchen。
〃Oh； Ranald； I'm glad to see you back。 Hughie told me you had
come。 But your father is ill； he said。 How is he？〃
Ranald shook hands shyly； feeling much ashamed under Jessie's sharp
reproof。
〃Indeed； it was Aunt Kirsty that sent me；〃 said Ranald；
apologetically。
〃Then she ought to have known better；〃 said Jessie； sharply。
〃Never mind； Jessie。 Ranald； tell me about your father。〃
〃He is very bad indeed； and my aunt is afraid that〃 The boy's
lip trembled。 Then he went on： 〃And she thought perhaps you might
have some medicine； and〃
〃But what is the matter； Ranald？〃
〃He was hurted badand he is not right wise in his head。〃
〃But how was he hurt？〃
Ranald hesitated。
〃I was not thereI am thinking it was something that struck him。〃
〃Ah； a tree！ But where did the tree strike him？〃
〃Here；〃 pointing to his breast； 〃and it is sore in his breathing。〃
〃Well； Ranald； if you put the saddle on Pony； I shall be ready in a
minute。〃
Jessie was indignant。
〃You will not stir a foot this night。 You will send some medicine；
and then you can go in the morning。〃
But the minister's wife heeded her not。
〃You are not walking； Ranald？〃
〃No； I have the colt。〃
〃Oh； that's splendid。 We'll have a fine gallopthat is； if the
moon is up。〃
〃Yes； it is just coming up；〃 said Ranald； hurrying away to the
stable that he might escape Jessie's wrath and get the pony ready。
It was no unusual thing for the minister and his wife to be called
upon to do duty for doctor and nurse。 The doctor was twenty miles
away。 So Mrs。 Murray got into her riding…habit； threw her knitted
hood over her head； put some simple medicines into her hand…bag；
and in ten minutes was waiting for Ranald at the door。
CHAPTER IV
THE RIDE FOR LIFE
The night was clear； with a touch of frost in the air； yet with the
feeling in it of approaching spring。 A dim light fell over the
forest from the half…moon and the stars； and seemed to fill up the
little clearing in which the manse stood； with a weird and
mysterious radiance。 Far away in the forest the long…drawn howl of
a wolf rose and fell； and in a moment sharp and clear came an
answer from the bush just at hand。 Mrs。 Murray dreaded the wolves；
but she was no coward and scorned to show fear。
〃The wolves are out； Ranald；〃 she said； carelessly； as Ranald came
up with the pony。
〃They are not many； I think；〃 answered the boy as carelessly； 〃but
are youdo you thinkperhaps I could just take the medicineand
you will come〃
〃Nonsense； Ranald！ bring up the pony。 Do you think I have lived
all this time in Indian Lands to be afraid of a wolf？〃
〃Indeed； you are not afraid； I know that well！〃 Ranald shrank from
laying the crime of being afraid at the door of the minister's
wife； whose fearlessness was proverbial in the community； 〃but
maybe〃 The truth was； Ranald would rather be alone if the wolves
came out。
But Mrs。 Murray was in the saddle； and the pony was impatient to be
off。
〃We will go by the Camerons' clearing； and then take their wood
track。 It is a better road；〃 said Ranald； after they had got
through the big gate。
〃Now； Ranald； you think I am afraid of the swamp； and by the
Camerons' is much longer。〃
〃Indeed； I hear them say that you are not afraid of theof
anything；〃 said Ranald； quickly； 〃but this road is better for the
horses。〃
〃Come on； then； with your colt〃； and the pony darted away on her
quick…springing gallop； followed by the colt going with a long；
easy； loping stride。 For a mile they kept side by side till they
reached the Camerons' lane； when Ranald held in the colt and
allowed the pony to lead。 As they passed through the Camerons'
yard the big black dogs； famous bear…hunters； came baying at them。
The pony regarded them with indifference； but the colt shied and
plunged。
〃Whoa； Liz！〃 Liz was Ranald's contraction for Lizette； the name of
the French horse…trainer and breeder； Jules La Rocque； gave to her
mother； who in her day was queen of the ice at L'Original Christmas
races。
〃Be quate； Nigger； will you！〃 The dogs； who knew Ranald well；
ceased their clamor； but not before the kitchen door opened and Don
Cameron came out。
Don was about a year older than Ranald and was his friend and
comrade。
〃It's me； Donand Mrs。 Murray there。〃
Don gazed speechless。
〃And what〃 he began。
〃Father is not well。 He is hurted； and Mrs。 Murray is going to see
him； and we must go。〃
Ranald hurried through his story； impatient to get on。
〃But are you going up through the bush？〃 asked Don。
〃Yes； what else； Don？〃 asked Mrs。 Murray。 〃It is a good road；
isn't it？〃
〃Oh； yes； I suppose it is good enough；〃 said Don； doubtfully； 〃but
I heard〃
〃We will come out at our own clearing at the back； you know；〃
Ranald hurried to say； giving Don a kick。 〃Whist； man！ She is set
upon going。〃 At that moment away off toward the swamp； which they
were avoiding； the long； heart…chilling cry of a mother wolf
quavered on the still night air。 In spite of herself； Mrs。 Murray
shivered； and the boys looked at each other。
〃There is only one；〃 said Ranald in a low voice to Don； but they
both knew that where the she wolf is there is a pack not far off。
〃And we will be through the bush in five minutes。〃
〃Come； Ranald！ Come away； you can talk to Don any time。 Good
night； Don。〃 And so saying she headed her pony toward the clearing
and was off at a gallop； and Ranald； shaking his head at his
friend； ejaculated：
〃Man alive！ what do you think of that？〃 and was off after the pony。
Together they entered the bush。 The road was well beaten and the
horses were keen to go； so that before many minutes were over they
were half through the bush。 Ranald's spirits rose and he began to
take some interest in his companion's observations upon the beauty
of the lights and shadows falling across their path。
〃Look at that very dark shadow from the spruce there； Ranald；〃 she
cried； pointing to a deep； black turn in the road。 For answer
there came from behind them the long； mournful hunting…cry of the
wolf。 He was on their track。 Immediately it was answered by a
chorus of howls from the bush on the swamp side； but still far
away。 There was no need of command； the pony sprang forward with a
snort and the colt followed； and after a few minutes' running；
passed her。
〃Whow…oo…oo…oo…ow〃 rose the long cry of the pursuer； summoning
help； and drawing nearer。
〃Wow…ee…wow；〃 came the shorter； sharper answer from the swamp； but
much nearer than before and more in front。 They were trying to
head off their prey。
Ranald tugged at his colt till he got him back with the pony。
〃It is a good road；〃 he said； quietly； 〃you can let the pony go。 I
will follow you。〃 He swung in behind the pony； who was now running
for dear life and snorting with terror at every jump。
〃God preserve us！〃 said Ranald to himself。 He had caught sight of
a dark form as it darted thr