The Buffalo Runners | Page 6

once, the discomforts of the situation.
Fergus was asleep before the packing was quite done. Then Dechamp
jumped in beside him, and drove off in the direction of the Hudson's
Bay Company's establishment, Fort Garry, while our worthy couple
returned to their hut to indulge in a final and well-earned pipe and a
mug of the strongest possible tea.
CHAPTER THREE.
TO THE RESCUE.
Winnipeg city, with its thousands of inhabitants, now covers the spot to
which Antoine Dechamp drove his friend Fergus McKay.
At the time we write of, the only habitation there was Fort Garry, a

solitary stone building of some strength, but without regular troops of
any kind, and held only by a few employes of the Hudson's Bay
Company, who were there only in the capacity of fur-traders.
Here the Governor of the colony received the unexpected guests with
hospitality; heard the tale of Fergus with a sympathetic ear, and at once
organised a rescue-expedition with dog-sledges and provisions.
While this was being done at the fort, Dan Davidson was similarly
employed at Prairie Cottage, the residence of his mother, who, since the
death of her husband--a farmer from the Scottish Lowlands--had
managed her farm with the aid of her two sons, Dan and Peter; the
latter being a youth of seventeen. She was also assisted by her only
daughter, Jessie, who was over thirteen years of age, and already
esteemed an authority on the subjects of poultry, cookery, and dairy
produce. A small servant--a French half-breed named
Louise--completed the household of the widow Davidson.
On reaching home, Dan, like Fergus McKay, experienced difficulties
that he had not counted on, for his overtaxed strength fairly broke down,
and he found himself almost incapable at first of telling his tale of
disaster. Then, when he tried to go about the needful preparations for
rescue, he found himself unable to resist drowsiness, and if he ventured
to sit down for a moment he fell sound asleep at once.
Those who have experienced this condition know how overwhelming
and intensely disagreeable it is, especially if resistance to it is rendered
imperative by a matter of life or death. Davidson struggled bravely
against it of course, but the struggle had already been so long continued
that his efforts were now in vain.
Starting up from the supper which Jessie had spread before him, and
which he was languidly attempting to eat, he said, almost fiercely,
"Where is the wash-tub, Louise?"
The surprised little domestic pointed to the article in question.
"Here; fetch some cold water."

"It is full," said Louise with a strong French accent and a pretty lisp.
Without the ceremony even of throwing back his collar Dan plunged
his head into the water, and, after steeping it for a few seconds, drew it
out refreshed.
His younger brother entered the room at that moment.
"Peter," he said, drying his head violently with a jack-towel, "have you
got the sledge ready, and the provisions packed, and the empty sledge
wi' the buffalo-robes?"
"Ay--all ready," answered the other, for he was a sprightly, willing
youth, who rejoiced in any unexpected demand on his superabundant
energies. "But I say, Dan, you are quite unfit to start off again without
rest."
He looked in his brother's face anxiously, for Dan had seated himself
once more to his food, but seemed unable to deal with it properly.
"Why, you've got the knife and fork in the wrong hands, Dan! You
must have an hour's rest before we start."
"Impossible," returned the other with a dazed look, as he seized a mug
of water and drank it off. "An hour's delay may mean death to Elspie
and old Duncan McKay."
"But let me start off at once," returned Peter, eagerly. "I've a pretty
good guess, from your description, where you left them. Besides, the
gale is not so bad now. After an hour's sleep you will be able to start
fresh, maybe overtake me. Jess will be sure to waken you in--"
He stopped, for his brother's head had bent slowly forward while he
was speaking, and now rested on his arms on the table. The worn-out
man was sound asleep.
"Just leave him, Peter, and be off wi' the dogs," said Mrs Davidson.
"Okematan will keep you in the right track. I'll be sure to wake him in
time to catch you up."

"No, mother, not without his leave," said the youth, firmly. "Dan! Dan!
rouse up, old boy! Shall we start without you?"
"Yes, yes--I'm ready," said the poor fellow, starting up and swaying to
and fro like a drunken man; "but--I say, Peter, I'm done for. I depend on
you, lad, to keep me up to the scratch. Lay the dog-whip across my
shoulders if I try to lie down. Promise me that. D'ee