The March of the White Guard

March of the White Guard, The

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Title: The March Of The White Guard
Author: Gilbert Parker
Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6223] [Yes, we are more than
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THE MARCH OF THE WHITE GUARD
By Gilbert Parker

"Ask Mr. Hume to come here for a moment, Gosse," said Field, the
chief factor, as he turned from the frosty window of his office at Fort
Providence, one of the Hudson's Bay Company's posts. The servant, or
more properly, Orderly-Sergeant Gosse, late of the Scots Guards,
departed on his errand, glancing curiously at his master's face as he did
so. The chief factor, as he turned round, unclasped his hands from
behind him, took a few steps forward, then standing still in the centre
of the room, read carefully through a letter which he had held in the
fingers of his right hand for the last ten minutes as he scanned the
wastes of snow stretching away beyond Great Slave Lake to the arctic
circle. He meditated a moment, went back to the window, looked out
again, shook his head negatively, and with a sigh, walked over to the
huge fireplace. He stood thoughtfully considering the floor until the
door opened and sub- factor Jaspar Hume entered.
The factor looked up and said: "Hume, I've something here that's been
worrying me a bit. This letter came in the monthly batch this morning.
It is from a woman. The company sends another commending the cause
of the woman and urging us to do all that is possible to meet her wishes.
It seems that her husband is a civil engineer of considerable fame. He
had a commission to explore the Coppermine region and a portion of

the Barren Grounds. He was to be gone six months. He has been gone a
year. He left Fort Good Hope, skirted Great Bear Lake, and reached the
Coppermine River. Then he sent back all of the Indians who
accompanied him but two, they bearing the message that he would
make the Great Fish River and come down by Great Slave Lake to Fort
Providence. That was nine months ago. He has not come here, nor to
any other of the forts, so far as is known, nor has any word been
received from him. His wife, backed by the H.B.C., urges that a relief
party be sent to look for him. They and she forget that this is the arctic
region, and that the task is a well-nigh hopeless one. He ought to have
been here six months ago. Now how can we do anything? Our fort is
small, and there is always danger of trouble with the Indians. We can't
force men to join a relief party like this, and who will volunteer? Who
would lead such a party and who will make up the party to be led?"
The brown face of Jaspar Hume was not mobile. It changed in
expression but seldom; it preserved a steady and satisfying character of
intelligence and force. The eyes, however, were of an inquiring,
debating kind, that moved from one thing to another as if to get a sense
of balance before opinion or judgment was expressed. The face had
remained impassive, but the eyes had kindled a little as the factor
talked. To the factor's despairing question there was not an immediate
reply. The eyes were debating. But they suddenly steadied and Jaspar
Hume said sententiously: "A relief party should go."
"Yes, yes, but who is to lead them?"
Again the eyes debated.
"Read her letter,"