The March of the White Guard | Page 4

read it aloud. When it was finished,
Cloud-in-the-Sky gave a guttural assent, and Gaspe Toujours, looking
at Jeff Hyde, said: "It is cold in the Barren Grounds. We shall need
much tabac." These men could read without difficulty Hume's reason
for summoning them. To Gaspe Toujours' remark Jeff Hyde nodded
affirmatively, and then all looked at Late Carscallen. He opened his
heavy jaws once or twice with an animal- like sound, and then he said,
in a general kind of way:
"To the Barren Grounds. But who leads?"
Hume was writing on a slip of paper, and he did not reply. The faces of
three of them showed just a shade of anxiety. They guessed who it
would be, but they were not sure. Cloud-in-the-Sky, however, grunted
at them, and raised the bowl of his pipe towards the subfactor. The
anxiety then seemed to disappear.
For ten minutes more they sat so, all silent. Then Hume rose, handed
the slip of paper to Sergeant Gosse, and said: "Attend to that at once,
Gosse. Examine the food and blankets closely."
The five were left alone.
Then Hume spoke: "Jeff Hyde, Gaspe Toujours, Late Carscallen, and
Cloud- in-the-Sky, this man, alive or dead, is between here and the
Barren Grounds. He must be found--for his wife's sake."
He handed Jeff Hyde her letter. Jeff rubbed his fingers before he
touched the delicate and perfumed missive. Its delicacy seemed to
bewilder him. He said: in a rough but kindly way: "Hope to die if I
don't," and passed it on to Gaspe Toujours, who did not find it
necessary to speak. His comrade had answered for him. Late Carscallen
held it inquisitively for a moment, and then his jaws opened and shut as
if he were about to speak. But before he did so Hume said: "It is a long
journey and a hard one. Those who go may never come back. But this

man was working for his country, and he has got a wife--a good wife."
He held up the letter. "Late Carscallen wants to know who will lead
you. Can't you trust me? I will give you a leader that you will follow to
the Barren Grounds. To-morrow you will know who he is. Are you
satisfied? Will you do it?"
The four rose, and Cloud-in-the-Sky nodded approvingly many times.
Hume held out his hand. Each man shook it, Jeff Hyde first. Then he
said: "Close up ranks for the H.B.C.!" (H.B.C. meaning, of course,
Hudson's Bay Company.)
With a good man to lead them, these four would have stormed, alone,
the Heights of Balaklava.
Once more Hume spoke. "Go to Gosse and get your outfits at nine to-
morrow morning. Cloud-in-the-Sky, have your sleds at the store at
eight o'clock, to be loaded. Then all meet me at 10.15 at the office of
the chief factor. Good night."
As they passed out into the semi-arctic night, Late Carscallen with an
unreal obstinacy said: "Slow march to the Barren Grounds--but who
leads?"
Left alone Hume sat down to the pine table at one end of the room and
after a short hesitation began to write. For hours he sat there, rising
only to put wood on the fire. The result was three letters: the largest
addressed to a famous society in London, one to a solicitor in Montreal,
and one to Mr. Field, the chief factor. They were all sealed carefully.
Then he rose, took out his knife, and went over to the box as if to break
the red seal. He paused, however, sighed, and put the knife back again.
As he did so he felt something touch his leg. It was the dog.
Hume drew in a sharp breath and said: "It was all ready, Bouche; and in
another six months I should have been in London with it. But it will go
whether I go or not--whether I go or not, Bouche."
The dog sprang up and put his head against his master's breast.

"Good dog, good dog, it's all right, Bouche; however it goes, it's all
right," said Hume.
Then the dog lay down and watched his master until he drew the
blankets to his chin, and sleep drew oblivion over a fighting soul.

II
At ten o'clock next morning Jaspar Hume presented himself at the chief
factor's office. He bore with him the letters he had written the night
before.
The factor said: "Well, Hume, I am glad to see you. That woman's
letter was on my mind all night. Have you anything to propose? I
suppose not," he added despairingly, as he looked closely into the face
of the other. "Yes, Mr. Field, I propose that the expedition start at noon
to-day."
"Start-at noon-to-day?"
"In two hours."
"Who are the party?"
"Jeff Hyde, Gaspe Toujours,