Wrecked but not Ruined | Page 4

Sit down, sir; sit down, Le Rue, an' look after my kettle while I see to your nag."
So saying, their host went out and left his unexpected, but evidently welcome, guests to make themselves comfortable.
Although Jonas Bellew was a recluse, he was by no means an ascetic. He was marked by deep gravity of countenance coupled with a kindly humorous disposition. No one knew where he came from, or why he had taken up his abode in such a lonely spot. Many of the rough fellows who hang on the outskirts of the wilderness had tried as they said, to "pump" him on these points, but Jonas was either a dry well or a deep one, for pumping brought forth nothing. He gained a livelihood by shooting, fishing, trapping wild animals for their skins, and, sometimes, by doing what he called "odd jobs" in the settlements.
"Your home appears to me to grow wilder every time I see it," said Redding, as Bellew re-entered the hut, and busied himself in spreading on a rough deal table the materials of a plain but substantial meal.
"That seems to be the idea of most men who come here," replied the trapper, "but it's not many that favour me with a visit."
"Ha! vraiment, dat must be true," interposed the Canadian, "for no body vill com' here 'xcept them as do want hims legs broke."
"Well, I have seen a few damaged shins and broken heads since I came to this location," said Jonas, "but such accidents occur chiefly among the Canadian French, who seem on the whole to be a clumsy set."
"Not von half so clumsy as de Engleesh, or Irish, or Scosh," retorted Le Rue.
"Perhaps you're right, an' mayhap you're wrong, lad, anyway here is supper. The Frenchmen are always good at their victuals, so sit in an' go to work. Take the keg, Mister Redding. I've not found time yet to make chairs, but it's wonderful how well a man gets along without such luxuries."
"Especially when a man sits down to a venison-steak like this," said the fur-trader, taking the offered seat, while his man sat down on a block of wood set on end, and prepared to prove the truth of the trapper's assertion in regard to French capacity for food.
"'Taint venison," said Bellew, assisting his companions to the meat in question, "it's bear."
"Indeed? and not bad food for a hungry man," returned Redding, as he began supper. "Where got you him?"
"Down near Jenkins Creek, where the McLeods are setting up their saw-mill."
"The McLeods!" exclaimed Redding, looking up suddenly, "have you seen the McLeods?"
"Ay, I've bin helpin' them a bit wi' the mill. Goin' down again to-morrow. If this weather holds, the ice must give way soon, and then we'll be able to push ahead faster."
The trapper said this quietly, and without looking up from the bear-steak with which he was busy, so that Redding's look of surprise appeared to be lost on him. The fur-trader and his man exchanged glances.
For a few minutes the process of mastication completely engrossed the trio, but the thoughts of the fur-trader were busy, for he was disappointed to find that one whom he respected so much as Jonas Bellew should thus coolly state that he was aiding the interlopers.
Presently he laid down his knife and fork, and said:--
"Are you aware, Bellew, that these McLeods have settled themselves on the Company's reserve lands?"
"No, sir, I wasn't aware of it."
"Well, then, I now tell you that they have," said Redding, who, unfortunately for himself and others, possessed an easily-roused spirit and was apt to become irascible when the rights--real or supposed--of the Company which he represented appeared in danger of violation. "At least," he continued, in a less positive tone, "I have reason to believe that such is the case, and I am now on my way to--"
He paused abruptly, feeling the impropriety of revealing his plans to one who, although a quiet and sensible man, and not given to talk too much, was, nevertheless, by his own admission, an aider and abettor of the enemy.
"Whereabouts is the boundary line?" asked Bellew, after a short silence.
"At Jenkins Creek--that creek is the boundary," answered the fur-trader. "On which side of the creek have they begun to build the mill?"
"They haven't begun yet, sir, but I believe they intend to commence on the south side."
"So far well," replied Redding, "but if I find that they have raised a stone or planted a stake on the north side of the creek, I'll--"
Here feeling that he was about to give way to a boastful spirit, he got himself out of the difficulty of having to finish the sentence by making a sudden and somewhat stern demand for "more bear-steak."
"Vid pleasieur, Monsieur," said Le Rue, placing a huge slice on his master's plate.
"Well,