<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
<h3>AN ECHO FROM THE ALASKAN MOUNTAINS</h3>
<p>Alice searched all over the farm for her friend.
The last place in which she thought of looking was
the little bedroom the two girls shared. Here at
length she arrived, and a shock awaited her.</p>
<p>Prudence was sitting beside the window. She was
gazing out at the bare, harvested fields, nor did she
turn at her friend’s approach. It was not until Alice
spoke that she looked round.</p>
<p>“Here you are, Prue! Why, whatever is the
matter?” she exclaimed, as she noted the grey pallor
of the face before her; the drawn lines about the
mouth, the fiercely burning eyes. “You poor soul,
you are ill; and you never told me a word about it.
I have been looking everywhere for you. It is
tea-time. What is it, dear?”</p>
<p>“Do I look ill?” Prudence asked wearily. She
passed her hand across her forehead. She was almost
dazed. Then she went on as she turned again to the
window: “I’m all right; my head is aching––that’s
all. I don’t think I want any tea.” The next
moment she was all alertness. “Has Hervey returned
from the fields?”</p>
<p>“Hervey? Yes; why? He’s returned and gone
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_274' name='page_274'></SPAN>274</span>
away again; gone into Winnipeg. He nearly frightened
poor mother Hephzy out of her wits. Came in
all of a sudden and declared he must hurry off to
Winnipeg at once, and he wanted Andy to drive
him. You know his way. He wouldn’t give any
explanation. He was like a bear to his mother. My
fingers were just itching to slap his face. But come
along, dear, you must have some tea. It’ll do your
head good.”</p>
<p>While she was speaking Alice’s eyes never left her
friend’s face. There was something about Prudence’s
expression she didn’t like. Her mind at once reverted
to thoughts of fever and sunstroke and such
things, but she said nothing that might cause alarm.
She merely persisted when the other shook her head.</p>
<p>Eventually her persuasions prevailed.</p>
<p>“Mother Hephzy’s fretting away down-stairs and
Sarah is backing her up. The long-suffering Mary
has been catching it in consequence. So come along
and be your most cheerful self, Prue. The poor old
dears must be humoured.”</p>
<p>And Alice with gentle insistence led her companion
down to the parlour.</p>
<p>“And where, miss, have you been all this precious
time?” asked Mrs. Malling, when the two girls
reached the parlour. “Sleeping, I’ll be bound, to
judge by them spectacles around your eyes. There’s
no git-up about young folk now-a-days,” she went on,
turning to Sarah. “Six hours’ sleep for healthy-minded
women, I says; not an hour more nor an
hour less. Sister Emma was allus one o’ them for
her sy-esta.” Then she turned back to Prudence.
“Maybe she learned you, my girl.”</p>
<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_275' name='page_275'></SPAN>275</span></div>
<p>“I haven’t been sleeping, mother,” Prudence protested,
taking her place at the table. “I don’t feel
very well.”</p>
<p>“Ah, you don’t say so,” exclaimed the old lady, all
anxiety at once. “An’ why didn’t you tell me before?
Now maybe you’ve got a touch o’ the sun?”</p>
<p>“Have you been faint and giddy?” asked Sarah,
fixing her quiet eyes upon the girl’s face.</p>
<p>“No, I don’t think so. I’ve got a headache––nothing
more.”</p>
<p>“Ah; cold bath and lemon soda,” observed her
mother practically.</p>
<p>“Tea, and be left alone,” suggested Sarah.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“‘Nature designs all human ills, but in the making
Suggests the cure which best is for the taking.’”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Her steady old eyes seemed able to penetrate mere
outward signs.</p>
<p>“Quite right, ‘Aunt’ Sarah,” said Alice decidedly.
“Leave the nostrums and quackeries alone. Prue
will be all right after a nice cup of tea. Now,
mother Hephzy, one of your best for the invalid,
and, please, I’ll have some more ham.”</p>
<p>“That you shall, you flighty harum-scarum. And
to think o’ the likes o’ you dictating to me about
nostrums and physickings,” replied the farm-wife,
with a comfortable laugh. “I’ll soon be having Mary
teaching me to toss a buckwheat ‘slap-jack.’ Now
see an’ cut from the sides o’ that ham where the
curin’s primest. I do allow as the hams didn’t cure
just so, last winter. Folks at my board must have of
the best.”</p>
<p>“I never knew any one to get anything else here,”
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_276' name='page_276'></SPAN>276</span>
laughed Alice. Then she turned her head sharply
and sat listening.</p>
<p>Mrs. Malling looked over towards the window.
Prudence silently sipped her tea, keeping her eyes
lowered as much as possible. She knew that, in
spite of their talk, these kindly people were worried
about her, and she tried hard to relieve their anxiety.</p>
<p>“Some one for us,” said Alice, as the sound of
horse’s hoofs came in through the open window.</p>
<p>“Some one from Lakeville, I expect,” said Mrs.
Malling, making a guess.</p>
<p>“That’s George Iredale’s horse,” said Sarah, who
had detected the sound of a pacer’s gait.</p>
<p>Prudence looked up in a startled, frightened way.
Sarah was looking directly at her. She made no
further comment aloud, but contented herself with a
quiet mental note.</p>
<p>“Something wrong,” she thought; “and it’s to do
with him. Poor child, poor child. Maybe she’s
fretting herself because–––”</p>
<p>Her reflections were abruptly broken off as the
sound of a man’s voice hailing at the front door
penetrated to the parlour.</p>
<p>“Any one in?” cried the voice; and instantly
Alice sprang to her feet.</p>
<p>“It’s Robb!” she exclaimed. There was a clatter
as her chair fell back behind her; she nearly fell over
it, reached the door, and the next moment those in
the parlour heard the sound of joyous exclamations
proceeding from the hall.</p>
<p>Prudence’s expression was a world of relief. Her
mother was overjoyed.</p>
<p>“This is real good. Bring him in! Bring him in,
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_277' name='page_277'></SPAN>277</span>
Miss Thoughtless! Don’t keep him there a-philandering
when there’s good fare in the parlour!”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“‘Love feeds on kisses, we read in ancient lay;
Meaning the love of yore; not of to-day,’”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>murmured Sarah, with a pensive smile, while she
turned expectantly to greet the visitor.</p>
<p>Radiant, her face shining with conscious happiness,
Alice led her fiancé into the room. And Robb
Chillingwood found himself sitting before the farm-wife’s
generous board almost before he was aware of
it. While he was being served he had to face a
running fire of questions from, at least, three of the
ladies present.</p>
<p>Robb was a cheerful soul and ever ready with a
pleasant laugh. This snatched holiday from a stress
of under-paid work was like a “bunk” to a schoolboy.
It was more delightful to him by reason of the
knowledge that he would have to pay up for it afterwards
with extra exertions and overtime work.</p>
<p>“You didn’t tell us when you were coming,” said
Alice.</p>
<p>“Didn’t know myself. Thought I’d ride over from
Iredale’s place on spec’.”</p>
<p>“And you’re come from there now?” asked Mrs.
Malling.</p>
<p>Prudence looked up eagerly.</p>
<p>“Yes; I’ve just bought all his stock for a Scotch
client of mine.”</p>
<p>“Scotch?” Sarah turned away with a motion of
disgust.</p>
<p>“What, has George sold all his beasties at last?”
exclaimed the farm-wife.</p>
<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_278' name='page_278'></SPAN>278</span></div>
<p>“Why, yes. Didn’t you know? He’s giving up
his ranch.”</p>
<p>Robb looked round the table in surprise. There
was a pause. Then Mrs. Malling broke it––</p>
<p>“He has spoken of it––hinted. But we wasn’t
expectin’ it so soon. He’s made his pile.”</p>
<p>“Yes, he must have done so,” said Robb readily.
“The price he parted with his cattle to me for was
ridiculous. I shall make a large profit out of my
client. It’ll all help towards furnishing, Al,” he went
on, turning to his fiancée.</p>
<p>“I’m so glad you are doing well now, Robb,” the
girl replied, with a happy smile.</p>
<p>“Yes.” Then the man turned to Mrs. Malling.
“We’re going to get married this fall. I hope Alice
has been learning something of housekeeping”––with
a laugh.</p>
<p>“Why, yes. Alice knows a deal more than she
reckons to let on, I guess,” said the farm-wife, with a
fat chuckle.</p>
<p>Prudence now spoke for the first time since Robb’s
arrival. She looked up suddenly, and, though she
tried hard to speak conversationally, there was a
slightly eager ring in her voice.</p>
<p>“When is George Iredale going to leave the
ranch?”</p>
<p>Robb turned to her at once.</p>
<p>“Can’t say. Not yet, I should think. He seems
to have made no preparations. Besides, I’ve got to
see him again in a day or two.”</p>
<p>“Then you will stay out here?” asked Alice
eagerly.</p>
<p>“Well, no.” Robb shook his head with a comical
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_279' name='page_279'></SPAN>279</span>
expression of chagrin. “Can’t be done, I’m afraid.
But I’ll come over here when I’m in the neighbourhood,
if possible.” Then to Mrs. Malling,
“May I?”</p>
<p>“Why, certainly,” said the farm-wife, with characteristic
heartiness. “If you come to this district
without so much as a look in here, well, you can
just pass right along for the future.”</p>
<p>When the meal was over the old lady rose from
the table.</p>
<p>“Alice,” said she, “you stay right here. Sarah and
I’ll clear away. Prudence, my girl, just lie down and
get your rest. Maybe you’ll feel better later on.
Come along, Sarah; the young folks can get on
comfortably without us for once.”</p>
<p>Prudence made no attempt to do as her mother
suggested. She moved about the room, helping with
the work. Then the two old ladies adjourned to the
kitchen. Robb and Alice had moved over to the
well-worn sofa at the far end of the room, and
Prudence took up her position at the open window.
She seemed to have no thought of leaving the lovers
together; in fact, it seemed as though she had forgotten
their existence altogether. She stood staring
out over the little front garden with hard, unmeaning
eyes. From her expression it is doubtful if she saw
what her eyes looked upon. Her thoughts were
of other matters that concerned only herself and
another.</p>
<p>The low tones of the lovers sounded monotonously
through the room. They, too, were now wrapt in
their own concerns, and had forgotten the presence
of the girl at the window. They had so much to say
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_280' name='page_280'></SPAN>280</span>
and so little time in which to say it; for Robb had
to make Ainsley that night.</p>
<p>The cool August evening was drawing on. The
threshing gang was returning from the fields, and the
purple haze of sundown was rising above the eastern
horizon; Prudence did not move. Her hands were
clasped before her; her pale face might have been
of carved stone. There was only the faintest sign
of life about her, and that was the steady rise and
fall of her bosom.</p>
<p>A cool breeze rustled in through the open
window and set the curtains moving. Then all
became still again. Two birds squabbled viciously
amongst the branches of a blue-gum in the little
patch of a garden, but Prudence’s gaze was still
directed towards the horizon. She saw nothing; she
felt nothing but the pain which her own thoughts
brought her.</p>
<p>Suddenly the sound of something moving outside
became audible. There was the noisy yawn of some
large animal rising from its rest. Then came the
slow, heavy patter of the creature’s feet. Neche
approached the window. His fierce-looking head
stood well above the sill. His greenish eyes looked
up solemnly at the still figure framed in the opening.
His ears twitched attentively. There was no friendly
motion of his straight, lank tail; but his appearance
was undoubtedly expressive of some sort of well-meaning,
canine regard. Whether the dog understood
and sympathized with the girl at the window
it would have taken something more than a keen
observer to have said. But in his strangely unyielding
fashion he was certainly struggling to convey
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_281' name='page_281'></SPAN>281</span>
something to this girl from whom he was accustomed
to receive nothing but kindness.</p>
<p>For some moments he stood thus, quite still. His
unkempt body rose and fell under his wiry coat. He
was a vast beast, and the wolf-grey and black of his
colouring was horribly suggestive of his ancestry.
Presently he lifted one great paw to the window.
Balancing his weight upon his only serviceable hind-leg,
he lifted himself and stood with both front feet
upon the sill, and pushed his nose against the girl’s
dress. She awoke from her reverie at the touch, and
her hands unclasped, and she slowly caressed the
bristly head. The animal seemed to appreciate the
attention, for, with his powerful paws, he drew himself
further into the room.</p>
<p>The girl offered no objection. She paid no heed
to what he was doing. Her hand merely rested on
his head, and she thought no more about him. Finding
himself unrebuffed Neche made further efforts;
then, suddenly, he became aware of the other
occupants of the room. Quick as a flash his nose
was directed towards the old sofa on which they were
seated, and his eyes, like two balls of phosphorescent
light, gleamed in their direction. He became motionless
at once. It seemed as though he were uncertain
of something.</p>
<p>He was inclined to resent the presence of these
two, but the caress of the soft, warm hand checked
any hostile demonstration beyond a whine, half
plaintive, half of anger.</p>
<p>The disturbing sound drew Alice’s attention, and
she looked over to where Prudence was standing; it
was then she encountered the unblinking stare of the
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_282' name='page_282'></SPAN>282</span>
hound’s wicked eyes. The sight thrilled her for a
moment, nor could she repress a slight shudder.
She nudged her companion and drew his attention
without speaking. Robb followed the direction of
her gaze, and a silence followed whilst he surveyed
the strange apparition.</p>
<p>He could only see the dog’s head––the rest of the
creature was hidden behind the window curtain––and
its enormous size suggested the great body and
powerful limbs which remained concealed. To Robb
there was a suggestion of hell about the cruel lustre
of the relentless eyes.</p>
<p>At last he broke into a little nervous laugh.</p>
<p>“By Jove!” he said. “I thought for the moment
I’d got ’em. Gee-whizz! The brute looks like the
devil himself. What is it? Whose?”</p>
<p>Without replying, Alice called to her friend.</p>
<p>“Let Neche come in, Prue,” she said. “That is”––dubiously––“if
you think it’s safe.” Then she turned
to Robb. “He’s so savage that I’m afraid of him.
Still, with Prue here, I think he’ll be all right; he’s
devoted to her.”</p>
<p>At the sound of the girl’s voice Prudence turned
back from the window like one awakening from a
dream. Her eyes still had a far-away look in them,
and though she had heard the voice it seemed doubtful
as to whether she had taken the meaning of the
words. For a moment her eyes rested on Alice’s
face, then they drooped to the dog at her side, but
Alice was forced to repeat her question before the
other moved. Then, in silence, she stepped back and
summoned the dog to her with an encouraging chirrup.
Neche needed no second bidding. There was a
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_283' name='page_283'></SPAN>283</span>
scramble and a scraping of sharp claws upon the
woodwork, then the animal stood in the room. And
his attitude as he eyed the two seated upon the sofa
said as plainly as possible, “Well, which one is it to
be first?”</p>
<p>Robb felt uneasy. Alice was decidedly alarmed at
the dog’s truculent appearance.</p>
<p>But the tension was relieved a moment later by the
brute’s own strange behaviour. Suddenly, without
the slightest warning, Neche plumped down upon his
hind-quarters. His pricked ears drooped, and his two
fore paws began to beat a sort of tattoo upon the
floor. Then followed a broken whine, tremulous and
blandishing, and the great head moved from side to
side with that curious movement which only dogs use
to express their gladness. Then the strange, three-legged
beast went further. Down he threw himself
full length upon the floor and grovelled effusively,
whining and scraping the boards in a perfect fervour
of abject delight.</p>
<p>Robb looked hard at the dog. Then he laughed
and turned to Alice.</p>
<p>“What is the creature’s name? I didn’t catch it.”</p>
<p>“Neche,” she replied.</p>
<p>Robb held out his hand encouragingly and called
the dog by name. The animal continued to squirm
but did not offer to come nearer. Every now and then
its head was turned back, and the green eyes looked
up into Prudence’s face. At last Robb ceased his
efforts. His blandishments were ineffectual beyond
increasing the dog’s effusive display.</p>
<p>“A husky,” he said, looking across at Prudence.
“A bad dog to have about the house. He reminds
<span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_284' name='page_284'></SPAN>284</span>
me of the animals we had up north in our dog-train.
They’re devils to handle and as fierce as wild cats.
We had one just like him. Unusually big brute. He
was our ‘wheeler.’ The most vicious dog of the lot.
The resemblance is striking. By Jove!” he went on
reminiscently, “he was a sulky, cantankerous cuss.
His name was ‘Sitting Bull,’ after the renowned Sioux
Indian chief. We had to be very careful of the other
dogs on account of his ‘scrapping’ propensities. He
killed one poor beast I think we nicknamed him
rather appropriately. He was affectionately dubbed
‘Bully.’”</p>
<p>As Robb pronounced the name he held out his
hand again and flicked his fingers. The dog rose
from his grovelling posture and came eagerly forward,
wagging his lank tail. He rubbed his nose against
the man’s hand and slowly licked the sun-tanned skin.</p>
<p>Robb’s brows drew together in a pucker of deep
perplexity. He looked the animal over long and
earnestly, and slowly there crept into his eyes an
expression of wondering astonishment. He was interrupted
in his inspection by the girl at his side.</p>
<p>“Why, he’s treating you like an old friend, Robb.”</p>
<p>The man sat gazing down upon the wiry coat of
the beast.</p>
<p>“Yes,” he said shortly. Then he looked over at
Prudence. “Yours?” he went on.</p>
<p>The girl shook her head.</p>
<p>“No, he belongs to Hervey.”</p>
<p>“Um! I wonder where he got him from,” in a
meditative tone.</p>
<p>“Somewhere out in the wilds of the Yukon,” put in
Alice.</p>
<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><SPAN name='page_285' name='page_285'></SPAN>285</span></div>
<p>“Ah! The Yukon.” And Robb’s face was serious
as he turned towards the window and looked out at
the creeping shadows of evening.</p>
<p>There was a pause. Prudence was thinking of anything
but the subject of Robb’s inquiries. Alice was
curious, but she forbore to question. She had heard
her lover’s account of his misadventure in the Alaskan
hills, but she saw no connection between the hound
and that disastrous affair. But the man’s thoughts
were hard at work. Presently he rose to depart.</p>
<p>He bade Prudence good-bye and moved towards
the door. The dog remained where he had been
standing and looked after him. At the door Robb
hesitated, then he turned and looked back.</p>
<p>“Poor old Bully,” he said.</p>
<p>With a bound the dog was at his side. Then the
man turned away, and, accompanied by Alice, left the
room. In the passage he paused, and Alice saw an
expression on his face she had never seen before. He
was nervous and excited, and his eyes shone in the
half-light.</p>
<p>“Al,” he said slowly, “I know that dog. <i>And his
name is Bully</i>. Don’t say anything to anybody.
Hervey may be able to tell me something of those
who robbed us up in the hills. But on no account
must you say anything to him; leave it to me. I
shall come here again––soon. Good-bye, little woman.”</p>
<p>That evening as Robb Chillingwood rode back to
Ainsley he thought of many things, but chiefly he
reviewed the details of that last disastrous journey
when he and Grey had traversed the snow-fields of
Alaska together.</p>
<hr class='toprule' />
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