Classic Audiobook Collection - Northwest! by Harold Bindloss ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

Starting point is 00:00:00 north west by harold binloss chapter one jimmy signs a note the small room at the canadian hotel was hot and smelt of cigar smoke and liquor stanard put down his cards shrugged resignedly and opened the window deering smiled and pulled a pile of paper money across the table he was strongly built and belonged to a mountaineering club but he was fat and his american dinner jacket looked uncomfortably tight deering's habit was to smile and jimmy layland had liked his knowing twinkle somehow it hinted that you could not cheat deering but if you were his friend you could trust him and he would see you out now however jimmy thought he grinned jimmy had reckoned on winning the pool but deering had picked up the money he imagined was he his. Jackson wiped a spot of liquor from his white shirt and gave the boy a sympathetic glance. Jackson was thin, dark-skinned, and grave, and although he did not talk much about himself, Jimmy understood he was rather an important gentleman in Carolina. Stanard had indicated something like this.

Starting point is 00:01:25 Stanard and Jimmy were frankly English, but Jimmy was young and the other's hair was touched by white. Yet, Stannard was athletic, and at Parisian clubs and Swiss hotels, men talked about his fencing and his exploits on the rocks. He was not a big man, but now his thin jacket was open, the molding of his chest and the curve of his black silk belt were Greek. All the same one rather got a sense of cultivation than strength. Stannard looked thoroughbred, and Jimmy was proud he was his friend. Jimmy was not cultivated. He was a careless, frank, and muscular English lad, but he was not altogether raw, because he knew London and Paris had for some time enjoyed

Starting point is 00:02:18 Stannard's society. His manufacturing relations in Lancashire thought him an extravagant fool, and perhaps had grounds for doing so. for since jimmy had broken their firm control his prudence was not marked i must brace up let's stop for a few minutes he said and went to the window the room was on the second floor and the window opening on top of the veranda commanded the valley across the terrace in front of the hotel dark pines rolled down to the river and the water sparkled in the moon On the other side, a belt of mist floated about the mountain slope, and dark rocks went up and melted in the snow. The broken white line ran far north and was lost in the distance. One smelt the sweet resinous sense the soft Chinook wind blew across the wilderness.

Starting point is 00:03:21 Jimmy's glance rested on the river and the vague blue-white field of ice, from which the green flood sprang. now the electric elevators had stopped the angry currents measured throb rolled across the pines but for this all was very quiet and the other windows opening on the veranda were blank jimmy remembered the hotel manager himself had some time since firmly put out the billiard-room lights when jimmy was about ten dollars up at pool he had afterwards won a much larger summit cards but his luck had begun to turn by and by stanard came out and jumped on the high-top rail the light from the window touched his face and his profile cutting against the dark was good and firmly lined. His balance on the narrow rail was like a boy's. If you carried my weight, you wouldn't get up like that. Two hundred pounds want some moving, Deering remarked with a noisy laugh.

Starting point is 00:04:31 I've known you move about an icy slope pretty fast, said Standard, and taking his hands from the rail, pulled out his watch. "'Two o'clock,' he resumed, and gave Jimmy a smile. "'I rather think you ought to go to bed. You have not got Deering's steadiness, and still are a few dollars up. To stop when your luck is good is a useful plan.' "'My legs are steadier than my head,' Deering rejoined. "'When I played the ten-spot, Jimmy saw my game.

Starting point is 00:05:08 "'Cost me five dollars. I reckon I ought to go to bed." Jimmy frowned. He was persuaded he was sober, and although Standard was a very good sort, sometimes his fatherly admonition jarred. Then he had won a good sum from Standard and must not be shabby.

Starting point is 00:05:30 The strange thing was he could not remember how much he had won. To stop as soon as my luck turns is not my plan, he said. I feel I owe you a chance to get your own back. Oh, well, if you feel like that, we had better go on. But your fastidiousness may cost you something, Stannard remarked, and Dearing hit Jimmy's back.

Starting point is 00:05:57 You're a sport, I like you. Play up and play straight, your rule. Jimmy was flattered, although he doubted Dearing's soberness. He did not play serious. straight, and when he won he did not go off with a wallet full of his friend's money. All the same, Jackson's bored look annoyed him, since it rather indicated that he was willing to indulge Jimmy than that he noted his scrupulous fairness. Jimmy resolved to banish the fellow's languor, and when they went back to the card table,

Starting point is 00:06:33 demanded that they put up the stakes. Jackson agreed resignedly, and they resumed the game. the room got hotter and the cigar smoke was thick sometimes stannard went to the ice pail and mixed a cooling drink jimmy meant to use caution but his luck had turned and excitement parched his mouth by and by stanard who was dealing stopped your play is wild jimmy he remarked i think you have had enough jimmy turned to the others his face was red and his gesture boyishly theatrical i play for sport not for dollars i don't want your money and now you're getting something back we'll put up the bets again then since your wad is nearly gone somebody must keep the score said jackson and stannard pulled out his note-book jimmy took another drink and tried to brace up. His luck, like his role of bills, was obviously gone. But when he was winning, the others had not stopped,

Starting point is 00:07:49 and he did not want them, so to speak, to let him off. When he lost, he could pay. But this was not important, and he must concentrate on his cards. The cards got worse, and as a rule the ace he thought one antagonist had was played by another. At length, Stannard pushed back his chair from the table. Three o'clock, and I have had enough, he said, and turned to Jimmy. Do you know how much you are down?

Starting point is 00:08:25 Jimmy did not know, but he imagined the sum was large, and when Stannard began to reckon, he went to the window. Day was breaking, and mist rolled about the pine. The snow was gray and the high rocks were blurred and dark. Jimmy heard the river and the wind in the trees. The cold braced him and he vaguely felt the landscape's austerity. His head was getting steadier and perhaps it was the contrast, but when he turned and looked about the room,

Starting point is 00:09:01 he was conscious of something like disgust. Stannard, occupied with his pencil, knitted his brows, and now his graceful carelessness was not marked. Jimmy thought his look hard and calculating, yet Stannard was his friend and model. He admitted he was highly strung, and perhaps his imagination cheated him. He was not cheated about the others.

Starting point is 00:09:31 Now a reaction from the excitement had begun, he saw deering and jackson as he had not seen them before deering's grin was scottish the fellow was grossly fat and he fixed his greedy glance on stanard's note-book jackson standing behind stanard studied the calculations as if he meant to satisfy himself the sum was correct jimmy thought them impatient to know their share and their keenness annoyed him then stannard put up his book it looks as if your resolve to play up was rash he remarked and stated the sum jimmy owed can you meet the reckoning you know i'm broke you're my banker and must fix it for me stannard nodded very well what about your bed in the billiard room nothing about it i made the stroke deering grinned indulgently and when jackson shrugged jimmy's face got red if they're not satisfied give them the lot i don't dispute about things like that he said haughtily write an acknowledgment for all i owe and i'll sign the note stannard wrote and tore the leaf from his note-book but he now used a fountain pen jimmy took the pen signed the acknowledgment and went off when he had gone deering looked at stanard and laughed

Starting point is 00:11:12 your touch is light but if the boy begins to feel your hand he'll kick anyhow i'll take my wad stanard gave him a roll of paper money and turned to jackson i'll take mine said jackson in the morning i pull out you stated you meant to stop for a time there's nothing in the game for me and i don't see what deering expects to get said jackson in a languid voice i doubt if you'll keep him long the boys in his home section on the coast reckon he puts up a square deal anyhow you can't have my help stannard gave him a searching glance and deering straightened his big body jackson's glance was quietly scornful a hundred dollars is a useful sum but my marks higher and i play with men maybe i'll meet up with some rich tourists at the Banff hotels he resumed and giving the others a careless nod went off a queer fellow but sometimes his mood is nasty said Deering i felt i'd like to throw him over the rails as a rule his sort carry a gun stannard remarked deering wiped some liquor from the table picked up jimmy's glass which was on the floor and put away the cards in the morning you had better give the china boy two dollars he said in a meaning voice and when he went to the door stannard put out the light end of chapter one recording by roger maline chapter two of north-west this librivox recorded

Starting point is 00:13:17 is in the public domain recording by roger maline northwest by harold binloss chapter two jimmy's apology in the morning jimmy leaned rather moodily against the terrace wall there was no garden for the hotel occupied a narrow shelf on the hillside and from the terrace one looked down on the tops of dusky pines the building was new and so far the guests were not numerous but the manager claimed that when the charm of the neighborhood was known summer tourists and mountaineers would have no use for banff perhaps his hopefulness was justified for all round the hotel primeval forest met untrodden snow and at the head of the valley a glacier dropped to a calm green lake a few miles south was a small flag station and sometimes one heard a heavy freight train rumble in the woods when the distant noise died away all was very quiet but for the throb of falling water jimmy had not enjoyed his breakfast and when he lighted a cigarette the tobacco did not taste good he admitted that he had been carried away and now he was cool he reflected that his rashness had cost him a large sum and he had given stannard another note he was young and had for a year or two indulged his youthful craving for excitement but he began to doubt if he could keep it up after all he had inherited more than he knew from his sternly business-like and rather parsimonious ancestors although the layland cotton mills were now famous in lancashire jimmy's grandfather had earned day wages at the spinning frame jimmy felt dull and thought of

Starting point is 00:15:17 day on the rocks would brace him up. Since his object for the Canadian excursion was to shoot a mountain sheep and climb a peak in the Rockies, he ought to get into trim. Stannard could play cards all night and start fresh in the morning on an adventure that tried one's nerve and muscle, but Jimmy admitted he could not. When he loafed about hotel rotundas and consumed iced drinks, he got soft. After a time, Laura Stannard crossed the veranda and went along the terrace.

Starting point is 00:15:53 Her white dress was fashionable, and she wore a big white hat. Her hair and eyes were black, her figure was gracefully slender, and her carriage was good. Jimmy thought her strangely attractive, but did not altogether know if she was his friend, and admitted that he was not Laura's sort.

Starting point is 00:16:15 it was not that she was proud something about her indicated that her proper background was an old-fashioned english country house jimmy felt his was a lancashire cotton mill laura did not live with stanard but she joined him and jimmy in switzerland not long before they started for canada stanard was jealous about his daughter and had indicated that his friends were not necessarily hers jimmy had grounds to think stanard's caution justified for a minute or two jimmy left the girl alone he imagined if laura were willing to talk to him she would let him know she went to the end of the terrace and then turning opposite a bench looked up and smiled jimmy advanced and when he joined her leaned against the low wall laura studied him quietly and he got embarrassed somehow he felt she disapproved he imagined he did not altogether look as if he had got up after a night's refreshing sleep you got breakfast early she remarked that is so jimmy agreed a fellow at my table argues about our slowness in the old country and sometimes one would sooner be quiet then i thought i'd go off and see if i could reach the icefall on the glacier after the sun gets hot the snow is treacherous anyhow you have come down as soon as me i mean to go on the lake and try to catch a trout then i hope you'll let me come you'll want somebody to row the boat and use the landing net the hotel guide will row and i doubt if we'll need the landing net

Starting point is 00:18:09 Laura replied and gave him a level glance. Besides, I shall return for lunch, and I rather think you ought to go for a long climb. When I came out, you looked moody and slack. Jimmy colored. Although he was embarrassed, to know Laura had bothered to remark his moodiness was flattering. The strange thing was, when she crossed the veranda, he had not thought she saw him. Jimmy was raw, but not altogether a fool. He knew Laura did not mean him to go with her to the lake.

Starting point is 00:18:47 Oh, well, he said, when one loaf's about, one does get slack. You are young, and ought not to loaf. I imagine I'm a little older than you, Jimmy rejoined with a twinkle. Laura let it go. As a rule, she did not take the obvious line, and although she knew much Jimmy did not, she said, Are you old enough to play cards with Jackson and Deering?

Starting point is 00:19:17 One must pay for all one gets, and, in a sense, I get much from men like that, Jimmy replied. There's something one likes about Jackson, and Deering's a very good sort. Are you ambitious to be Deering's sort, Laura asked. Jimmy pondered. it was obvious she knew the men were stanard's friends and she no doubt knew stanard was a keen gambler the ground was awkward and he must use some caution mr stanard's my model he said laura's glance was inscrutable since her mother died she had not lived with stanard and he puzzled her sometimes she was disturbed about him and sometimes she was jarred when she joined him for a few weeks he was kind but he did not ask for her confidence and did not give her his it looks as if my father's attraction for you was strong she said thoughtfully

Starting point is 00:20:24 that is so jimmy declared with a touch of enthusiasm laura saw was sincere mr stanard has all the qualities i'd like to cultivate my habit so to speak is to shove along laboriously he gets where he wants without an effort on the trains and steamers he gets for nothing things another couldn't buy and at the hotel the waiters serve him first people trust him and are keen about his society he's urbane and polished but when you go with him on the rocks you note his steely pluck when i'm stuck and daunted he smiles and somehow i get up the awkward slab besides he stands for much i wanted but couldn't get until he helped what did you want excitement adventure and the friendship of clever people something like that said jimmy awkwardly to begin with i'd better tell you about my life in lancashire but i expect you're bored laura was not bored in fact her curiosity was excited stanard's young friends were numerous but when he opened his london flat to them she stopped with her aunts now she wondered whether it was important he had allowed her to join his canadian excursion i am not at all bored she said very well my father died long since and i went to my uncle's house i'd like to draw ardshaw for you but i cannot inside it's overcrowded by clumsy victorian furniture outside is a desolation of industrial ugliness

Starting point is 00:22:20 smoky fields fenced by old colliery ropes a black canal and coal-pit winding towers i went to school on board a steam tram along a road bordered all the way by miners cottages the picture's not attractive laura remarked was your uncle satisfied with his house jimmy smiled i think he was altogether satisfied the laylands are a utilitarian lot and rather like ugliness our interests are business and religion of a stern puritanical sort from my relations point of view grace and beauty are snares besides dick layland got ardshaw cheap and i expect this accounts for much when he went there the layland mills were small my grandfather had not long started on his lucky speculation but after a time you went away to school a public school i did not i imagined it was obvious said jimmy with a touch of dryness i went to the mill office i went to the mill office and sat under a gas lamp, writing entries in the stock books, from nine o'clock until six.

Starting point is 00:23:44 Dick Layland had no use for university cultivation, and my aunt was persuaded Oxford was a haunt of profligates. Well, because I was forced, I held out until I was 21. Then I'd had enough, and I went to London. Were your relations willing for you to go? They were not at all willing, but I inherit a third part of the Leyland Mills. For all that, unless my trustees approve,

Starting point is 00:24:15 I cannot, for another two or three years, use control, and the sum I may spend is fixed. Well, perhaps you can picture my launching out in town. I had no rules to go by. I wore the stamp of the cotton mill and a second-class school. For five years, years i'd earned a small clerk's pay and now by contrast i was rich laura could picture it the boy's reaction from his uncle's firm and parsimonious guardianship was natural and she studied him with fresh curiosity he was tall but rather loosely built and his look was apologetic as if he had not yet got a man's strength and confidence one noted the stamp of the cotton mills

Starting point is 00:25:06 as a rule jimmy was generous and extravagant but sometimes he was strangely businesslike were you satisfied with your experiment she asked i expect you're tired if you were not kind you'd have sent me off not at all said laura i like to study people and your story has a human touch in a way it's the revolt of youth oh well i expect one does not often get all one thinks to get i wanted the cultivation oxford might have given me i wanted to know people of your sort who don't bother about business but hunt and fish and shoot well i can throw a dry fly and hold a gun straight but after all i'm jimmy layland from the mills in lancashire laura liked his honesty but his voice was now not apologetic she rather thought it proud you met my father in switzerland she said at chamonnie about a year ago when i met mr stanard my luck was good i'd got into the wrong lot they used me and laughed well your father showed me where i was going and sent the others off perhaps you know how he does things like that he's urban but very firm anyhow the others went and i've had numerous grounds to trust mr standard since jimmy lighted a cigarette perhaps he ought to go but laura's interest was flattering and she had not allowed him to talk like this before in fact he rather wondered why she had done so

Starting point is 00:27:02 in the meantime laura pondered his artless narrative his liking her father was not strange for stanard's charm was strong but laura imagined to enjoy his society cost his young friend something perhaps it had cost jimmy something for he had stated that one must pay for all one got he was obviously willing to pay but laura was puzzled if his uncle's portrait was accurate she imagined the sum jimmy was allowed to spend was not large one ought to have an object and know where one means to go she remarked when you look ahead are you satisfied in the meantime i'll let mr stannard indicate the way said jimmy with a smile on the whole i expect dick layland would sooner i didn't meddle at the office but after a year or two i'll probably go back you see dick has no children and jim's not married to carry on layland's is my job who is jim sir james layland knight in lancashire we have not much use for titles the head of the house is jim and i'm jimmy perhaps the diminutive is important but suppose your uncles did not approve your carrying on the house then i imagine they could for a time force me to leave the mills alone however although dick is very like a machine i've some grounds to think jim human all the same i hardly know him he's at bombay the house transacts much business in india

Starting point is 00:28:56 but i must have bored you and you haven't got breakfast i suppose you really won't let me row the boat laura pondered her curiosity was not altogether satisfied and she now was willing for jimmy to join her on the lake yet she had refused and after his frank statement she had better not agree i have engaged the hotel guide miss grant is going and the boat is small she said besides when one means to catch trout one must concentrate jimmy went off and laura knitted her brows she knew jimmy's habit was not to boast and if she had understood him properly she had understood him properly he would by and by control the fortunes of the famous manufacturing house her father's plan was rather obvious and the blood came to laura's skin she knew something about poverty and admitted that when she married her marriage must be good but she was not an adventurous yet jimmy was rather a handsome fellow and had some attractive qualities End of Chapter 2. Recording by Roger Malene. Chapter 3 of Northwest.

Starting point is 00:30:28 This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. North West by Harold Bindloss. Chapter 3. The Cayuse Pony. The afternoon was hot, the little winery bushes were soft, and Jimmy lay in a big hemlock shade. A few yards in front, a falling pine had broken the row of straight red trunks, and in the gap, shining snow peaks cut the serene sky. Below, the trees rolled down the hillside, and at the bottom a river sparkled.

Starting point is 00:31:11 Rivers, however, were numerous. The bush on the hill bench Jimmy had crossed was thick, and he frankly did not know where he had come down. if the hotel was in the valley he need not bother but he doubted and was not keen about climbing another mountain spur in the meantime he smoked his pipe and mused he owed stanard rather a large sum they went about to shooting parties at country houses and lodges by scottish salmon rivers visiting with stanard's sporting friends was expensive and he allowed jimmy to bear the cost jimmy was willing and made stannard his banker now and then they reckoned up and jimmy gave him an acknowledgment for the debt although stannard stated he was poor his habits were extravagant and somehow he got money yet jimmy did not think stannard exploited him he had found his advice good and stannard had saved him from some awkward entanglements in fact stanard was was his friend, and although his friendship was perhaps expensive, in a year or two Jimmy would be rich. Since his parsimonious uncle had not let him go to a university,

Starting point is 00:32:34 his spending a good sum was justified, and to go about with Stanard was a liberal education. Perhaps, for a careless young fellow, Jimmy's argument was strangely commercial, but he was the son of a keen and frugal businessman. then he began to muse about laura her beauty and refinement attracted him but he imagined laura knew his drawbacks and to imagine stannard had planned for him to marry her was ridiculous stannard was not like that and when laura was with him saw that jimmy did not get much of her society in fact had she not come down for breakfast before the other guests jimmy imagined he would not have enjoyed a confidential talk with her all the same to loaf in the shade and dwell on laura's charm was soothing in the meantime he was hungry and he had not bothered to carry his lunch when he got breakfast he had not much appetite since morning he had scrambled about the rocks and he thought the hotel was some distance off getting up with something of an effort he plunged down hill through the underbrush at the bottom he stopped and frowned he ought not to have lost his breath but he had done so and his heart beat it looked as if he must cut out strong cigars and ice-and he ought not to have lost his breath but he had done so and his heart beat

Starting point is 00:34:01 it looked as if he must cut out strong cigars and iced liquor a few yards off a trail went up the valley and slanted sunbeams across the narrow opening jimmy thought he heard a horse's feet and resolved to wait and ask about the hotel he was in the shade but for a short distance the spot commanded the trail the beat of horses feet got louder and a girl rode out from the gap in the dark pine branches a sunbeam touched her and her hair and the steel buckle in her soft felt hat shone she rode astride and wore fringed leggings and a jacket of soft deer-skin her figure was graceful and she swung easily with the horses dried her hair was like gold and her eyes were deep blue jimmy afterwards thought it strange he noted so much but she so to speak sprang from the gloom like a picture on a film and the picture held him he did not know if the girl was beautiful but in the tangled woods her charm was keen her dress harmonized with the moss on the tall red trunks and the ripening fern something primitive and strong marked her easy confident pose tossed its head and glanced about nervously as if its habit was to scent danger in the bush. Jimmy sprang from primitive stock and he knew half instinctively the girl's type was his.

Starting point is 00:35:47 He must, however, inquire about the hotel and he pushed through the raspberries by the trail. The horse, startled by the noise, stopped and tried to turn. The girl pulled the bridle and break. herself back. The cayus jumped like a cat, plunged forward, and, feeling the bit, bucked savagely. Jimmy wondered how long the girl would stick to the saddle, but after a moment or two the cayuse started for the bush. Jimmy thought he knew the trick, for when a cayuse cannot buck off its rider, it goes for a tree, and if one keeps one's foot in the stirrup, one risks a broken leg. He jumped for its head and seized the lynx at the bit. The girl ordered him to let go,

Starting point is 00:36:39 but he did not. He had frightened her horse and must not allow the savage brute to jam her against a tree. Its ears were pressed back, and he saw its teeth, but so long as he stuck to the bit, it could not seize his hand. Then it went round in a semicircle, the link twisted and pinched. his fingers, and he knew he could not hold on. The animal's head went up. Jimmy got a heavy blow and fell across the trail. A few moments afterwards, he heard a beat of hoofs some distance off and knew the cayuse was gone.

Starting point is 00:37:20 The girl, breathing rather hard, leaned against a trunk. Are you hurt? she asked. I don't know yet, Jimmy gasped. I'll find out when I get up. He got up and forced a smile. Anyhow, nothing's broken. Are you hurt? No, she said. I'm not hurt, but I'm angry. When you butted in, I couldn't use the bridle.

Starting point is 00:37:50 I'm sorry. I wanted to help. However, it looks as if your horse had run away. Have you, far to go? The ranch is three miles off. How far's the hotel? If you go by the trail, about eight miles, perhaps four miles if you cross the range. Jimmy studied the thick timber and the steep rocky slopes.

Starting point is 00:38:18 Pushing through tangled underbrush has drawbacks, particularly where Devil's Club thorns are numerous. Besides, he had got a lot. a nasty knock and his leg began to hurt. Then he noted a cotton flower bag with straps attached lying in the trail. I think I won't cross the range. I suppose that bag is yours? It is mine. They put our groceries off the train. I reckon the bag weighs about forty pounds. I carried the thing on the front of the saddle, but when you... Jimmy nodded.

Starting point is 00:39:01 When I butted in, you were forced to let it go. Well, since I frightened your horse, I ought to carry your bag. If I take it to the ranch, do you think your folks would give me supper? It's possible. Can you carry the bag? I'll try, said Jimmy. have you some grounds to doubt packing a load over a rough trail is not as easy as it looks the girl rejoined with a twinkle then i expect you're a tourist tenderfoot jimmy liked her smile and he liked her voice her western accent was not marked and her glance was frank he thought if he had not meddled she would have mastered the frightened horse her strength and pluck were obvious in the meantime his leg hurt and he could not examine the injury i am a tourist he agreed since i'm going to your house perhaps i ought to state that i'm jimmy layland from lancashire in the old country i am margaret jardine then you're a scott my father is a scott said margaret

Starting point is 00:40:21 i'm canadian ah said jimmy i've heard something like that before and begin to see what it implies well it looks as if you were an independent lot is one allowed to state that in the old country we are rather proud of you since i'd like to make kell's hope before dark perhaps you had better get going margaret remarked jimmy picked up the bag and fast the deerskin straps by which it hung from his shoulders like a rucksack they started and for a time he kept up with margaret but he did not talk the pack was heavy he had not had much breakfast and had gone without his lunch besides his leg was getting very sore at length he stopped and began to loose the straps do you mind if i take a smoke he asked Margaret looked at him rather hard, but said she did not mind, and Jimmy, indicating a cedar log, pulled out his cigarette case. Do you smoke? I do not. In the bush we haven't yet copied the girls at the hotels. Now I think about it, the girls who smoked at the Montreal Hotel were not numerous, Jimmy remarked.

Starting point is 00:41:49 When I went to the fishing lodge in Scotland, all smoked, but then Stannard's friends are very much up to date. The strange thing is we're thought antiquated in the old country. He stopped and tried to brace up. What he wanted to state eluded him. He felt cold and the pines across the trail got indistinct. You see, in some of our circles, we rather feel our duty is to be modern, he resumed with an effort.

Starting point is 00:42:21 I think you're not like that. Canada's a new country, but in a way, one feels you're really older than we are. We have got artificial. You are flesh and blood. Don't talk, said Margaret firmly, but Jimmy thought her voice was faint, and for a few moments the tall pines melted altogether.

Starting point is 00:42:46 When he looked up, Margaret asked, Have you got a tobacco pouch? Jimmy gave her the pouch, and she went off. He was puzzled and rather annoyed, but somehow he could not get on his feet. By and by Margaret came back, carrying the pouch opened like a double cup. Jimmy drank some water, and the numbness began to go.

Starting point is 00:43:14 You're very kind. I expect I'm ridiculous, he said. i was not kind i let you carry the pack although the cayuse knocked you down perhaps the knock accounts for something jimmy remarked in a languid voice he had got a nasty knock but he imagined stannard cigars and deering's iced drinks were really accountable in the meantime he noted that margaret was wiping his tobacco pouch you mustn't bother he resumed give me the thing but when it's wet you cannot put in the tobacco i thought you threw away the stuff i can get another lot at the hotel margaret brushed the tobacco from a flake of bark and filled the pouch in the woods one doesn't throw away expensive tobacco thanks said jimmy sometimes since I lived with people like you. Poor and frugal people?

Starting point is 00:44:24 No, said Jimmy with a twinkle. Dick and his wife were rather rich. In fact, in England, I think you begin to use economy when you get rich. Anyhow, it's not important, and you needn't bother about me. As a rule, philosophizing doesn't knock me out. The cayuse kicked pretty hard. hard well suppose we start he got up and when margaret tried to take the pack he pulled it away the job's mine i undertook to carry the load but you're tired and i think you're lame we won't dispute said jimmy you oughtn't to dispute perhaps it's strange but one feels your word ought to go

Starting point is 00:45:15 it looks as if my word did not go oh well said jimmy when you command people you have got to use some caution much depends on whom you command and in lancashire we're an obstinate lot anyhow i'll take the bag he pushed his arms through the straps and margaret said nothing she might have taken the bag from him but to use force was not dignified and she knew to let her carry the load would jar. When they sat off, she noted that his face was rather white and his step was not even. He had obviously got a nasty kick, but his pluck was good. The sun went down behind the woods, the pines got dim, and sweet, resinous scents floated about the trail.

Starting point is 00:46:11 The hum of insects came out of the shadow, and Jimmy was forced to rub the mosquitoes from his neck. To put up his hands was awkward, for the ground was uneven, and he must balance his load. He could not talk. The important thing was to reach the ranch before it got dark, and setting his mouth, he pushed ahead. At length, Margaret stopped at a fence,

Starting point is 00:46:38 and when she began to pull down the rails, Jimmy leaned against a post. the rails were rudely split and the zigzag fence was locked by crossed supports and not fastened by nails on the other side where timothy grass and oats had grown was stubble dotted by tall stumps and fern a belt of chopped trees surrounded the clearing and behind the tangled belt the forest rose like a dark wall an indistinct log house and barns occupied the other end an owl swooped noiselessly across the fence and jimmy heard the distant howl of a timber wolf kelsoap ranch said margaret the path goes to the house i must put up the rails jimmy went through the gap perhaps it was soothing quietness but he felt he liked kell's hope and his curiosity was excited he knew the big canadian hotels the pullmans and observation cars so far money had supplied him as in london with much that made life smooth now he was to see something of the canada in which man must labor for all he gets the strange thing was he felt this was the canada he really ought to know end of chapter three recording by roger maline chapter four of north-west

Starting point is 00:48:23 this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold bindloss chapter four kelshkelshop ranch breakfast was over at kel's Hope Ranch, and Jimmy occupied a log at the edge of the clearing. Although his muscles were sore, he felt strangely fresh and somehow satisfied. At the hotel, as a rule, he had not felt like that. His leg hurt, but his host had doctored the cut with some American liniment, and Jimmy was content to rest in the shade and look about. He thought he saw the whole process of clearing a ranch. in the background was virgin forest pine spruce and hemlock locking their dark branches then one noted the slashing where chopped trees had fallen and tangled rows and an inner belt of ashes and blackened stumps

Starting point is 00:49:28 other stumps surrounded by fern checkered the oblong of cultivated soil and the dew sparkled on the short oats stubble the oats were not grown for milling the heads were small and jardine cut the crop for hay the garden lot and house occupied a gentle slope the walls were built of logs notched and crossed at the corners cedar shingles split by hand on the spot covered the roof behind the house one saw fruit trees and log barns nothing was factory made and jimmy thought all in indicated strenuous labor. A yard or two off, Jardine rubbed his double-bitted axe with a small round hone. He wore a gray shirt, overalls, and long boots, and his skin was very brown. He was not a big man, but he looked hard and muscular, and his glance was keen. "'You need to get the edge good. It pays to keep her sharp,' he said, and tried the blade with his thumb.

Starting point is 00:50:39 I expect that is so, Jimmy agreed. Did you yourself clear the ranch? I chopped every tree, burned the slashing, and put up the house and barns. No, I'm getting things in trim and run a small bunch of stock. Jimmy thought at a tremendous undertaking, the logs stacked ready to burn were two or three feet across the butt. long were you occupied he asked twelve years said jardine rather dryly when the country done the fraser began to open up i sold my other ranch bought two or three building lots in a new town and started for the bush i liked this location and i stopped but can you get your stuff to a market cows can walk but when you clear a bush

Starting point is 00:51:37 ranch, you d'n't bother much about selling truck. You sit tight until the government cuts a wagon trail, or maybe a railroad's built and the settlement spring up. And then you expect to sell for a good price all the stuff you grow? Jardine smiled. Then I expect to sell the ranch and push on again. The old-time Bushman has no use for game wardens, city sports, storekeepers, and real estate boomers. He stopped and his look got scornful. Jimmy found out afterwards that the pioneer hates the businessman, and Jardine sprang from Scottish border stock. Perhaps he had inherited his pride and independence from salmon poaching ancestors. What he wanted he labored for. To traffic was not his plan.

Starting point is 00:52:36 Well, he resumed. I'd better get busy. After dinner, I'll drive you to the hotel." He went off, and although Jimmy had expected to lunch at the hotel, he was satisfied to wait. He mused about his host. Jardine was not young, but he carried himself well, and Jimmy had known young men who did not move like him. Then the ranch indicated his talent for labor. Yet muscular strength was obviously not all one needed. To front and remove daunting obstacles, one must have pluck and imagination. The job was a man's job, but in a sense the qualities it demanded were primitive, and Jimmy began to see why the ranch attracted him. His grandfather had labored in another's mill. The house of Leyland's

Starting point is 00:53:32 was founded on stubborn effort and stern frugality. jimmy began to wonder where jardine fed his cattle because he saw none in the clearing but by and by a distant clash of bells rolled across the trees jimmy had heard the noise before when he went to sleep and again at daybreak a faint elusive chime had broken the quietness that brooded over kel's hope ranch it was the clash of cowbells ringing as the stock pushed through the underbush when he heard a sharper note he got up and for his leg hurt went cautiously into the woods by and by he stopped in the tall fern not far off margaret holding out a bunch of corn occupied the middle of an opening in which little red wine berries grew her pose was graceful she did not wear a hat and the sun was on her hair her neck was very white and then her skin was delicate pink that deepened to brown her dress was dull blue and the yellow corn forced up the soft color oh bright oh buck she called and jimmy thought her voice musical like the chiming bells where the sunbeams pierced the shade long horns gleamed the bells rang louder and a big brown ox looked out, fixed its quiet eyes on the girl, and vanished noiselessly.

Starting point is 00:55:12 Margaret did not move at all. She was still as the trees in the background, and Jimmy approved her quietness. He got a hint of balance, strength, and calm. Oh, bright, she called, and a brawny, redden-white animal pushed out from the fern, shook its massive head, and advanced to smell the corn. jimmy now saw margaret carried a rope in her other hand but she let the ox eat the corn and stroked its white forehead before she threw the rope round its horns although she was very quick her movements were gentle and the animal stood still then she looked up and smiled you can come out mr layland you knew i was in the fern sure said margaret i was born in the woods all the same you were quiet i reckon you can be quiet in the bush that's something you imply that i was quiet for a tenderfoot why yes margaret agreed smiling as a rule a man from the cities can't keep still he must talk and move about you did you did

Starting point is 00:56:34 didn't feel you ought to come and help jimmy wondered whether she knew he had wanted to study her but thought she did not anyhow he was satisfied she so to speak had not posed for him not at all he said i saw you knew your job and i reflected that the ox did not know me but shall i hold him until you catch the other buck will follow his mate margaret replied and when they started a cow-bell clashed and buck stole out of the shade jimmy thought stole the proper word he had expected to hear branches crack and underbrush russell but the powerful oxen moved almost silently through the wood now i see why you give them bells he remarked but doesn't the jangling bother the animals they like the bells at night i think they toss their heads to hear the chime then they know the bells are useful sometimes when all is quiet the cattle scatter but when the timber wolves are about or a cinnamon bear comes down the rocks the herd rolls up bush cattle are clever now bright fills the rope he's resigned to go to work you know the woods have you always lived at a ranch for a time i was at toronto margaret replied when i was needed at kellshope i came back jimmy felt she baffled him margaret had not stated her occupation at toronto but he had remarked that her english was better than the english one used at the cotton mills after all he was not entitled to satisfy his curiosity

Starting point is 00:58:35 one can understand mr jardine's needing you he said i expect a bush rancher is forced to hustle a bush rancher must hustle a bush rancher must hustle all the time, Margaret agreed. Still, work one likes goes easily. Have you tried? I have tried work I did not like, and admit I've had enough, Jimmy said, and laughed. When I started for Canada, my notion was I'd be content to play about. Margaret nodded. We know your sort. You are not, you're not, you are not, like our tourists, merchants and manufacturers you have no use for business all you think about is sport and your sports extravagant you stop at our big hotels and when you go off to hunt and fish you hire a gang of packers to carry your camp truck i doubt if i really am that sort jimmy rejoined after all my people are pretty keen business men and i begin to see that to cultivate the habits of the other lot is harder than i thought in fact i rather think i'd like to own a ranch for a game said margaret and laughed a frank laugh you must cut it out mr layland one can't play at ranching and you don't know all the bushman is up against it's possible jimmy admitted well i expect i am a loafer but i did not altogether joke about the ranch

Starting point is 01:00:21 the strange thing is after a time loafing gets monotonous margaret stopped him i must get busy and you ought not to walk about sit down in the shade and i'll give you the colonel Jimmy sat down, but declared he did not want the newspaper. He thought he would study ranching, particularly Margaret's part of the job. She put a heavy wooden yoke in the oxen's necks, fastened a rope to the hook, and drove the animals to a belt of burned slashing where the big charred logs lay about. Jardine hitched the rope to a log, and the team hauled it slowly to a pie. Jimmy wondered how two people would get the heavy trunk on top, but when Margaret led the oxen round the pile and urged them ahead, the log went up in a loop of the rope. For all that, Jardine was forced to use a hand spike, and Jimmy saw that to build a log pile demanded strength and skill.

Starting point is 01:01:30 Resting in the shade, he felt the picture's quiet charm. The oxen's movements were supposed to slow and rhythmical. Jardine's muscular figure, bent, got tense and relaxed. The girl, finely posed, guided the plodding animals. Behind were stiff, dark branches and rows of straight red trunks. A woodpecker tapped a hollow tree, and in the distance cowbells chimed. The dominant note was effort, but the effort was smoothed. and measured. One felt that all went as it ought to go, and Jimmy thought about the big shining fly-wheel that spun with a steady throb at the Leyland cotton mill. Then his head began to nod, and his eyes shut. And when he looked up, Margaret called him to dinner. After dinner, Jardine got out his cloverleaf wagon

Starting point is 01:02:31 and drove Jimmy to the hotel. When they arrived, Jimmy, took him to his room on the first floor and meeting stannard on the stairs was rather moved to note his relief stanard declared that he and some others had searched the wood since daybreak and were about to start for the ranch by and by deering joined them and made an iced drink jardine with tranquil enjoyment drained his long glass and lighting a cigar began to talk about hunting in the bush. His clothes were old and his hat was battered, but his calm was marked, and Jimmy thought he studied the others with quiet curiosity. After a time, they went off, and Jardine gave Jimmy a thoughtful smile. Your friends are polite, and Mr. Deering can mix a drink better than a bar keep. Is that all? Jimmy inquired. Jardine's eyes twinkled.

Starting point is 01:03:39 Well, if I was wanting somebody to see me out, maybe I'd trust the big fellow. Jimmy thought his remarks strange. Stannard was a cultivated gentleman, and Deering was, frankly, a gambler. Yet Jimmy had grounds to imagine the old rancher was not a fool. He was puzzled and rather annoyed, but Jardine said he must not stay,

Starting point is 01:04:04 and Jimmy let him go. End of Chapter 4. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 5 of Northwest. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. North West by Harold Binloss. Chapter 5.

Starting point is 01:04:35 Jimmy holds fast. The sun had sunk behind the range, and the sky was. green. In places, the high white peaks were touched by fading pink. The snow that rolled down to the timber line was blue. Mist floated about the pines by the river, but did not reach the hotel terrace, and the evening was warm. Looking down at the dark valley, one got a sense of space and height. At the end of the terrace, a small table carried a coffee service, and laura occupied a basket-chair she smoked a cigarette and her look was thoughtful jimmy sitting opposite liked her fashionable dinner dress

Starting point is 01:05:24 he had met laura in switzerland but he felt as if he had not known her until she went with stanard to the canadian hotel in fact he imagined she had very recently begun to allow him to know her standard had gone off a few minutes since and deering was playing pool with a young american since you came back from the ranch i've thought you preoccupied laura remarked i expect you thought me dull said jimmy with an apologetic smile well for some days i've been pondering things and i'm not much use to the exercise in a way you're accountable you inquired not long since if i knew where i went then you got some illumination at the ranch you're keen i got disturbed does to stop at a ranch disturb one laura asked in a careless voice i expect it depends on your temperament jimmy replied and knitted his brows kell's hope is a model ranch you feel all goes as it ought to when you leave things alone they don't go like that at jardine's you get a sense of plan and effort the old fellow and his daughter are keenly occupied and their occupation so to speak is fruitful the trouble is mine is not laura saw that when he some time since apologized for his loafing her remarks had carried weight jimmy had begun to ponder where he went and she wondered whether he would see he ought to return to the cotton mill

Starting point is 01:07:16 still she did not mean to talk about this you stopped miss jardine's horse she said i did not stop the horse i tried but that's another thing if i had not meddled i expect miss jardine would have conquered the nervous brute and i would not have got a nasty kick oh well said laura sometimes to meddle is rash but your object was good Then Stanard came to the veranda steps and looked about the terrace. Hello, Jimmy! Deering is beaten Frank, and we must arrange about our excursion tomorrow. Jimmy frowned and hesitated. When he had talked to Laura before, Stanard had called him away, but he thought she did not mean him to stay, and he went off. When he had gone, Laura mused. she knew stanard was jealous for her he did not allow her to join him when his young friends were about and she did not want to do so for the most part she lived with her mother's relations who did not approve of stanard and were not satisfied about her going to canada

Starting point is 01:08:36 to some extent laura imagined their doubts were justified she knew stannard had squandered much of her mother's fortune and now that her trustees guarded the small sum she had inherited he was poor yet he belonged to good clubs and went to race meeting and shooting parties it looked as if sport and gambling paid and laura saw what this implied yet her father was kind and when she was with him he indulged her she had remarked his calling jimmy away as a rule his touch was very light and she wondered whether he had meant to incite the young fellow by a hint of disapproval but perhaps it was not his object and she speculated about jimmy he was now not the raw lad she had known in switzerland although he was losing something that at the beginning had attracted her she thought he ought not to stay with stanard and particularly with deering and she had tried to indicate the proper line for him to take well suppose he resolved to go back to lancashire laura knew her charm and imagined if she were willing she might go with jimmy although he could not yet use his fortune he was rich and after a time would control the famous manufacturing house besides he was marked by some quality she liked laura got up with an impatient shrug and blushed she would not think about it yet she was poor but she was not an adventuress in the morning stanard deering and jimmy started for the rocks their object was to follow the range and look for a line at the top of a peak they meant to climb another day

Starting point is 01:10:36 they lunched on the mountain and in the afternoon stopped at the side of a gully that ran down to the glacier the back of the gully was smooth and the pitch was steep but hardly steep enough to bother an athletic man in places banks of small gravel rested although it looked as if a disturbing foot would send down the stones some distance above the spot the top of another pitch cut a background of bow broken rocks streaked by veins of snow the sun was on the rocks and shone like polished steel but the gully was in shadow and jimmy had felt the gloom daunting deering pulled out his cigar case his face was red his shirt was open and his sun burned neck was like a bull's my load's two hundred pounds and we have shoved along pretty fast since lunch he said anyhow, I'm going to stop and take a smoke. To lean against a slippery rock won't rest you much, Stannard remarked. We'll get onto the shelf at the top of the slab.

Starting point is 01:11:50 Then somebody's got to boost me up, Deering declared, and when Stannard went to help, put his boot on the other's head and crushed his soft hat down to his ears. Next moment he was on the shelf, shouted with laughter. Sometimes Deering's humor was boyishly rude, but his friends were not cheated, and Jimmy thought the big man keen and resolute. Stanard went up lightly as if it did not bother him. He was cool and, by contrast with Dearing, looked fastidiously refined.

Starting point is 01:12:30 Jimmy imagined he had an object for leaving the gully. Stanard knew the mind. mountains. In fact, he knew all a sporting gentleman ought to know, and Jimmy was satisfied with his guide. "'Since you reckon we ought to get from under, why'd you fix on this line down?' Deering inquired. "'The line's good, but we were longer than I thought, and the sun has been for some time on the snow.' "'Sure,' said Deering. The blamed trough looks like a rubbish shoot.

Starting point is 01:13:04 Jimmy had trusted Stannard's judgment, but now he saw alight. For one thing, the back of the gully was smooth. The mountain fronted rather north of west, and so long as the frost at the summit held, the party did not run much risk. But when the thaw began, snow and broken rocks might roll down. When Deering had nearly smoked his cigar, he looked up. Something's coming! Jimmy heard a rumble and a crash.

Starting point is 01:13:39 A big stone leaped down the gully, struck a rock and vanished. A bank of gravel began to slip away, and then a gray and white mass swept across the top of the pitch. Snow and stones poured down tumultuously, and when the avalanche was gone, confused echoes rolled about the rocks. That fixes it.

Starting point is 01:14:04 said deering i'm going the other way had we shoved along a little faster we might have made it but i was soft and couldn't hit up the pace he laughed his boisterous laugh and resumed the trouble is i played cards with jimmy when i ought to have gone to bed well since we didn't bring a rope what are you going to do about it if we can reach the top i think we can get down along the edge standard replied after something of a struggle they got up and for a time to follow the top of the gully was not hard then they stopped on an awkward pitch where a big bulging stone jammed in a crack cut their view i'll try the stone but perhaps you had better traverse out across the face and look for another line deering said to standard jimmy went with deering and when they reached the stone saw a broken shelf three or four yards below on one side the rocks dropped straight to the gully in front the slope beyond the shelf was steep for a few moments deering studied the ground a rope would be useful but if we can reach the shelf we ought to get down he said i'll try to make it lie across the stone and give me your hands jimmy nodded at an awkward spot the second man helps the leader who afterwards steadies him the rock was rough and a small knob and a deep crack promised some support still caution was indicated because the shelf on which one must drop was inclined and narrow.

Starting point is 01:15:59 Jimmy lay across the stone, and Dearing, slipping over the edge, seized his hands. He was a big fellow, and Jimmy thought the stone moved, but he heard Deering's boots scrape the rock, and the strain in his arms was less. Then he heard another noise, and snow and rocks and a broken pine rolled down the gully. the avalanche vanished the uproar sank and deering gasped hold fast the load on jimmy's arms got insupportable he imagined the noise had startled deering and his foot had slipped from the knob it looked as if he must hold the fellow until he found the crack jimmy meant to try although the stone rocked and he knew he could not long bear the horrible strain if deering fell he would not stop at the shelf he might not stop for three or four hundred feet jimmy set his mouth and tried to brace his knees against the rock the stone was moving and if it moved much deering would pull him over yet in a moment or two deering might get his boot in the crack and to let him fall was unthinkable

Starting point is 01:17:19 jimmy held on until deering shouted and let go he had obviously found some support and jimmy tried to get back but could not his chest was across the edge and the stone rocked he was slipping off and saw half consciously that since he must fall he must not fall down the rock front pushing himself from the edge he plunged into the gully struck the rock some way down and knew no more deering on the shelf saw him reach the bottom roll for a distance and stop he lay face downwards with his arms spread out a few moments afterwards standard reached the spot and looked down deering's big chest heaved his mouth was slid and looked down dearing's big chest heaved his mouth was slid and his face was white. When he indicated Jimmy, his hand shook. I pulled him over, he said in a hoarse voice. Stannard gave him a keen, rather scornful glance. Traverse across the front for about twenty yards and you'll see a good line down.

Starting point is 01:18:37 When you get down, start for the hotel and bring the two guides, our rope, a blanket, and two poles. Send somebody to telegraph for a doctor. Not at all. I'm going to Jimmy. I pulled the kid over. Stannard frowned. You are going to the hotel. For one thing, I doubt if you could reach, Jimmy. You're badly jarred and your nerves gone. Then, unless you get help, we can't carry Jimmy out. You mustn't leave him in the gully. Deering rejoined, suppose a fresh lot of stones comes along.

Starting point is 01:19:20 Go for help, said Standard, pulling out his watch. Come back up the gully. If you have a flask, give it to me. I'm going down. But if there's another snow slide, you and Jimmy will get smashed. Besides, the job is mine. The snow and stones come down the middle, and they'll stop by.

Starting point is 01:19:44 and by. Don't talk. Start. Deering hesitated. He was big and muscular, but he admitted that on the rocks Stannard was the better man. Moreover, to know he was accountable for Jimmy's plunge had shaken him, and he saw Stannard was very cool. Take the flask, he said, and went off at a reckless speed. Roger Maline. Chapter 6 of Northwest This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. Northwest by Harold Bindloss.

Starting point is 01:20:36 Chapter 6. Deering owns a debt. Jimmy saw a pale star and veins of snow streaking high shadowy rocks. He thought when he looked up not long before, the sun was on the mountain, but perhaps it was not. His brain was dull, and he was numbed by cold. He shivered and shut his eyes, but after a few minutes he smelt cigar smoke and looked about again. Although it was getting dark, he saw somebody sitting in the gloom at the bottom of the rocks. "'Where's Deering?' he asked. "'Did I let him go?' "'You did not.'

Starting point is 01:21:20 Take a drink, the other replied, and pushed a flask into Jimmy's hand. Jimmy drank, gasped, and tried to get up, but found he could not move. Where is Deering, he insisted? I expect he's crossing the glacier with the guides from the hotel, said the man, who took the flask from him, and Jimmy knew Stannard's voice. Then where am I? You are in the guise. gully. You held on to Deering until he got support for his foot. Then you slipped off the big stone. Something like that, anyhow. Do you feel pain at any particular spot?

Starting point is 01:22:05 I don't know if one spot hurts worse than another. All hurt. I doubt if I can get up. You mustn't try, said Stannard, firmly. When Deering arrives, we'll help you up. jimmy pondered since the evening was very cold he thought it strange stannard had pulled off his coat then he saw somebody had put over him a coat that was not his why have you given me your clothes he asked for one thing i didn't fall about forty feet if i had fallen forty feet i'd have got smashed it's obvious perhaps you hit the side of the gun gully and rolled down, but it's not important. When one gets a jolt like yours, the shocks as bad as the local injury. Are you cold? I'm horribly cold, but although I heard stones not long since, I don't think I got hit. The stones run down the middle, and I pulled you against the rock. You're a good sort, Jimmy remarked. Deering's a good sort.

Starting point is 01:23:19 to know he's not hurt at some relief. Stannard said nothing, and Jimmy asked for a cigarette. Stannard gave him a cigarette and a light, but after a few moments he let it drop. The tobacco's not good, he said dully and began to muse. He was strangely slack, and his body was numb. Perhaps to feel no local pain was ominous. He knew a man who fell on the rocks and had not afterwards used his legs.

Starting point is 01:23:54 To be wheeled about for all one's life was horrible. When a doctor arrived, he would know his luck, and in the meantime, he dared not dwell on things like that. He studied the rocks. Stanard had obviously come down by the slanting crack. Jimmy thought he himself could not have done so. then Stanard, risking his getting hit by rebounding stones, had remained with him for some hours. When Jimmy helped Deering, the sun shone,

Starting point is 01:24:28 and now the stars were out. The gully was high on the mountain, and after the sun went, the cold was keen. But Stannard had given him his coat. Stannard was like that. I expect you sent Deering to the hotel, Jimmy resumed after a time. Yes, I was firm.

Starting point is 01:24:51 Deering wanted to go down to you, but I doubted if he could get down, and the important thing was to fetch help. You must be moved as soon as possible. Jimmy nodded. Deering was the man he had thought. All the same, Stanards was the finer type. Jimmy had long known his pluck,

Starting point is 01:25:12 but he had other qualities. when one must front a crisis he was cool he saw and carried out the proper plan but jimmy's brain was very dull and stanard's figure melted and the rocks got indistinct after a time he heard a noise a shout echoed in the gully nailed boots rattled on stones and it looked as if men were coming up deering breathless and gasping arrived before the others and motioned to stannard not much grounds to be disturbed i think said stannard in a quiet voice he was talking sensibly not long since deering came to jimmy and touched his arm you're not broke up partner you haven't got it against me that i pulled you off the rocks certainly not i slipped off jimmy declared anyhow you're my friend sure thing said deering quietly take a drink of hot soup we'll soon pack you out he put a vacuum flask in jimmy's hand and turned to the others let's get busy boys jimmy did not know much about their journey down the gully and across the glacier but at length he was vaguely conscious of bright lights and the tramp of feet along an echoing passage people gently moved him about he felt he was in a soft warm bed and with languid satisfaction he went to sleep

Starting point is 01:26:57 when the others saw jimmy was asleep they went off quietly but at the end of the passage deering stopped stanard let's get a drink he said for four or five hours i've hustled some and i need a pick-me-up stannard gave him a keen glance deering had hustled to carry jimmy down the rocks and across the glacier in the dark was a strenuous undertaking and where strength was needed the big man had nobly used his yet stannard imagined the strain that had bothered him was not physical oh well he said i'll go to the bar with you waiting for you in the gully was not a soothing job you knew i'd get back deering rejoined if i'd had to haul out the cookin bell boys i'd have brought help i didn't know how long you'd be and speed was important you're a blamed cool fellow deering remarked if you had not taken control i expect would have jolted jimmy off the stretcher and maybe have gone through the snow bridge the guide didn't spot then you stayed with him pulled him out of the way of the snow slides and kept him warm i expect you saved his life to some extent perhaps that is so standard agreed that somebody must pull jimmy against the rock was obvious all the same i knew the stones wouldn't bother us after it got cold deering was puzzled stanard's habit was not to boast but it looked as if he were willing to admit he had saved jimmy's life deering speculated about his object

Starting point is 01:28:54 well he said i own i was badly rattled you see if the kid had not held fast i'd have gone right down the rock face and don't know where i'd have stopped perhaps it's strange but i remembered i've got five hundred dollars of his and the thing bothered me to know i'd played a straight game didn't comfort me much you're a sentimentalist stanard rejoined with a smile I don't know that a cricket game was indicated, but let's get our drinks. They went to the bar, and when Deering picked up his glass, he said, Good luck to the kid and a quick recovery. He drained the glass and looked at Stannard hard. When Jimmy needs a help out, I'm his man. Stannard said nothing, but lighted a cigarette.

Starting point is 01:29:52 In the morning a young doctor arrived from Calgary and was some time in Jimmy's room. I reckon your luck was pretty good, he remarked. After three or four days, you can get up and go about. He paused and added meaningly, But you want to go slow. Jimmy's face was white, but the blood came to his skin. I'd begun to think something like that,

Starting point is 01:30:22 he said in a languid voice. The doctor nodded. Since you could stand for the knock you got, your body's pretty sound. But I get a hint of strain, and the cure's moral. You want to cut out hard drinks, strong cigars,

Starting point is 01:30:40 and playing cards all night. Do the symptoms indicate that I do play cards all night? I own I was helped by inquiries about your habits, said the doctor, smiling. If you like a game, try pool with boys like yourself,

Starting point is 01:30:58 and bet fifty cents. I don't know about your bank roll, but your heart and nerve won't stand for hundred-dollar pots when your antagonists are men. One antagonist risked his life to save mine, Jimmy declared, with an angry flush, for he thought he saw where the other's remarks led.

Starting point is 01:31:21 i understand that is so the doctor agreed my job's not to talk about your friends but to give you good advice cut out unhealthy excitement and go steady if you like it go up on the rocks mountaineering's dangerous but sometimes one runs worse risks he went off and by and by deering came in the doctor allows you are making pretty good progress the man who means to put you out must use a gun he said with a jolly laugh anyhow we were bothered and when we got the bulletin we rushed the bar for drinks my friends are staunch oh shucks said deering you're the sort whose friends are staunch say you're holding on until i pulled you over was great You didn't pull me over. The stone rocked, and I came off. One mustn't dispute with a sick man, Deering remarked. All the same, I want a state I owe you much, and I pay my debts.

Starting point is 01:32:36 I'd like you to get that. Jimmy smiled. If it's some comfort, I'm willing to be your creditor. I know you'd meet my bill. Sure thing. said deering, who did not smile. When you send your bill along, I'll try to make good. That's all, I guess we'll let it go.

Starting point is 01:33:00 Very well, I don't see how you were able to stick to the slab. My foot slipped from the knob, but for a few moments you held me up, and bracing my knee against the stone, I swung across for the crack. Then I was on the shelf, and you went over my side. head. That's all I knew until Stannard joined me and took control. He sent you off? Deering nodded. I wasn't keen to go, but he saw help was wanted, and he thought about wiring for a doctor. When I got back with the boys, our plan was to rush you down to the hotel, but it wasn't Stanards. I allow we were rattled. He was cool.

Starting point is 01:33:50 we must go slow and not jolt you at awkward spots somebody must look for the smoothest line crossing the glacier he went ahead with a lantern and located a soft snow bridge the guide was going to cross stannard is like that said jimmy his coolness is very fine deering agreed but jimmy thought he hesitated before he resumed in some ways the fellow's the standard type of high-brow englishman he's urbane and won't dispute he smiles and lets you down he wears the proper clothes and uses the proper talk if you're his friend he's charming but that's not all the man stanner doesn't plunge he calculates he knows just where he wants to go and gets there i guess if i was an obstacle i'd pull out of his way the man's fine like tempered steel and about is hard well the doctor stated you wanted quiet and i'll quit talking he went away and jimmy mused deering talked much but jimmy imagined he sometimes had an object although he frankly approved stanard jimmy felt he struck a warning note since jimmy owed much to stanard's coolness he was rather annoyed but the talk had tired him and he went to sleep end of chapter six recording by roger maline Chapter 7 of Northwest

Starting point is 01:35:44 This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. North West by Harold Binloss. Chapter 7. An insurable interest. The sun was hot and Jimmy loafed in an easy chair at the shady end of the terrace. Laura occupied a chair opposite.

Starting point is 01:36:08 The small table between them carried some books and flowers and fruit from the pacific coast in the background a shining white peak cut the serene sky three or four young men and women were on the veranda steps not far off a few minutes since they had bantered jimmy but when laura arrived they went jimmy rather thought she had meant them to go and he gave her a smile i expect you have inherited some of mr stanard's talents he remarked for example jimmy indicated the rather noisy group it looks as if you knew my head ached and i couldn't stand for stephen's jokes when you joined me he and his friends went off your father arranges things like that without much obvious effort i knew the doctor stated you must not be bothered laura admitted besides i engaged to go fishing with stevens and some others and before i get back expect i'll have enough is dillon going frank planned the excursion said laura and jimmy was satisfied dillon was a young american whom jimmy rather liked but to think laura liked frank annoyed him now however she had admitted that his society had not much charm anyhow you're very kind he remarked and indicated the fruit and flowers these things don't grow in the mountains

Starting point is 01:37:48 the station is not far off and to send a telegram is not much bother to send up things from vancouver is expensive sometimes you talk like a cotton manufacturer laura rejoined joined. Jimmy colored, but gave her a steady glance. It's possible. My people are manufacturers. My grandfather was a workman. Not long since, I meant to cultivate out all that marked me as belonging to the cotton mill. Now, I don't know. Perhaps I inherited something useful for my grandfather. But in the meantime, it's not important. You are kind. oh well said laura you were moody and the doctor declared you had got a very nasty jolt i was thoughtful to some extent you're accountable when one is forced to loaf one has time to ponder and when you inquired if i knew where i went he stopped for a guide carrying fishing-rods and landing nets went down the steps and stannard came out of the hotel your party's waiting for you stanard remarked to laura who got up and gave jimmy a smile get well and then ponder she said and joined the others

Starting point is 01:39:15 jimmy frowned the others of course ought not to wait for laura but stanard had sent her off like that before all the same he was her father and jimmy owned he must not dispute his rule when the party had gone stannard sat down opposite jimmy and lighted a cigarette i'm glad to note you make good progress in a day or two i'll go about as usual in fact if the others go fishing to-morrow i'll try to join them i think i could reach the lake some cautions necessary stannard remarked you got a very nasty shake and ran worse risks than you knew when you stopped in the bank of gravel your luck was remarkably good i did not expect you to stop until you reached the glacier then had i not had a thick coat that helped to keep you warm you might not have survived the shock afterwards much depended on deering speed and is getting men who knew the rocks indeed when we started i hardly thought we could carry you down in useful time jimmy was puzzled because he did not think stannard meant to imply that his help was important the risk jimmy had run however was obvious and stanard's talking about it led him to dwell on something he had recently weighed since i was forced to stay in bed i've tried to reckon up and find out where i am he said said, You are my banker. How does the account stand?

Starting point is 01:41:01 I imagine Laura's advice was good. Wait until you get better, Stannard said, carelessly. When I start to go about, I'll be occupied by something else. How much do I owe? For a few minutes, Stannard studied his notebook, and when he replied, Jimmy set his mouth. He knew he had been extravagant. but his extravagance was worse than he had thought until i get my inheritance it's impossible for me to pay you he said with some embarrassment i so to speak have pawned my allowance for a long time in advance something like that is obvious very well what am i going to do about it my plan was to wait until you did get your inheritance but i see some disadvantages, said Standard in a thoughtful voice. The trouble is I might not inherit, Jimmy agreed.

Starting point is 01:42:05 One must front things, and climbing's a risky hobby. We mean to shoot a mountain sheep, and I understand the bighorn keep the high rocks. Then we have undertaken to get up a very awkward peak. Well, suppose I did not come back. You don't expect a fresh accident. haven't you had enough however if your gloomy forebodings were justified i expect your relations would meet my claim after all mountaineering accidents are numerous and you don't know dick layland you have got a bundle of acknowledgments but the notes are not stamped and dick hates gambling it's impossible he'd dispute my debts and he's a remarkably keen business man If that is so, it might be awkward,

Starting point is 01:43:01 Stannard agreed. But what about the other trustee? Sir James is in India. I expect he'd support Dick. During their lifetime, my share is a third of the house's profit, but, unless they're satisfied, I cannot for some time use much control. In fact, they have power to fix my allowance.

Starting point is 01:43:27 Stanard's look was thoughtful, as if he had not known. But since Laura knew, Jimmy wondered why she had not enlightened her father. Very well, said Stannard. My plan might not work. Have you another? The other plan was obvious. Jimmy was surprised because Stannard did not see it. You trusted me and I mustn't let you down, he said with a friendly smile. if we insure my life you'll guard against all risk my interest is insurable stanard remarked and stopped then he resumed in a careless voice

Starting point is 01:44:10 your caution's ridiculous but if you are resolved i suppose i must agree in order to satisfy you we'll look up an insurance office at vancouver somehow jimmy was jarred stanard's remark about his insurable interest indicated that he had weighed the plan before and jimmy thought his pause significant then although he had agreed as if he wanted to indulge jimmy his agreement was prompt for all that the plan was jimmy's and stanard's approval was justified then deering came along the terrace and said to stanard hello i thought you had gone to write some letters and jimmy's look is strangely sober have you been weighing something important the glance stannard gave jimmy was careless but jimmy thought he meant deering was not to know sometimes jimmy's rash but sometimes he's keener than one thinks anyhow he's obstinate and we were disputing about a suggestion of his i did not at first approve i wrote the letters i meant to write sit down and take a smoke deering sat down and they talked about the peaks they had planned to climb a week or two afterwards stanard and jimmy went to vancouver and when he had seen the insurance company's doctor jimmy walked about the streets he liked vancouver when one fronted an opening in the rows of ambitious office blocks One saw the broad inlet and anchored ships.

Starting point is 01:45:56 Across the shining water, mountains rolled back to the snow in the north. On the other side, streets of new wooden houses pushed out to meet the dark pine forest. The city's surroundings were beautiful, but Jimmy felt that beauty was not its peculiar charm. At Montreal, for example, one got a hint of cultivation, and to some extent of the leisure built on long-established prosperity. Notre Dame was rather like Notre Dame at Paris, and St. James's was a glorious cathedral. Quiet green squares checkered the city, and the streets at the bottom of the mountain were bordered by fine shade trees. Vancouver was frankly raw and new. One felt it had not yet reached its proper growth. All was bustle.

Starting point is 01:46:52 and keen activity. The clang of locomotive bells and the rattle of steamboat winches echoed about the streets. Huge sawmills and stacks of lumber occupied the waterfront. Giant trunks carried electric wires across the high roofs,

Starting point is 01:47:10 and, until Jimmy saw the furs in Stanley Park, he had not thought logs like that grew. Then he thought the citizens typically western. Their look was keen and optimistic. They pushed and jostled along the sidewalks. Jimmy saw an opera house and numerous pool rooms,

Starting point is 01:47:33 but in the daytime nobody seemed to loaf. All struck a throbbing note of strenuous business. Jimmy studied the wharfs and mills and railroad yard, but for the most part he stopped opposite the land agent's windows. the large maps of freshly opened country called up there in the wilds hard men drove back the forest and broke virgin soil their job was a man's job and jimmy pictured the struggle he had loafed and indulged his youthful love for pleasure but the satisfaction he had got was gone after all he had inherited some constructive talent and he vaguely realized he vaguely realized that his business was to build and not to squander then laura and the doctor had worked on him laura had bidden him study where he went the other hinted that he went too fast at one office he saw a map of the country behind the hotel and he picked out the valley in which was kelshope ranch there was not another homestead for some distance and a notice stated that the land was

Starting point is 01:48:48 cheap. Jimmy pondered for a few minutes and then went in. The agent stated his willingness to supply land of whatever sort Jimmy needed, but he thought, for an ambitious young man, the proper investment was a city-building lot. In fact, he had a number of useful lots on a first-class frontage. Jimmy studied the map and remarked that the town had not got there yet. the agent declared the town would get there soon and to wait until the streets were graded and prices went up was a fool's plan jimmy stated he would not speculate if the price were suitable he might buy land in the kelsehop valley on the other map the agent said the valley was not altogether in his hands kell's hope was in alberta but for a split commission he could negotiate a sale with a calgary broker if one bought a block and paid a small deposit he imagined a good sum might stand on mortgage jimmy replied that he would think about it and went off it was not for nothing he had studied business methods at the late mill. In the evening, he and Stannard occupied a bench in the hotel rotunda. Cigar smoke floated about the pillars. The revolving glass doors went steadily round, and noisy groups pushed in and out. But Stannard had got a quiet corner, and by and by, Jimmy asked, Have you agreed with the insurance office?

Starting point is 01:50:34 They have not sent the agreement. I expect to get. it then i'd like you to go back in the morning and ensure for a larger sum i'll give you a note for five hundred pounds i haven't five hundred pounds said standard with surprise why do you want the sum i'm going to buy a ranch near jardines jimmy replied the agent wants a deposit and i must buy tools can you help stannard looked at him hard and hesitated but he saw jimmy was resolved i might get the money in three or four weeks it will cost you something that's understood jimmy agreed i don't of course expect the sum for which you'll hold my note will you get to work i rather think your plan ridiculous you thought another plan of mine ridiculous but you helped me carry it out jimmy said quietly stanard looked up with a frown for deering crossed the floor i've trailed you he shouted there's not much use in your stealing off i didn't know you had business to transact in vancouver stanard rejoined dillon had some business and brought me along said deering with a noisy laugh looks as if my job was to guide adventurous youth

Starting point is 01:52:12 jimmy smiled for he imagined the young men deering guide had paid expensive fees he did not know if deering's occupation was altogether gambling but he did gamble and his habit was to win yet jimmy liked the fellow jimmy's mood is rather adventurous he wants to buy a ranch stannard resumed i understand he is interviewed a plausible land agent all land agents are plausible said deering tell us about the speculation jimmy jimmy did so stanard's ironical amusement had hurt and he tried to justify his experiment looks like a joke but i don't know said deering if you can stand for holding down a bush block until the neighborhood develops you ought to sell for a good price all the same the job is dreary have you got the money i was trying to persuade stannard to finance me he doesn't approve but thinks he could get the sum that plans expensive deering a business that plan's expensive deering observed what deposit does the agent want jimmy told him and he pondered stannard said nothing but jimmy thought him annoyed by deering's meddling moreover jimmy thought deering knew after a few moments deering looked up if you mean to buy the block i'll lend you the deposit and you can pay me current interest i expect the agent will take a long-date mortgage for the rest but you ought to ask your trustees in england for the money have you got the sum stannard inquired

Starting point is 01:54:08 sure said deering with a jolly laugh dillon and i met up with two or three sporting lumber men who have just put over a big deal my luck was pretty good and i'd have stuffed my wallet had not a sort of puritan vigilante blown in he got after the hotel boss who stated his was not a red light-house jimmy studied the others and although stanard smiled was somehow conscious of a puzzling antagonism on the whole he liked deering's plan he did not think dick layland would agree but sir jim might do so thank you but stanard's my banker he replied all the same in the morning i'll write to my trustees oh well said deering if you want the money i'm your man but let's get a drink end of chapter seven recording by roger maline chapter eight of north-west this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by roger Mald Bindloss. CHAPTER VIII. Jimmy gets to work.

Starting point is 01:55:38 On the evening Jimmy returned from Vancouver, he went to the dining room as soon as the bell rang and waited by Stanard's table. The table occupied a corner by a window and commanded the room and a noble view of rocks and distant snow. Other guests had wanted the corner, but, But Stannard had got it for his party. Although he was not rich, Stanard's habit was to get things like that. The room was spacious and paneled with cedar and maple.

Starting point is 01:56:12 Slender wooden pillars supported the decorated beams. The tables were furnished with good china and nickel. The windows were open and the keen smell of the pines floated in. a few moments Jimmy heard Deering's laugh and Stanard's party crossed the floor. Frank Dylan talked to Laura, whom Jimmy had not seen since he returned. Frank was rather a handsome, athletic, young fellow. Laura wore a fashionable black dinner dress, and her skin, by contrast, was very white. Her movements were languidly graceful, and Jimmy got a sense of high cultivation. He was young, and to know he belonged to Laura's party flattered him.

Starting point is 01:57:00 Yet he was half embarrassed, because he waited for other guests and did not know if Laura would like his friends. When she gave Jimmy her hand, Stannard indicated two extra chairs. Hello, he said. I must see the head waiter. This table's ours.

Starting point is 01:57:20 Two friends of mine are coming, Jimmy replied and turned to Laura apologetically. Perhaps I ought to have told you, but I wrote to Jardine from Vancouver, and when I returned and got his letter you were not about. Was it not Miss Jardine you helped when her horse ran away? I doubt if I did help much, but after the horse knocked me down, I went to the homestead, and Jardine was kind. Now I want to talk to him. He's a good rancher.

Starting point is 01:57:54 Then ranching really? interest you? Jimmy has bought a ranch, and I'm going to stay with him, said Dearing, with a noisy laugh. Perhaps to hunt and live the simple life will help me keep down my weight. Laura gave Jimmy a keen glance, and he thought she frowned. You, a rancher? It's ridiculous. But Deering likes to joke.

Starting point is 01:58:21 It is not at all a joke, Dearing rejoined. Jimmy has bought a ranch, and Stannard and I disputed who should lend him the money. As a rule, one's friends don't dispute about that sort of privilege, but one trusts Jimmy. Perhaps his trusting you accounts for it. I suppose Miss Jardine comes with her father, Laura remarked. Jimmy agreed and looked at Stannard, who had picked up the bill of fare. We must wait for your friends, he said carelessly, but Jimmy thought him annoyed.

Starting point is 01:59:00 Then Jimmy turned and saw Margaret and Jardine. The rancher's clothes were obviously bought at a small settlement store, but his figure was good and his glance was keen and cool. Somehow Jimmy imagined him ironically amused. Margaret's blue dress was not fashionable, but she carried herself. like an Indian and was marked by something of the Indians calm. In the sunset, her hair was red, her eyes were blue, and her skin was brown. When Jimmy advanced to meet her, she gave him a frank smile. He presented her to Laura and noted Dylan's admiring glance. Stanard called a waiter,

Starting point is 01:59:46 and when dinner was served, began to talk. Laura supported him, but Jim, Jimmy rather thought her support too obvious. This was strange, because Laura was clever and knew where to stop. Now it looked as if she did not. The Jardines were his friends, but nothing indicated that for them to dine at a fashionable hotel was embarrassing. He imagined Margaret studied Laura, and sometimes Laura's glance rested on the other for a moment and was gone. When Dearing had satisfied his appetite, however, he firmly took the lead and Jimmy let him do so. Sometimes Deering's humor was rude, but it was kind.

Starting point is 02:00:35 When they went to the terrace, others joined them, and soon a party surrounded Stannard's table. After a time, the people moved their chairs about, and Jimmy saw Jardine was with Dearing and Dylan had joined Margaret. he fancied laura had remarked this but she lighted a cigarette and gave him a friendly smile your friends don't want you just now when you started for vancouver i think you ought to have told me about your ranching experiment i didn't know said jimmy in an apologetic voice i saw a map in a land agent's window and something called i hesitated for a few minutes and then went in then you didn't go to vancouver in order to buy a ranch not at all said jimmy and stopped because he did not want to state why he did go of course it looks like a rash plunge he resumed Still, I doubt if it really is rash, and I imagined you would approve. Laura smiled. I don't know much about ranching.

Starting point is 02:01:50 Not long ago, you declared I ought to have an occupation. Then you felt you must get to work because I thought you ought? said Laura and gave Jimmy a gentle glance. Jimmy's heartbeat, but he knitted his brows. He was sincere, and Laura was not altogether accountable for his resolve. Well, he said in a thoughtful voice, I was getting slack and loafing along the easy way, until you pulled me up. I owe you much for that.

Starting point is 02:02:26 You forced me to ponder, and I began to see loafing was dangerous. One must have an object, and I looked about. He stopped, with some understanding. embarrassment and Laura saw he was moved. Jimmy did owe her something, for she had meddled at a moment when he was vaguely dissatisfied and looking for a lead. At the beginning, she was not selfish. She wanted him to stop and ponder, but he had started off again and was not going where she wanted him to go. You imply you have found an object? she remarked. after all one's object ought to be worth while and to chop trees on a ranch will not carry you far perhaps your proper occupation is at the cotton mill

Starting point is 02:03:19 i think not anyhow not yet until i'm twenty-five dick leyland has control dick is a good mill manager but his school is the old school he holds down our work people and they grumble the machinery is crowded and some is not safe the operatives have not the space and light that makes work easier then the office is dark and cold one can't persuade dick that harshness and parsimony is no longer pay well when i go back i must have power to put things straight the house is famous my father built its fortune and after all i'm its head laura mused she was poor and hating poverty had begun to weigh jimmy's advantages to marry the head of the famous house was a sound ambition and she thought if she used her charm jimmy would marry her he was young and in some respects argued like a boy laura was young but she argued like a calculating woman yet she hesitated but you have some power she said and smiled besides you're obstinate it's possible all the same i haven't tried my power and don't trust myself dick and i would jar and when i couldn't move him i expect i'd get savage and turn down the job when i have done some useful work for example cleared a ranch got confidence and know my strength i'll go back and try to take my proper part does one get the qualities you feel you want at a bush ranch jardine has got a number at kell's hope all is properly planned and stubbornly carried out

Starting point is 02:05:23 his labor's rewarded and the important thing is he is satisfied i'm not and i admit i haven't got much ground to be satisfied oh well said laura in a few days we start on our excursion to puget sound i think you agreed to join us jimmy knitted his brows he wanted to join the party but saw some obstacles we talked about it if i agreed of course i'll go because you agreed not altogether i'd like to go then why did you hesitate we want you to join us for one thing i really don't think i did agree anyhow you'll have dillon his home's on puget sound and i expect he's going frank is rather a good sort, but sometimes he bores one, Laura remarked carelessly. Besides, after a time, he's going to some friends in Colorado. Jimmy's heartbeat. Although he was not yet Laura's lover, her charm was strong. Still, he ought to get to work, and if he went to Puget Sound with Laura, he might not afterwards

Starting point is 02:06:48 bother about the ranch. Well, perhaps the ranch. was not important. If he wanted, he could, no doubt, sell the land. The clash of a locomotive bell, softened by the distance, echoed across the bush. A freight train had started from the water tank for the long climb to the pass, and Jimmy felt the faint notes carried a message. Canada was a land of bells. At Montreal, the locomotive bells rang all night. their tolling rolled across wide belts of wheat and broke the silence that broods over the rocks when all was quiet in the bush the cow-bells rang sweet chimes perhaps jimmy was romantic but he felt the bells stood for useful effort and now they called the strange thing was he thought he heard pine branches crack and margaret's voice

Starting point is 02:07:51 oh buck oh bright i'm sorry but i can't go he said i have bought the ranch and must get to work laura gave him a keen glance and got a jar he frowned and his mouth was tight she had thought she could move jimmy but now she doubted and because she was proud she dared not try oh well she said we have talked for some time and deering has left jardine she sent jimmy off and looked about dillon talked to margaret and although laura imagined a smile would detach him from the group she did not smile after all if frank joined her jimmy might occupy the chair he left laura crossed the terrace and joined a young canadian jim sat down by the rancher and inquired do you know the land i bought the soil is pretty good but the timber's thick and until you work out the turpentine you'll not get much crop you'll need to chop and burn off the trees grub the stumps and then plough for oats and timothy for some years the oats will not grow milling heads you cut them for hay looks like a long job suppose i wanted to sell the block after a time it depends said jardine dryly you might get your money back you imply it depends on the labor one uses jimmy remarked

Starting point is 02:09:40 well i know nothing about chopping and i haven't pulled a cross-cut saw do you think i can make good jardine looked about the terrace and his eyes twinkled he noted the men's dinner jackets and the women's fast clothes. People talked and laughed and smoked. I'm thinking your friends would not make good. You cannot play at ranching. My object's not to play, said Jimmy in a quiet voice. Anyhow, before you start to work, you must get proper tools. Suppose you tell me what I need. Jardine did so, and added, proper tools and stock are a sound investment, but you cannot get them cheap.

Starting point is 02:10:31 Can you put up the money? I must borrow some, Jimmy admitted, and thought Jardine studied Standard, who talked to two or three young men not far off. Then maybe you'd better borrow from Mr. Deering. Jardine had said something like this before, but Jimmy let it go, and the rancher indicated Margaret.

Starting point is 02:10:57 Dylan leaned against a post opposite the girl, and a group of young men and women occupied the surrounding chairs. A touch of color had come to Margaret's skin. Her look was alert and happy. Jimmy had known her undertake a man's job at the ranch, but on the hotel veranda she was not at all exotic. I must thank you, Mr. Layland. sometimes it's lonesome at the ranch, Jardine remarked.

Starting point is 02:11:29 Jimmy said he hoped his guests would stay for some days, but Jardine refused. At Kel's Hope works awaiting, and we'll start the morn. If you come back with us, we'll look over the block you bought, and I might advise you about laying it out. In the meantime, we'll reckon up the tools and stock you'll need. They began to talk about the ranch, and Stannard joined Laura, who sent off her companion. What do you think about Jimmy's experiment?

Starting point is 02:12:03 Stannard asked. Laura studied him. On the whole, his look was careless, but she doubted. I don't know. Do you think him rash? Stannard shrugged. My notion is, the things are rather expensive. caprice but after all Jimmy's rich he's easily moved and perhaps his bush friends have persuaded him it's possible Laura agreed all the same Jimmy's keen he really means to ranch

Starting point is 02:12:39 you have some grounds to know him keen Laura's grounds were good and she wondered whether Stanard knew her father was clever and she saw his look was thoughtful. For one thing, he declares he cannot go with us to Puget Sound, she said. You imply he would sooner start for the bush with the Jardines? Stannard suggested with a smile. After all, it's not important, and I expect Jimmy will go where he wants, said Laura, and went up the veranda steps. She thought she had baffled, Stannard, but she had,

Starting point is 02:13:21 was hurt. At the beginning, she knew her advice to Jimmy was good. When he was going the wrong way, she had stopped him. Now, however, it looked as if her power was gone. She could see herself Jimmy's guide in Lancashire, but to guide him in the lonely bush was another thing. End of Chapter 8. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 9 of Northwest This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. North West by Harold Binloss.

Starting point is 02:14:08 Chapter 9. The Quiet Woods A warm Chinook wind, blowing from the Pacific, carried the smell of the pines. The dark branches tossed, and a languid murmur, like distant surf, rolled up the valley. Jimmy had pulled off his coat. and his gray workman shirt was open at the neck, for he liked to feel the breeze on his hot skin.

Starting point is 02:14:36 He was splitting cedar for roof shingles, but had stopped in order to sharpen his axe. Since he had not yet cut his leg, he thought his luck was good. A few maples, beginning to turn crimson, broke the rows of somber pines. In the foreground were chopped trunks, blackened by fire,

Starting point is 02:14:58 ashes and white chips. A tent and a half-built house of notched logs occupied the middle of the small clearing. In the background one saw high rocks streaked at their dark tops by snow. Some of the snow was fresh, and Jimmy imagined the speed he had used was justified. Yet so long as the Chinook blue, gentle Indian summer would brood over the valley. jimmy's skin was brown his mouth was firm and his look alert his hands were blistered and his back was sore but this was not important he could now pull a big saw through gummy logs and as a rule drive the shining axe head where he wanted it to go a belt held his overalls tight at his waist when he tilted back his head to get his breath his balance and pose was were good. A plume of aromatic smoke floated across the clearing and Okanagan Bob squatted by the fire. Bob's hair was black and straight and his eyes were narrow. His crouching pose was significant

Starting point is 02:16:14 because a white man sits. Bob's skin was white, but it looked as if some Indian blood ran in his veins. He was an accurate shot and a clever fisherman. now he fried trout for breakfast and jimmy wondered whether he would leave the fish long enough in the pan as a rule bob did not cook things much somebody's coming he remarked and began to eat take your fish when you want i've got to pull out for a minute or two jimmy heard nothing and then a faint beat of horses feet stole across the woods the noise got louder and by and by margaret rode into the clearing when jimmy jumped for his jacket she smiled and the nervous cayuse plunged in the bush all goes quietly and abrupt movement means danger margaret wrote astride her dress was dull yellow and her leggings were fringed deer-skin at the hotel jimmy had approved her blue clothes but he thought he liked her better in the bush somehow she harmonized with the straight trunks it was not that she was finely built and beautiful one got a hint of primitive calm and strength shall i hold the bridle jimmy asked i think not said margaret and soothed the horse another time when you took the bridle

Starting point is 02:17:51 i was forced to walk home and you got a kick on the whole i think my luck was good jimmy rejoined when i went to kell's hope things so to speak began to move margaret got down took a pack from the saddle and tied the horse to a tree bob got up from the fire seized his rifle and looked at margaret i'm going to get a deer he said and vanished in the wood The underbrush was thick, but they did not hear him go. When I was at the station, the agent gave me your mail and some groceries, said Margaret. My father allowed you were busy, and I'd better take the truck along. Jimmy said, thank you, and gave her a thoughtful look. Margaret's voice was cultivated, but she talked like a bush girl. At the hotel, she had not.

Starting point is 02:18:51 i didn't order a fruit pie in a number of bannocks he said when he opened the pack oh well i was baking and i reckoned if bob was cook you wouldn't get much dessert but have you eaten yet jimmy said he imagined breakfast was ready and margaret went to the fire glanced at the half-raw trout and threw a black doughy cake from a plate a white man cooks his food she said meaningly take a smoke while i fix something fit to eat jimmy pushed two or three letters into his pocket and sat down on a cedar log if margaret meant to cook his breakfast he imagined she would do so and he was satisfied to watch her for one thing she knew her job and jimmy liked to see all done properly she did not bother him for things she seemed to know where they were after a time she put the trout and some thin light cakes on a slab of bark and jimmy remarked that the fish were an appetizing golden brown i expect you have not got breakfast and i'll bring you a plate he said at a bush ranch the woman gets the plate there's not much use in pretending the bush rules are yours Jimmy rejoined. Anyhow, I'll bring you all you want.

Starting point is 02:20:23 Wash the plate, please, said Margaret. I'd sooner you did not rub it with the towel. Jimmy laughed. You take things for granted. I'm not a complete bushman yet. He cleaned the plates and knives, and Margaret studied him. Something of his carelessness and the hint of indulgence, she had noted, were gone. His face had got thin and his frank glance was steady. Although he laughed,

Starting point is 02:20:55 his laugh was quiet. The bush was hardening him, and when she looked about, she saw the progress he had made was good. Well, she knew Jimmy was not a loafer. After the cayus kicked his leg, he carried her heavy pack to the ranch. Now we can get to work, he said. margaret allowed him to put a trout and some hot flapjacks on her plate after all i like it when people bring me things she remarked at kell's hope when one wants a thing one goes for it i reckon your friends ring a bell perhaps both plans have some drawbacks still i don't see why you bother to indicate that you do not ring bells it looks as if you're pretty keen said margaret keener than you thought well not long since i'd have admitted i was something of a fool anyhow i'd rather think you know the canadian cities at toronto i stopped at a cheap boarding-house they rang bells for you if you were not in right on time for meals you went without you didn't ask for the menu you took what the waitress brought now you ought to be satisfied i'm not curious about your job in the old country i'm not at all reserved jimmy rejoined i occupied a desk at a cotton-mill office and wrote up lists of goods in a big book until i couldn't stand for it then i quit

Starting point is 02:22:41 margaret weighed his statement and imagined he had used some reserve for a clerk at a cotton mill to tour about canada with rich people was strange You talk about the old country, although you stated you were altogether Canadian, Jimmy resumed. My father's a Scot. He came from the border. Your name indicates it. The Jardines and two or three other clans ruled the western border, but were themselves a stubborn, unruly lot. Your ancestors were famous.

Starting point is 02:23:18 I know their haunts in Annandale. i reckon my father was a poacher margaret observed jimmy laughed it's possible the others were something like that anyhow their main occupation was to drive off english cattle but we won't bother he stopped and mused sometimes when he was at the cotton mill he had gone for holiday to the bleak scottish moors the country was romantic but rather bluish bleak than beautiful, and he had thought a touch of the old Moss Trooper's spirit marked their descendants. The men were big, and their Scottish soberness hid a vein of reckless humor. They were keen sportsmen and bold poachers. When one studied them, one noted their stubbornness, and something Jimmy thought was quiet pride. Margaret had got the puzzling quality. One marked her calm level glance and her rather haughty carriage. Although she was a bush rancher's daughter,

Starting point is 02:24:27 Jimmy did not think he exaggerated much. Your house is going up and you have cleared some ground, she said. It looks as if you had not slouched. Oh, well, said Jimmy modestly, your father reckoned I must push ahead before the frost began. But if we had made some progress, I imagine Bob is mainly accountable. Do you like O'Connigan? I don't know, Jimmy replied in a thoughtful voice. He stays with his job and puts it over,

Starting point is 02:25:04 but he doesn't talk. Unless he's chopping and you hear his axe, you don't know where he is. He steals about. In fact, the fellow puzzles me. What's his proper business? bob's a trapper to get valuable skins you must go far north but the black bear are pretty numerous and sometimes a cinnamon comes down the rocks then tourists give a good price for a big horn's head i reckon bob's wad was getting big until the politicians resolved to see the game laws were carried out

Starting point is 02:25:44 now you must buy a license before you shoot large animals and you may only shoot one or two then reserves are fixed where you may not shoot at all the belt across the range is a reserve and the game warden made some trouble for bob perhaps this accounts for his hiring up with you do you like the fellow margaret hesitated she did not like bob but she did not mean to enlighten jimmy sometimes bob came to kell's hope and when he fixed his strange glance on her she got disturbed well she said if i wanted a log-house put up or the timber-wolves cleared off i'd send for o'canigan but i'd stop there he's not the sort i'd want for a friend you imply if you were a rancher you wouldn't want him for a friend margaret's eyes twinkled why of course i implied something like that but bob goes to kell's hope and mr jardine suggested my hiring him my father's a bushman said margaret rather dryly his habits not to get stung but we'll let it go what about your chickens jimmy had sent for some poultry and so long as margaret was willing to stop he was satisfied to talk about his flock sometimes the bush was lonely and to sit opposite margaret had charm she banished the loneliness and gave his rude fireside a homely touch by-and-by however she got up

Starting point is 02:27:35 i have stopped some time and you ought to get busy she would not take his help to mount she seized the bridle stroked the cayuse and was in the saddle the horse plunged into the fern margaret waved her hand and vanished but for a few minutes jimmy smoked and pondered he thought margaret harmonized with the quiet austere woods but although she talked like a bush girl He wondered whether she had not done so in order to baffle him. Anyhow, he hoped she would come back and cook his breakfast another time. He could not see Laura Stannard beating up dough for flapjacks by his fire. Laura's proper background was an English drawing room. She had grace and charm, and on the hotel terrace Jimmy was keen about her society. Then Laura was a good sort.

Starting point is 02:28:35 and he owed her much the strange thing was although she had stated he ought to follow a useful occupation she did not approve his ranching experiment in fact she had urged him to go back to the cotton mill jimmy admitted he was rather hurt because she was willing for him to go now however her pitcher began to get indistinct the bush called and laura did not harmonize with the wood Then Jimmy remembered Margaret had brought him some letters, and when he pulled out an envelope with an Indian stamp, his look was anxious. Sir James, however, stated that his London agents would send a check on a Canadian bank, and when Jimmy wanted to stock his ranch, his bills would be met. sir james remarked that to buy cattle was better than to bet on horses that did not win and chopping trees was not by contrast with some other amusements very expensive moreover if jimmy got tired he could sell the ranch he added that he was presently going to japan and afterwards to england by the canadian pacific line when he crossed canada he would stop and look his name nephew up. Jimmy liked his uncle's rather dry humor and admitted that some of his remarks were justified, for when Jimmy went to the races, his luck was bad, but he put the letter in his

Starting point is 02:30:12 pocket and picked up his axe. For some time he had talked and smoked, and, unless he hustled, the shingles he wanted would not be split by dark. End of Chapter 9. Recording by Roger Malene. Chapter 10 of Northwest. This Librovoc's recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. North West by Harold Binloss. Chapter 10. Laura's refusal. Smoke rolled about the clearing and dry branches snapped in the flames. A keen wind fanned the blaze, and in places the fire leaped up the trees and resinous needles fell in

Starting point is 02:31:06 sparkling showers. O'Connigan Bob went about with a coal oil can, and Jimmy drove the red oxen that hauled loads of brush. Jimmy's face was black, his hands were burned, and his shirt was marked by dark-edged holes, but his mood was buoyant. The fire had got firm hold and advanced steadily across the belt of chopped trunks and branches' bushmen called the slashing. When it burned out, Jimmy thought only half-consumed logs would be left. A good burn ought to save him much labor. Perhaps his keenness was strange. To clear a ranch is a long and arduous job that he was not forced to undertake, but he was

Starting point is 02:31:54 keen. His occupation, so to speak, had got hold of him. Moreover, he felt rather vaguely it was a test of his endurance and pluck. since he left the cotton mill he had loafed and squandered now he had got a man's job and when the job was carried out he would know himself a man by and by he stopped the oxen in front of the house a few yards off deering notched the ends of a log he wore long boots over all trousers and a torn shirt his face was red but his big body followed the side sweep of the axe with a measured swing, and the shining blade went deep into the log. Deering had arrived a few days before to arrange about a hunting excursion. You have to put up a fresh log since I came along. You chop like a bushman, Jimmy remarked.

Starting point is 02:32:57 Two logs, said Dearing, and dropped his axe. I reckon I am a bushman. Anyhow, I was born at a small Ontario Ranch and hired up at another in Michigan. Jimmy was surprised. Although Deering was not at all like Stannard, his habits were extravagant and nothing indicated that he had engaged in bodily labor. He saw Jimmy's surprise and laughed. For a few minutes I'll cool off and take a smoke, he resumed. Chopping's a healthy occupation, but I soon had enough. I was a out for money and wasn't satisfied to earn two and a half a day then in canada and i reckon in michigan you don't get two generations to stay on the land you clear a ranch but your son weighs all you're up against and resolves to quit he reckons keeping store at a settlement is a softer job

Starting point is 02:33:58 Did you keep a store? I ran a pool room. After a time, a woman's reform guild got busy, and the town Reve hinted, I'd better get out. Jimmy laughed. He liked Deering's frankness, but he said, I suppose Dylan left Standard at Puget Sound.

Starting point is 02:34:22 He talked about going to Colorado. When we had stopped a week or two at the Dylan house, house, Frank reckoned he'd come back with us, Deering replied with some dryness. Frank has not bought a ranch, but he's steadying up, and I imagine Miss Laura has got after him. Anyhow, he's cut out cards and bets with me. Looks as if Miss Laura had some talent for steering young men into the proper track. The blood came to Jimmy's skin, but Dearing's humorous Twinkle did not account for all. Jimmy did not like to think about Laura's steering Dylan.

Starting point is 02:35:04 He felt Laura was his guide, and not the others. If you go back to the hotel in the afternoon, I'll come along, he said. Perhaps I ought to see Stannard about our hunting trip. He stated he wanted to see you, Deering replied with a careless nod and resumed his chopping. When the fire had burned, burned out they started for the hotel, but they arrived after dinner and Laura was engaged with other guests. In the morning, she went off to the lake with Dylan and one or two more, whom Jimmy did not know, and since she did not suggest his joining the party, he loafed about the hotel.

Starting point is 02:35:47 It looked as if she was satisfied with Dylan's society and did not want his. Jimmy was hurt, and sitting on the terrace he smoked and pondered. From the beginning he had felt Laura's charm, although he had not thought himself her lover. For one thing, he knew his drawbacks. Yet Laura like Dylan, whose drawbacks were as obvious as his. Somehow Jimmy had taken it for granted he had a particular claim to her friendship. But if the friendship must be shared with friends, its charm was gone after an hour or two his resolution began to harden perhaps his asking laura to marry him was not as ridiculous as he had thought

Starting point is 02:36:35 at all events he would take the plunge she knew he had stopped loafing and started on a fresh line and his having done so because she urged it was a useful argument jimmy admitted he did not see laura helping at the ranch, but this was not important. So long as she engaged to marry him when he made good, he would be resigned. If she hesitated, he must try to indicate something like that. In the evening, Laura returned from the lake, but for some time after dinner she was engaged with her party and left Jimmy alone. Jimmy did not join the group, for the suspense bothered him, and the other's light banter jarred. He thought it strange, but he felt he had nothing to do

Starting point is 02:37:26 with the careless people whose society Laura enjoyed. When he had talked to Laura, he was going back to the quiet woods. At length, Laura came along the terrace, and Jimmy braced himself. She wore a black dinner dress, and when a beam from the window touched her,

Starting point is 02:37:46 Jimmy thought her skin shone like the snow on the rocks, then she turned her head and looked back the tranquil movement was strangely graceful but jimmy frowned dillon had obviously meant to go with laura and although she motioned him back jimmy knew she smiled he fetched a chair and leaned against the terrace wall well jimmy she said in a careless voice you don't look very bright it's possible you haven't talked to me for five minutes since i arrived i was on the terrace had you wanted to join us you could have done so if you had wanted me i expect you'd have indicated it sometimes you're rather keen laura remarked still sometimes you're obstinate i have known you do things i would sooner you did not i expect i'm dull for i don't know if you imply that my obstinacy would not have annoyed you anyhow i left the ranch because i wanted to see you i didn't want to stand about with the others and laugh at their poor jokes they're a slack and careless lot laura looked up jimmy's mouth was firm and she thought him highly strong he was thin and hard and his pose was good in fact she felt he was not altogether the raw lad she had known not long since you rather cultivated people like that and tried to use their rules she said i think you made some progress

Starting point is 02:39:35 oh well i own i was a fool and i owe you something because you helped me see my folly to take the proper line at a ball and a dinner-party to shoot straight and play a useful to shoot straight and play a useful game at cards is perhaps a sound ambition, but I begin to doubt if it's worth the effort it costs. In the woods, one gets another ambition. Laura smiled. You're impulsive. When one indicates the way for you to go, you go much faster than one thinks, but we won't philosophize. Did it not cost you something to leave your ranch? I wanted to see you, said Jimmy. in a quiet voice.

Starting point is 02:40:21 I'd better state my object, because in a minute or two I expect your friends will come along. Laura thought not. The end of the terrace was not lighted. She and Jimmy were in the gloom, and the others were not very dull. Well, she said,

Starting point is 02:40:41 I wanted to ask if you will marry me? For a few moments, Laura said nothing, and Jimmy noted that her pose was very quiet. Then she looked up. You are very young, Jimmy. I'm not younger than you. Besides, I don't see what my youth has to do with it.

Starting point is 02:41:05 Your youth is a drawback, said Laura thoughtfully. You will inherit a large fortune, but I am poor, and if I married you, your trustees would imagine I, and my father had planned to capture you. Now you are ridiculous, Jimmy declared. You have talent, beauty, and cultivation. I'm raw and know nothing but the cotton mill. You ought to see, if I can persuade you,

Starting point is 02:41:37 the gain is altogether mine. Laura gently shook her head. I don't see it, Jimmy, and others would not. dick layland might grumble jimmy admitted with a frown for all that he has nothing to do with my marrying and sir jim is another type he'd fall in love with you he stopped and laura pondered she must make a good marriage and the marriage jimmy urged was good but she saw some obstacles for one thing she did not love jimmy ambition called but she calculated if he would take the line she thought he ought to take she might agree if you were at the cotton mill and claimed your proper post all would be easier she said your uncles could not then dispute your right to marry whom you liked jimmy's laugh was scornful my uncles control my fortune for a year or two that's all However, if you hesitate, I won't urge you to marry me yet.

Starting point is 02:42:50 If you engage to do so when I get my inheritance, I'll be satisfied. The blood came to Laura's skin. Jimmy's keenness was not remarkable, but she knew his sincerity, and she forced a smile. You are philosophical. Oh, well, said Jimmy with some embarrassment. I feel I ought not to urge you now. I wanted to know you belong to me, and then I needn't bother when I'm at the ranch.

Starting point is 02:43:23 The trouble is, if I waited, somebody might carry you off. So long as you agree. Laura's look got rather hard. When she wanted him to go back to England, she was not altogether selfish. Although she did not love him, she liked, Jimmy, and felt he ought not. to stay in Canada with standard and deering. Then you mean to go on at the ranch?

Starting point is 02:43:50 she said. Of course. You declare I'm young. I feel I must take a useful job and so to speak make good. Besides I can't go back to Lancashire to be ruled by Uncle Dick. When I take my inheritance it'll be another thing. Then when you own a ranch there's something about the woods that calls. You get keen. To plan and work is not a bother. But is the reward for your labor worthwhile? In money, the reward is not worthwhile, but that's not important. Somehow, I know Dick Layland is not carrying on the house's business, as it ought to be carried on. We are getting rich, but we cannot much longer use his old-fashioned, and parsimonious rules.

Starting point is 02:44:45 Jim's at Bombay, and there's no use in my making plans for Dick to oppose. You see, I have nothing to go upon. For five years I was a clerk, like our other clerks. Afterwards I was a careless slacker, and Dick would sternly put me down.

Starting point is 02:45:05 But I've stated something like this before. You ought to see. Laura saw he had some way. grounds for his resolve to remain still she did not see herself helping at the ranch and to wait for perhaps three or four years while he carried out his rash experiment was not her plan she imagined his trustees would not approve his marrying her and they controlled his fortune and were clever business men yet had she loved jimmy she might have agreed in the meantime he studied her with keen suspense, and getting up, she gave him a quiet, resolute look. "'You must let me go,' she said. "'I like you, Jimmy, but I am not the girl for you.'

Starting point is 02:45:58 Jimmy tried to brace himself and advanced as if he meant to touch her, but she stopped him. "'I ought not to return to Lancashire yet, but if that's the obstacle, I'll start when you like,' he said. in rather a hoarse voice. Laura was moved. In fact, she was moved to generosity. Now she had conquered. The strange thing was she knew she must not use her triumph. Although Jimmy was beaten,

Starting point is 02:46:30 she admitted his firmness at the beginning was justified, and she thought he would, after a time, repent. I see some other obstacles, she replied. since you are satisfied that your proper job is in canada you must carry it out there is no use in talking jimmy i am not at all the girl for you her resolution was obvious and jimmy stepped back laura gave him a friendly smile and went off jimmy frowned for although he had doubted if he could persuade her he had got a nasty knock at the other end of the terrace stanard joined laura and indicated jimmy well he said jimmy wanted me to marry him i refused ah said stannard i suppose you had some grounds for your refusal i imagine he does not love me laura replied in a quiet voice stannard studied her her color was rather high but she was calm in some respects she was like her mother and not like him stanard was satisfied it was so

Starting point is 02:47:54 yet he asked you to marry him perhaps i am attractive but now i think about it he did not urge me much for all that jimmy is a good sort for a few moments stanard said nothing laura imagined he had meant her to marry jimmy and her refusal bothered him yet his look rather indicated resignation than anger she really did not know her father but he was kind jimmy is a good sort he remarked he has some other advantages his advantages are obvious he's sincere and first and generous, Laura agreed with a touch of emotion. Had he not been like that, I might have risked it. Stannard shrugged. Perhaps you're not altogether logical, but it's done with. I'm sorry, father, said Laura in a gentle voice, and went up the steps.

Starting point is 02:49:02 Stannard stopped, and his look was sternly thoughtful. He was an adventurer. and his scruples were not numerous, but he had not used his daughter's beauty as he might have used it. Now he knew he ran some risks, and, for her sake, he had wanted her to marry Jimmy. Well, she had refused, and Jimmy owed him much, but for some time could not pay. Stannard lighted a cigar and knitted his brows. End of Chapter 10. recording by Roger Maline

Starting point is 02:49:40 Chapter 11 of Northwest This Libravox recording is in the public domain Recording by Roger Maline North West by Harold Binloss Chapter 11 The Game Reserve At the end of the small open glade The pack-horse has dragged about their ropes

Starting point is 02:50:10 A short distance in front the thick timber stopped and a mountain spur went up to the dim white peaks the sun had gone and the sky was calm and green one heard a rival brawl and a faint wind in the trees deering lay in the pine needles and rubbed his neck the mosquitoes are fierce throw some green stuff on the fire and make a smoke he said i don't want to get up jimmy sitting on a log pushed green branches into the flames and then turned his head and looked about two indians were cutting poles and putting up a tent in the gaps between the trunks the gloom got deep and although the sharp top of the spur was distinct jimmy only saw a few pines and junipers stannard and o'connaghan bob who had gone up in the afternoon to look for a line to the high rocks were not coming yet the horses could not go farther and in the morning the hunting party would leave them behind they recently let me join a highbrow mountain club but when i start for the rocks i hesitate deering resumed to boost two hundred pounds up crags and glaciers is a strenuous joyous job and i allow odd sooner standard had brought the hotel guides when i camp i like two blankets and a square meal a good guide can carry a lot of useful truck

Starting point is 02:51:48 their charges are high and o'connigan claims he knows the big horns haunts somehow i reckon bob knows too much deering rejoined well i allow to let you break your neck wouldn't pay stanning in one sense it wouldn't cost him much said jimmy with a laugh you see i insured my life in his favor some time since ah said dearing thoughtfully that was when he took you down to vancouver i went down the plan was mine after i fell into the gully i saw stanard ran some risk deering grinned i like you jimmy you're sure an honest kid then his glance got keen and he resumed say are you going to marry laura miss stanard refused to marry me jimmy replied in a quiet voice but we were talking about the insurance i rather urge stanard exactly stanard's a high-brow englishman said deering but somehow jimmy thought his remark ironical well you urged and since standard is not rich he agreed perhaps the strange thing is he was able to lend you a pretty good sum do you know where he gets the money i don't know it's not important oh well you have insured your life and miss laura has refused you she's a charming girl but since i don't see her helping you run a bush ranch perhaps her refusal was justified however i think somebody's coming down the ridge

Starting point is 02:53:46 not long afterwards stanard and bob reached the camp and stanard said we have found a line and we'll start at daybreak bob now declares he expects a reward for each good head we get you can promise him his bonus if we should shoot a big horn, we're lucky. The tourist sports have scared them back to the north, Deering remarked. They got supper and went to bed. The spruce twigs were soft, and the Hudson's Bay blankets were warm, but for a time Jimmy did not sleep. The tent door was hooked back, and the night was not dark. He saw the smoke go up, and the mist creep about the trunks. Sometimes a horse broke a branch, and sometimes the river's turmoil got louder, but this was all, and Jimmy missed the cowbells that chimed at Kelshop Ranch. Perhaps it was strange, but Laura's refusal had not hurt him very much.

Starting point is 02:54:54 In fact, he began to feel that so long as she did not marry Dylan, he would be resigned. Now Jimmy came to think about it, Deering's hint that she had to be tried. attracted Frank to some extent, accounted for his resolve to marry Laura. Anyhow, Laura was his friend, and Stannard had used tact. He was quietly sympathetic and soon banished Jimmy's embarrassment. Then the noise of the river got indistinct, and Jimmy thought he heard cowbells ring. Branches cracked, and somebody called, Oh, Buck! Oh, Bright!

Starting point is 02:55:35 at daybreak bob sent off two indians to wait for the party at another spot he and an indian carried heavy loads but all carried as much as possible because bob declared the party was rather large for good hunting and refused to take another man when they stopped at noon deering's face was very red and jimmy was satisfied to lie in the stones while bob brewed some tea after lunch they pushed through a belt of timber the trees were small but some had fallen and blocked the way others broken by the wind had not reached the ground and the locked branches held up the slanted trunks where the underbrush below was thick one must crawl along the logs on the other side of the timber an avalanche had swept the slope carrying down soil and stones, and the party was forced to cross steep rock slabs. Jimmy carried a rifle, a blanket, and a small bag of flour, and admitted that he had got enough. To pitch camp at sunset behind a few half-dead spruce was a keen relief. They had not a tent, and the cold was keen, but where one can find wood, one can build a shelter.

Starting point is 02:57:04 supper was soon cooked and when they had satisfied their appetite all were glad to lie about the fire some distance above them untrodden snow touched with faint pink by the sunset glimmered against the green sky below rocks and gravel went down to the forest across which blue mist rolled sometimes a belt of vapor melted and one saw a vast dim gulf and a winding line that was a river the austere landscape rather braced than daunted jimmy he knew the swiss rocks and the high snows called two days afterwards jimmy one afternoon got his first shot at a mountain sheep until the big horn moved it looked like a small gray stone but it did move and when it vanished they studied the ground. There was no use in trying a direct approach, but the rocky slope was broken, and Bob imagined they could climb a gully and come down near the animal farther on. They must, however, take their loads, because he had not yet found a spot to pitch camp. To climb the gully, embarrassed by a heavy pack and a rifle, was hard, and for some time afterwards they crawled across the

Starting point is 02:58:34 top of a big buttress. When they reached another gully, the sun was gone, but Bob thought they would find the sheep not far from the bottom. He said two might go, and when they had spun a coin, Stannard and Jimmy took off their packs. The gully was very steep, and they used some caution. Near the bottom, Jimmy slipped and might have gone down, had not Stannard steadied him. bob carrying the glasses went a short distance in front at the bottom he got behind a stone and presently waved his hand when jimmy reached the spot he saw a horseshoe slope of rock and gravel that fell sharply for five or six hundred feet and then stopped as if at the edge of a precipice he thought if the big horn went down there they must let it go then bob touched his arm and indicated a spot level with them but some distance off something moved and jimmy taking the glasses saw it was a sheep your shot use a full sight it's farther than you think said stannard in a low voice and when jimmy had pulled up the slide he rested the rifle barrel on the rock

Starting point is 03:00:00 his arm was on the stone he knew he ought to hold straight but the shot was long and the hole in the telescopic sight was small perhaps he was too keen for although stannard had got a noble head he himself had not yet fired a shot but when he began to pull the trigger his hand shook he stopped and drew his breath and the sheep moved he's going said bob and jimmy crooked his finger the rifle jerked in the distance a small shower of dust leaped up and the sheep jumped on a stone in a moment it would vanish and jimmy savagely snapped out the cartridge then he saw a pale flash and knew the report of stanard's english rifle the sheep plunged from the stone struck the ground the ground and began to roll down the incline. Its speed got faster, and Jimmy thought it went down like a ball. In a few moments it would reach the top of the precipice, and if it plunged across, they would not find its broken body. Then it struck a rock and stopped, so far as one could see, a few yards from the edge. Stannard gave Bob his rifle and picked up the glasses.

Starting point is 03:01:27 a fine head call deering jimmy i think we can get down jimmy thought not but he shouted and deering arrived and studied the ground looks awkward but perhaps we can make it you have got to make it you don't want to leave a sheep like that about said bob stannard gave him a keen glance but deering said let's try i've brought the rope if you'll lead stannard i'll tie on at the top we'll leave jimmy since i missed my shot i ought to go jimmy objected my weight's a useful anchor and you're not up to stanard's form deering rejoined and they put on the rope they started and jimmy lighted his pipe he had wanted the noble head and stannard had wanted the noble head and stanard had had got another, but Jimmy was not jealous. Although Stannard had hardly had a moment before the sheep went off, he had seized the moment to shoot and hit. In the meantime, however, the others were getting down the slope, and Jimmy used the glasses. The job was awkward.

Starting point is 03:02:49 Sometimes the stones ran down, and Stannard hesitated. Deering stopped and braced himself, ready to be able to do. to hold up his companions. Bob was at the middle of the rope, and, so far as one could see, was satisfied to follow, Stannard. They reached the sheep,

Starting point is 03:03:10 and Bob got on his knees by the animal. His knife shone, and after a few minutes he gave Stannard the head. Then it looked as if they disputed, but Bob got up and began to drag the sheep to the edge. Jimmy was puzzled. For stones were plunging down, and it was plain the fellow ran some risk. One could not see his object for resolving to get rid of the headless body.

Starting point is 03:03:39 After a minute or two, he pushed the sheep over the edge, and the party began to climb the slope. They got to the top, and, going up the gully, after a time, found a corner in the rocks and pitched camp. Bob and the Indian had carried up. a small quantity of wood and when they cooked supper, Stannard remarked, I expect you're satisfied nobody in the valley could see our fire. Nobody's in the valley anyhow, said Bob. Then my seeing smoke was strange,

Starting point is 03:04:16 Stannard rejoined. But suppose somebody had camped in the trees. Why shouldn't the fellow see our fire? Jimmy inquired. perhaps bob will enlighten you said stannard coolly ah said deering he didn't mean to leave the sheep around and although i didn't get his object for pushing the body off the rocks i reckon it went down a thousand feet into the timber he stopped and looking hard at bob resumed what was your object bob's dark face was inscrutable i saw smoke when we got busy i calculated the game warden had located at the other end of the range you greedy swine said stanard and deering began to laugh jimmy doesn't get it well bob meant to earn his bonus and since he took us shooting on a government game reserve i admit his nerve

Starting point is 03:05:24 is pretty good. Anyhow, I won't grumble because I haven't killed a big horn. Stanards may cost him two or three hundred dollars. Why did you play us this shabby trick, Bob? Jimmy asked in a stern voice. Bob gave him a rather strange look. I sure wanted the bonus, and the reserve is new. I allowed I'd beat the warden, and you wouldn't know.

Starting point is 03:05:54 he got after me another time and i had to quit and leave a pile of skins you wanted to get even deering remarked and turned to stanard what are you going to do about it in a way the thing's a joke but our duty's obvious we ought to give up the heads and take bob along to the police stannard said nothing but jimmy imagined he did not mean to give up the heads bob's calm was not at all disturbed shucks he said you're pretty big mr deering but i reckon the city man who could take me where i didn't want to go isn't born why you can't get off the mountains unless i help you fix camp and pack your truck i don't like packing a heavy load deering admitted we'll talk about it again and in the meantime you had better take the frying-pan from the fire i hate my bannocks burned end of chapter eleven recording by roger maline chapter twelve of north-west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger north-west by harold binloss chapter twelve standard fronts a crisis at kel's hope ranch fodder was scarce and so long as the underbrush was green jardine let his cattle roam about the plan had some drawbacks and jardine kneading his plough ox in one afternoon was forced to search the tangled woods

Starting point is 03:07:53 sometimes he heard cowbells but when he reached the spot the animals were gone a plow ox is cunning and in thick timber moves much faster than a man jardine however was obstinate and for an hour or two he pushed across soft muskegs and threw tangled brushwood when at length he stopped he saw he had torn his new overalls and broken an old long boot besides he hated to be baffled and since he could not catch the oxen he could not move some logs when he got near the ranch he stopped somebody was quietly moving about the house as if he wanted to find out who was at home and jardine advancing noiselessly saw it was bob he admitted he had expected something like that for bob's habits were not altogether a white man Jardine imagined he did not know Margaret had gone to the railroad. Had he found his team, he might have given Bob's supper and sent him off before Margaret arrived, but he had not found the team, and Bob's creeping about the house annoyed him. In the old country, Jardine was a poacher, but he sprang from good Scottish stock,

Starting point is 03:09:19 and he hated to think Bob bothered Margaret. moving out of the shadow he went up the path. He did not make a noise, but Bob turned, and Jardine thought, had the fellow been altogether a white man, he would have started. Bob did not start. His look was calm, like an Indian's, and his pose was quiet.

Starting point is 03:09:44 Hello, he said. I reckoned you'd gone after your plow team. You didn't recognize, come back just yet Bob smiled but his eyes got narrower and his mouth went straight he was a big man and carried himself like an athlete well he said I allowed Miss Margaret was around and I'd wait a while Jardine wondered whether Bob meant to annoy him as a rule the fellow was not frank and now his frankness was insolent if you come another time you'll come when i'm about what have ye in yon pack berries said bob opening a cotton-flower bag i reckoned miss margaret wanted some then i brought a pelt looked the sort of thing to go around her winter cap in the woods the indians dry the large yellow raspberries and bob had brought a quantity to the ranch before now he pulled out a small dark skin that jardine imagined was worth fifty dollars the value of the present was significant

Starting point is 03:11:01 you can take em back we have all the berries we want anyhow i guess miss margaret would like the skin she would not margaret has no use for any peltz you bring for a few moments bob was quiet then he said sometimes i blew in for supper and you let me stay and smoke when you put up the barn you sent for me to help you raise the logs the english tenderfoot hadn't located in the valley then the blood came to jardine's skin to some extent bob's rejoinder was justified but jardine had not until recently had not until recently been to jardine's skin to some extent bob's rejoinder was justified but jardine had not until recently imagined Margaret accounted for the fellows coming to the ranch. When we put up the barn, you got standard pay. I allow you're a useful man to handle logs, but I'm not hiring help than now. You reckoned me your hired man, said Bob in an ominously quiet voice. That was all the use you had for me?

Starting point is 03:12:13 Just that, Jardine agreed. Margaret has no use for you ever. Then if you reckon you're going to get my high-brow English boss for her, you're surely not very bright. His sort don't marry. Take your pack and quit, said Jardine sternly. Get off the ranch, you blasted half-breed. Bob was very quiet, but his pose was alert,

Starting point is 03:12:41 and somehow like hunting animals. perhaps instinctively he felt for his knife jardine's axe leaned against a neighboring post if he jumped he could reach the tool but he did not move for a moment or two they waited and then bob picked up the flour bag and went down the path jardine went to the kitchen and lighted his pipe bob was gone and jardine hardly thought he would come back but he was not altogether satisfied he had taken the proper line indian blood ran in bob's veins an indian waits long and does not forget for all that jardine did not see himself warning layland and enlightening margaret a week afterwards stanard one evening occupied a chair at his table on the terrace he had returned from the mountains with two good bighorn heads, and nothing indicated that the game warden knew the party had poached on the reserve. Stannard, however, was not thinking about the hunting excursion. The English mail had arrived, and sometimes he studied a letter and sometimes looked

Starting point is 03:14:02 moodily about. Laura, Dylan, and two or three young men were on the steps that went down to the woods. Laura wore her black dinner dress, and Stannard thought she had not another that so harmonized with her beauty. Dylan obviously felt her charm. He was next to Laura, and since it looked as if the others were ready to dispute his claim to the spot, standard imagined Frank would not have occupied it, unless Laura meant him to remain. After a time, Stannard pushed the letter into his pocket and gave himself to gloomy thought until Deering came along the terrace and asked him for a match.

Starting point is 03:14:47 You look as if you were bothered, Deering remarked. Sometimes one is bothered when one's mail arrives. That is so, said Dearing, with a sympathetic nod. Opening your mail is like dipping in a lyeye's mail. lucky bag. Your luck's not always good. I got some bills in my lot. I got a demand for a sum I cannot pay. I expect you haven't two thousand dollars you don't particularly need. Deering laughed. Search me. All I've got above five hundred dollars you can have for keeps. Looks as if you must put the fellow off. He's obstinate and in

Starting point is 03:15:35 unless i can satisfy him it might be awkward for me then you had better tried dillon the kid's rich and sometimes generous deering remarked in a sense he's mine but since you're up against it i'll lend him to you he went off and stanard frowned for him to be fastidious was ridiculous but deering's frankness jarred still he needed a large sum and although he could borrow for Jimmy, he could not borrow for himself. The fellow who supplied him was a keen business man. Stannard lived extravagantly, but the money he used was not his, and unless he justified the speculation, supplies would stop. So far, the speculation had paid, and he owed he ought not to be embarrassed. The trouble was he squandered all he got.

Starting point is 03:16:35 He weighed Deering's plan. Dylan's father was rich and indulged the lad. Stannard had stopped at his ambitious house on Puget Sound and imagined the old lumberman approved Laura. In fact, the drawback to Deering's plan was there. Stannard had not bothered much about Laura and was willing for his wife's relations to undertake his duty, but he did not mean to put an obstacle in her way.

Starting point is 03:17:06 She must make a good marriage. After all, her aunts were poor. By and by, the group on the steps broke up, and Laura came to Stannard's table. He noted that her eyes sparkled, and her color was rather high. It looked as if she had triumphed over another girl. Stannard admitted the others were attractive,

Starting point is 03:17:31 but none had Laura's charm. You have soon forgotten Jimmy, he remarked. No, said Laura, I have not forgotten Jimmy. Although I did not want him for a lover, he's my friend. But he really was not my lover. That accounts for much. Yet I imagine if he had been persuaded to go back to the cotton mill, Laura blushed, but she gave standards.

Starting point is 03:18:01 a steady look. I liked Jimmy, father, and I was not altogether selfish. I felt he ought to go back. To lead a young man where he ought to go is rather an attractive part, Standard remarked. Jimmy wanted to marry you.

Starting point is 03:18:20 What about Frank Dillon? Ah, said Laura, Frank is not as rash as Jimmy. Jimmy doesn't ponder. He plunges ahead. head you imply that frank uses caution oh well said laura smiling perhaps i use some reserve stannard thought her voice was gentle and turning his head he studied dillon the young fellow stood at the top of the steps as if he wanted to follow laura but waited for her to indicate that he might standard reflected with dry amusement that Laura kept her lovers in firm control.

Starting point is 03:19:05 Frank was rather a handsome fellow, and Stannard knew him sincere and generous. Perhaps it was strange, but a number of the young men he admitted to his circle were a pretty good type. Although Stannard was not bothered by scruples, he was fastidious. But I want to know, it's important, he said.

Starting point is 03:19:29 Suppose Frank is as very, brash as Jimmy. Will you refuse him?" Laura blushed, but after a moment or two, she looked up and fronted her father. "'Why is it important for you to know?' Stanard hesitated. He had not used his daughter for an innocent accomplice, and had she married Jimmy he would have tried to free the lad from his entanglements. Now, if she loved Frank, he must not embarrass her. well he said i rather think i must give you my confidence i need money and it's possible frank would help

Starting point is 03:20:11 oh father you mustn't use frank's money laura exclaimed and since her disturbance was obvious stanard's curiosity was satisfied he's your friend and trust you she resumed i think you ought to force deering to leave him alone For a few moments, Standard was quiet. Laura loved Frank. At all events, she was willing to marry him, and it looked as if she knew more about her father than he had thought. Well, Laura was not a fool. Sometimes your tact is rather marked, he said. I wonder whether you really think Dearing a worse friend for Frank than me?

Starting point is 03:20:59 However, we'll let it go. if you marry the young fellow he of course ought not to be my creditor laura gave him a grateful look and when she replied her voice was apologetic perhaps i wasn't justified but i felt i was forced i mean i didn't want you to bother frank and one cannot trust deering i imagine i see standard rejoined well perhaps deering's a better sort than you think he stated rather generously that he would lend me frank but if at some comfort i'll engage not to bother the young fellow you're a dear said laura with a touch of emotion stannard shrugged i have not carried out my duty and you do not owe me much but after all it was for your sake i sent you to your aunts since your father was a bad model i hoped your mother's sisters would help you to grow up like her well since i long neglected you i must not now put an obstacle in your way you are kind said laura perhaps i'm cold and calculating i know my shabbiness but i did not love jimmy and i think i do love frank she touched stanard's arm gently and went into the hotel a few moments afterwards dillon crossed the terrace and went up the steps

Starting point is 03:22:41 stannard smiled but by-and-by threw away his cigar and knitted his brows he thought he needed not bother about laura but he saw no plan for meeting his importunate creditor's demands end of chapter twelve recording by roger maline chapter thirteen of north-west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold bindloss chapter thirteen the deserted homestead stanard and a party from the hotel were in the mountains and laura and mrs dillon one morning occupied a bench on the terrace mrs dillon had arrived a few days since and when stannard returned laura was going back with her to puget sound dillon sitting on the steps tranquilly smoked a cigarette laura had engaged to marry him and he had refused to join stanard's rather ambitious excursion to a snow-peak that had recently interested the canadian alpine club so far as dillon knew nobody had yet gone up to the mountain and if its exploration occupied stannard and jimmy for some time he would be resigned jimmy was his friend but on the whole frank would sooner he was not about two strangers went into the clerk's office some time since laura said presently one wore a sort of cavalry uniform do you know who they are are one's a subaltern officer of the royal northwest mounted police dillon replied i expect the others a small boss in the canada forestry department or something like that perhaps a careless tourist has started a bush fire

Starting point is 03:24:55 they are coming out said laura and added with surprise i think they want to see us the men crossed the terrace and the young officer gave Laura an envelope. I understand you are Miss Standard and this is your father's." Laura nodded agreement and studied the envelope. The address was Stanards and the top was printed, Sport Service, Taxidermy. Perhaps you had better open the envelope, the officer resumed. Laura did so and pulled out a bill.

Starting point is 03:25:33 to preserving and mounting two big horn heads to packing for shipment the other man took the bill he was a big brown-skinned fellow and his steady quiet glance indicated that he knew the woods sure he said the charge for packing is pretty steep but when you mean to beat the export prohibition well i guess this fixes it what has mr stannard's bill to do with you laura asked in a haughty voice to begin with he can't ship those heads out of canada then it looks as if he killed the bighorn on a government game reserve your statement's ridiculous said laura angrily my father is an english sportsman not a poacher anyhow he killed two mountain sheep not long since you cannot force miss stannard to admit it dillon interrupted not at all the young officer agreed politely still i think some frankness might pay my companion is warden douglas from the reserve and the game laws are strict but it's possible some allowance would be made for tourists who did not know the rules if miss stannard does reply it might help very well said laura my father and a party went shooting and he brought back two bighorn heads but i'm satisfied he did not know he trespassed on a game reserve his partners were leyland and deering warden douglas remarked i expect they took a guide although they didn't hire up the men at the hotel

Starting point is 03:27:27 mr layland's man o'conigan went douglas looked at the officer and smiled meaningly now i get it i reckon bob played them fellers mr stannard is again in the mountains the officer said to laura i don't urge you to reply but although my duties to find out all i can i don't think your frankness will hurt your father laura said stanard had gone to climb a famous peak and admitted that he had taken o'conigan they'll hit the range near the head of the reserve and a hefty gang could get down the wolf creek gulch douglas observed looks as if bob had gone back for another lot i guess an english sport would put up fifty dollars for a good head thank you miss stanard said the officer the department will claim the heads and perhaps demand a fine but the sum will depend upon mr stannard's statements this however is not my business he bowed and went off but he stopped douglas on the verandah if you want to go after the party i'll give you trooper simpson i'm going after o'conigan and i mean to get him said douglas grimly i reckon he fooled the tourists but they've got to pay the fine can't you give me a bushman trooper o'connigan's a tough proposition and he doesn't like me the officer said he had not another man and must go off to make inquiries about a forest fire he sent for his horse and the group on the terrace saw him ride down the trail i'm sorry for father and know he'll hate to give up the heads

Starting point is 03:29:25 but i think the men were satisfied jimmy's helper cheated him laura remarked a few days afterwards stanard's party stopped one evening at a small empty homestead thin forest surrounded the clearing but on one side the trees were burned and the bare rampike shone in the sun in places the crooked fence had fallen down tall fern grew among the stump and willows had run across the cultivated ground. For all that, the log house was good, and since the horses could not go much farther, Stannard resolved to use the ranch for a supply depot. On the rocks, the climbing party could not carry heavy loads. When the sun got low, they sat in the veranda and smoked.

Starting point is 03:30:19 They did not talk much, and Jimmy felt the brooding calm was melancholy. somebody, perhaps with high hope, had cleared the ground the forest now was taking back. Labor and patience had gone for nothing. The grass was already smothered by young trees. It looked as if the wilderness triumphed over human effort. How long do you think its owner was chopping out the ranch? And why did he let it go? Jimmy asked. I reckon nine or ten years.

Starting point is 03:30:55 deering replied maybe he speculated on somebody starting a sawmill or a mine maybe the block carried a mortgage and he pulled out to earn the interest as a rule the small homesteader takes any job he can get and when his wallets full comes back to chop but a railroad construction gangs the usual stunt and some don't come back i expect the fellow was blown up by dynamite or a rock fell on him anyhow when you hit a deserted ranch the owner's story is something like that canada's not the get-rich country land boomer state then deering turned to standard did you find a good line to the ridge from which we reckon to make the peak i found a line i think will go you follow the ridge until a big buttress breaks the top some distance above the snow level a call goes down to a glacier and one might get across to another ridge that would help us up the peak still i doubt if our map's accurate and my notion is to climb the buttress deering took the map good maps of the back country are not numerous but if the calls where you locate it i reckon the old-time miners shoved up the glacier when they came in from the plains some made the caribou diggings from alberta long before the railroad was built their road was rough said stanard and lighted his pipe he was not keen to talk for one thing he was tired and he did not yet know where to get the sum he needed

Starting point is 03:32:47 the sum however must be got so long as he belonged to one or two good clubs and visited at fashionable country houses the allowance in which he lived would be paid but if he did not satisfy his creditor he must give up his clubs and would not be wanted at shooting parties by and by deering turned to bob who was cleaning a rifle we have guns have you got a pit light bob grinned you can't use a pit light some cranks at ottawa allow they're going to carry out the law it depends said deering dryly i wouldn't go still hunting if i thought a game warden was about but we oughtn't to run up against a warden in this neighborhood anyhow i see the deer come down to feed on the fresh brush and some venison would help out our salt pork say have you got a light i've got one bob admitted we brought some candles and i guess i could cut two or three shields from a meat can then you can get to work said deering and turn to the others the sport's pretty good you hook a small miners lamp in your hat and pull out the brim but you can use a candle and a bit of tin since the lamps above the tin shield the deer can't see you they see a light some distance from the ground and if you're quiet they come up to find out what it's doing there when their eyes reflect the beam you shoot

Starting point is 03:34:33 i don't suppose we'd run much risk but a still hunt is poaching and i doubt if it's worth the bother stanard replied carelessly when you start poaching you don't know where to stop not long since we shot two bighorn on a game reserve said deering with a laugh the strange thing is although i quit ranching for the cities i want to get back and play in the woods give me an axe and a gun and i'm a boy again say let's try the still hunt the others agreed and after supper the party waited for dark the green sky faded and the trees were very black then their saw-edged tops got indistinct and gray mist floated about the clearing in belts that sometimes melted and sometimes got thick the resinous smell of the pines was keen and all was very quiet but for the turmoil of the river an owl swooped by the house shrieked mournfully and vanished in the gloom at length jimmy fixed his candle in a rude tin shield felt that his rifle magazine was full and waited for bob to take the others to their posts so long as they went away from him all he saw was a faint glimmer, but sometimes one turned at an obstacle and a small bright flame shone in the mist. It looked as if the light floated without support, and Jimmy could picture its exciting the deer's curiosity.

Starting point is 03:36:17 One could not use a pit lamp in the tangled bush, but the clearing was some distance across, and the deer came to feed on the tender undergrowth that had sprung up since the trees were chopped. after a time bob returned but now jimmy must go to his post he admitted he would sooner go to bed he was tired and still hunting with a light was forbidden besides they had not long since poached on a game reserve had not deering bothered them jimmy thought stanard would not have gone but in the woods deering's mood was a boy's the packers and the horses were in a barn some distance back among the trees and they had not got a light at the house somehow the quiet and gloom were daunting but to hesitate was ridiculous and jimmy went off with bob in north america trees are not cut off at the ground level and the clearing was dotted by tall stumps fern grew about the roots and tangled vines and tangled vines in north america trees are not cut off at the ground level and the clearing was dotted by tall stumps fern grew about the roots and tangled vines and young willows occupied the open spaces at a boggy patch the grass was high and a ditch went up the middle and into the bush the ditch was deep and jimmy knew something about the labor it had cost to see useful effort thrown away disturbed him and he speculated about the lonely rancher stubborn fight

Starting point is 03:37:52 the man was gone perhaps he knew himself beaten before he went and the forest reclaimed the clearing they crossed the ditch and bob stationed jimmy behind a big stump at the edge of the trees he said quietness was important and if jimmy left his post and did not take his light he might get shot moreover he must not shoot unless he saw a deer's eyes shine he must be shot he must not shoot unless he must not shoot unless he saw a deer's eyes shine he must must wait until he thought the animal near enough and then aim between the two bright spots he might soon get a shot but he might wait until daybreak and see nothing then bob went off and jimmy was sorry he could not light his pipe the night was cold and waiting behind the stump soon got dreary sometimes the mist was thick and sometimes it melted but one could not see across the clearing and nothing indicated that the others were about jimmy did not know their posts he imagined bob had put them where they would not see each other's lights he wondered whether the deer would soon arrive if he did not see one before his candle burned out he would lie down at the bottom of the stump and go to sleep end of chapter thirteen recording by roger maline chapter fourteen of north-west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold bindloss chapter fourteen a shot in the dark jimmy imagined he did for a few minutes go to sleep because he did not know when the noise began branches cracked as if a deer pushed through the brush a shod in the brush a shodby

Starting point is 03:40:00 short distance off. Jimmy was not excited. In fact, he was cold and dull, and he used some effort to wake up. The noise stopped and then began again. It now looked as if a large animal plunged across the clearing. Jimmy did not think a deer went through the brush like that, but for a moment he saw a luminous spot in the dark. Something reflected the beam from his candle, and he did not think a deer. threw the rifle to his shoulder. His hand shook, and he tried to steady the barrel. He felt a jerk and was dully conscious of the report. As a rule, when one concentrates on a moving target, one does not hear the gun. The strange thing was, Jimmy imagined he heard his a second before the trigger yielded. The deer did not stop, and he pumped in another cartridge.

Starting point is 03:41:00 He heard nothing, but red sparks leaped from the rifle, and then all was dark. A heavy object rolled in the young willows, and somebody shouted. Lights tossed, and it looked as if people ran about. Jimmy shouted to warn the others and left the stump. When he jumped across the ditch, his candle went out, and on the other side his foot struck something soft. stooping down he felt about and then got up and gasped his heart beat for he knew the object he had touched was not a deer after a moment or two stanard joined him and took a miner's lamp from his hat jimmy shivered for the light touched a man who lay in the willows his arms were thrown out and as much of his face as jimmy saw was very white

Starting point is 03:41:58 the other side was buried in the wet grass is he dead jimmy gasped not yet i think said stanard and deering running up pushed him back and got on his knees using some effort he lifted the man's head and partly turned him over the others saw a few drops of blood about a very small hole in the breast of his deerskin jacket a blamed awkward spot deering remarked and gave jimmy a sympathetic glance your luck's surely bad but get hold we must carry him to the house stannard got down he was cooler than jimmy but they heard an angry shout and deering jumped for the lamp when he ran forward the others saw a young police trooper crawl from the ditch stopping on the bank he looked down into the mud and bob a few yards off studied him with a grim smile jimmy remarked that o'conigan had not a rifle if you try to get your blasted gun i'll sock my knife to you said bob shove on in front and stop where the light is the trooper advanced awkwardly his stetson hat was gone and his head was cut. When he saw the man on the ground, he stopped.

Starting point is 03:43:33 You've killed him, he said. Put up your hands. You're my prisoners. Bob laughed. Cut it out. That talk may go at Regina. We've no use for it in the bush. An order from the Royal Northwest goes everywhere. Quit fooling with that knife. My duty is...

Starting point is 03:43:57 ah shucks said bob and turned to the others the kid fell on his head and is rattled bad he's hurt give him a drink stanard said deering we must help the other fellow lift his feet i'll watch out for his head get hold bob they carried the man to the house when they put him down he did not move but jimmy thought he'd he breathed. Deering pushed a folded coat under his neck and held Stannard's flask to his mouth. His lips were tight and the liquor ran down his skin. A bad job, said Dearing, who opened the man's jacket. All the same, his heart is not stopped. The packers from the barn were now pushing about the door and he beckoned one. Take the best horse and start for the hotel. Get the clerk to wire for a doctor

Starting point is 03:45:01 and bring him along as quick as you can make it. The packer went off, and Dearing asked the policeman, Who's your pal? He's Douglas, the game warden. Looks as if you'd killed him. He's not dead yet, Dearing rejoined and pulled out some cigarettes.

Starting point is 03:45:23 he may die i don't know but we'll give him all the chance as we can in the meantime take a smoke and tell us what you were doing at the clearing the trooper lighted a cigarette and leaned against the wall somebody had fixed two candles on the logs and the lighted the faces of the group all were quiet but deering and jimmy noted with surprise that stannard let him take control control. Stanard's look was very thoughtful. Bob's was keen and grim. The trooper had obviously got a nasty knock. At the door, the Packers were half seen in the gloom, but Jimmy felt the unconscious man on the boards, so to speak, dominated the picture. Although Jimmy himself was highly strung, he was cool. My officer sent me to help the ward and round you up for poaching on the reserve, said the trooper. When we hit the clearing, we saw you were out with the pit light,

Starting point is 03:46:32 and Douglas reckoned we'd get O'Connigan first. The rest of you were tourists and wouldn't bother us. Douglas calculated O'Connigan knew the best stand for a shot, and would go right there. His plan was to steal up and get him. I was to watch out and butt in when I was wanted, It didn't go like that, Bob remarked. When you saw me by the ditch, had I a gun?

Starting point is 03:47:03 So far as I could see, you had not. You began to pull your knife. Standard motioned Bob to be quiet, and the other resumed. I heard Douglas shout, and I got on a move. In the dark, I ran up against a stump, pitched over, and went into the ditch. I heard a shot. You heard one shot?

Starting point is 03:47:28 said Deering. I don't know. I'd hit my head and was trying to find my rifle. Well, I guess that's all. I shot twice, said Jimmy in a quiet voice. I don't think Bob used a gun. All the same, when I pulled the trigger, I imagined I heard another report,

Starting point is 03:47:51 but perhaps it was my rifle. I really don't know. The number of shots is important, Standard observed. Deering looked up sharply. To find out is the police's job. Ours is not to help. We ought to help, Jimmy rejoined. I thought a deer was coming. I had no object for shooting the warden,

Starting point is 03:48:19 but if my bullet hit him, The police must not blame Bob. He turned to the others. How many shots did you hear? Perhaps it was strange, but nobody knew. A Packer thought he heard three shots, although he admitted he might have been cheated because the reports echoed in the woods.

Starting point is 03:48:42 After a few moments, they let it go, and Deering glanced at the man on the floor. Maybe he knows. doubt if he will tell the trooper advanced awkwardly give me a light i'm going across the clearing i want to see your stands for the most part the others went with him their curiosity was keen and it looked as if nobody reflected that the lad was their antagonist in fact since they carried in the warden all antagonism had vanished jimmy however remained behind he was on the floor and did not want to get up after the strain he was bothered by a dull reaction and felt slack by and by stannard returned and sat down on the boards well said jimmy have you found out much the trooper found your two cartridges and the posts bob gave us you were at a big stump bob a short distance on your left although he declares he had not a gun my stand was on your other side

Starting point is 03:50:01 the warden's track across the brush was plain he was going nearly straight for the stump and the bullet mark is at the middle of his chest it looks as if i shot him jimmy said and shivered then you must brace up and think about the consequences somehow i don't want to bother about this yet besides it's plain i thought i aimed at a deer i doubt standard remarked with some dryness for one thing the police know we killed a big horn on the reserve and since we took bob again to state he cheated us would not help the fellow's a notorious poacher and when the warden arrived he found us using the pit light which the game laws don't allow on the whole i think the police have grounds to claim douglas was not shot by accident but he may get better it's possible i think that's all but suppose he does get better do you imagine his narrative would clear you jimmy pondered until stanard began to argue all he had thought about was that he had shot the warden but now he weighed the consequences he was young and freedom was good moreover he had seen men chained by the leg to a heavy iron ball engaged making a road a warden with a shotgun superintended their labor and jimmy had thought the indignity horrible he could not see himself grating roads perhaps for all his life with a gang like that what must i do about it he asked

Starting point is 03:51:59 i'd put up some food to start for the rocks take a rifle and the indian packer and try to get down the east side of the range by the neck below the buttress then you might perhaps push a cross to the foothills and the plains. The police will, no doubt, reckon on your going west for the Pacific coast, and, if you're tried, would stop you. As far as Revelstoke, the railroad follows the only break in the mountains, and orders will be telegraphed to watch the stations. No, I think you must steer for the Alberta Plains. Jimmy knitted his brows. If he could reach the coast, he might get into the United States or on board a ship, but he must cross British Columbia, and, for the most part, the province was a rugged, mountainous wilderness.

Starting point is 03:53:00 The northern railroads were not yet built. The settlements were along the CPR track and the lake steamboat routes. He dared not use the railroad, but when he thought about the river, rocks and the broken mountains he must cross to reach the plains he shrank i could not carry the food i'd need he said you have a rifle and must take the packer so long as deer and grouse are in the woods an indian will not starve standard replied and gave jimmy his wallet offer the fellow a large sum and he'll see you out but you must dart thank you i'll risk it said jimmy and giving stannard his hand went off not long afterwards the others returned and deering looked about the room where's jimmy he asked he went out a few minutes since stannard replied in a careless voice and deering turned turned to the trooper. Somebody must watch Douglas, but you're knocked out, and Mr. Stannard and I will undertake the job

Starting point is 03:54:17 until sun-up. It's obvious our interest is to keep him alive. The lad agreed. His head was cut, and he had not found his rifle. To imagine he could control a party of athletic men was ridiculous, and since they were friendly he must be resigned. Not long before daybreak, Deering woke up and looked about. Bob's pit lamp, hanging from a beam, gave a dim light. Hello, Jimmy's not back! Stannard looked at the others and thought them asleep. Motioning to Deering to follow, he went to the door.

Starting point is 03:55:03 He had pulled off his boots and Deering trod like a cat. Jimmy will not come back. He started for the planes across the neck. You sent the kid across the hardest country in Alberta? I don't know that I did send him, but we'll let it go. Jimmy's a mountaineer and he took the Indian. Shucks, said Dearing. the indian's a coast sye wash and not much use on the rocks jimmy's an english tenderfoot and has no schnook he can't talk to the indian i doubt if he's got a compass or a map

Starting point is 03:55:49 he has my map and i imagine an indian does not need a compass stannard rejoined at all events i didn't see another plan deering looked at him hard well perhaps jimmy's lucky because i was born and raised in the bush fix up a plausible tale for the policeman when he wakes i'll be hitting jimmy's trail he turned and his bulky figure melted in the dark stannard knew he was going to the barn to get food and for a few moments knitted his brows then he shrugged philosophically and went back to the house end of chapter fourteen recording by roger maline chapter fifteen of north-west the slybovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold bindloss chapter fifteen trooper simpson's prisoners day broke drearily across the clearing mist rolled about the dark pines and when the wind got stronger the dark branches tossed the log house was cold and trooper simpson turning over on the hard boards shivered then he remarked that although the pit lamp had gone out the room was not dark and he was dully conscious that he had slept longer than he ought after a few moments his glance rested on an object covered by blankets at the other end of the room and he got up with a jerk his head hurt and he was dizzy

Starting point is 03:57:48 he now remembered that he had run against a stump and fallen into the ditch but he must brace up and with something of an effort he crossed the floor so far as he could see the warden's eyes were shut and his face was pinched all the same simpson thought he breathed and when he touched him his skin was not cold hello he said and stanard sitting by douglas turned he's very sick simpson resumed what are we going to do about it we must try to keep him warm and when he can swallow give him a little weak liquor and perhaps some hot soup i expect that's all but i have sent for a doctor i see you have given him good blankets said simpson who looked about layland's not back you allowed he had gone out for a few minutes then where's the big man i stated layland went out a few minutes before deering inquired for him stanard said dryly some time after layland went deering started for the bush then i've got stung you knew i'd lost my rifle and you help my prisoner get off stanard smiled to talk about your prisoners is ridiculous i've got stung i've lost my rifle and you help my prisoner get off stanard smiled to talk about your prisoners is ridiculous i'm imagine we are rather your hosts i am not a policeman and when my friends resolved to leave the camp i had no grounds to meddle however if it will give you some satisfaction i'll lend you a rifle i'm going to get mine said simpson and started across the clearing he came back before long carrying a wet rifle his clothes were muddy and his mouth was tight

Starting point is 03:59:48 I found her in two or three minutes, but when I was in the ditch last night, I felt all about. To find an object in the dark is awkward, Standard remarked. Simpson gave him an angry glance. The magazines broke, and the ejectors jammed. I don't see how she got broke. I didn't hit the stump with my gun. I hit it with my head. the thing is rather obvious the cut ought to satisfy your officer said stanard soothingly if you hadn't let your partners go i wouldn't have had to satisfy my officer

Starting point is 04:00:33 now i sure don't see where i am the situation is embarrassing stanard agreed my friends have been gone some time and are pretty good mountaineers it's a situation is embarrassing stanard agreed my friends have been gone some time and are pretty good mountaineers it's possible they could go where you could not then if you went after deering and leyland i might go off another way i don't want to persuade you but perhaps you ought to stop and take care of douglas simpson frowned and put down his damaged rifle looks as if you got me beat and i've no use for talking now the light's good i'll take a proper look at your party's tracks stanard let him go and soon afterwards bob came in sitting down on the boards he struck a pungent sulphur match and lighted his pipe stanard's glance got hard he knew the western hired man's independence but he thought bob truculent the warden's very ill and your tobacco's rank he said he's sick all right i doubt if he'll get better bob agreed in a meaning voice although he did not put away his pipe for a few moments stanard pondered to baffle the young trooper had rather amused him but to dispute with bob was another thing if douglas does not get better it will be awkward stanard said it sure will be awkward for mr layland or for you shucks you know i was sort of superintending and hadn't a gun

Starting point is 04:02:25 i don't know said stanard you stated you had not a gun in the meantime i imagine simpson is measuring distances and fixing angles or something like that i can't judge if he knows his job perhaps you can bob's glance was a little keener huh he said scornfully the kids from the cities and can't read tracks all the same somebody shot douglas and if the police can't fix it on layland they'll get after me i don't see where i can help for one thing mr layland is my friend then all i can state is i didn't see you carry a gun on the whole i don't think the police have much grounds to bother you well i don't take no chances the police would sooner i'd be able to bother you well i don't take no chances the police would sooner i'd be so much to bother you-he'll I don't take no chances. The police would sooner I was for it. They can't claim Layland meant to kill the warden, but they might claim I did. Give me a hundred dollars and I'll quit. Stannard smiled. I have not got ten dollars. I gave Jimmy my wallet. Here's your employer. Then, if I run up against Mr. Layland, I'll know.

Starting point is 04:03:52 he carries a wad and i guess i can persuade him to see me out said bob now i'm going to take all the grub i want so long he went off and stanard shrugged but a few moments afterwards he rested his back against the wall and shut his eyes as if he were tired by and by simpson returned and met bob near the door bob carried a big pack, a cartridge belt, and a rifle. Hello, said Simpson. Another for the woods? Well, you got to drop that pack. You're not going. You make me tired. My gun's not broke, Bob rejoined, and shoved the muzzle against Simpson's chest. Get inside, Sonny. Get in, quick. The Royal Northwest Police do not enlist slack-nerved men, and Simpson's pluck was good.

Starting point is 04:04:58 For all that, he was lightly built and was hurt, while Bob was big and muscular. When Simpson seized the rifle barrel, Bob pushed hard on the butt. The trooper staggered back, struck the doorpost, and plunged into the house. Bob laughed. Your jobs to help cure your partner. Maybe he knows who shot him, he remarked and started across the clearing. Simpson leaned against the wall and gasped. When he got his breath, he turned to Stannard savagely. Where's your rifle? In the corner behind you, Standard replied, and Simpson, seizing the rifle, jerked open the breach.

Starting point is 04:05:46 My cartridge shells won't fit. It's possible, said Stannard. I didn't engage to lend you ammunition, but if you go to the barn, you'll find a brown valise. Bring me the valise, and I may find you a box of cartridges. Do you reckon Bob is going to wait until I get all fixed? That's another thing, said Stannard, pleasantly. simpson put down the rifle in about a minute the fellow'll hit the timber and his sort don't leave much trail then you have not pulled me out yet

Starting point is 04:06:29 you imagine if you went after bob and did not find him you might not find me when you came back that's so simpson agreed not long since i reckoned i'd got the gang now you're all that's left The Packers don't count. Oh, well, said Standard, smiling. I'll agree to remain. I expect to pay a fine for poaching, although I didn't know I was on the reserve. Since I'm resigned, it doesn't look as if my friends had an object

Starting point is 04:07:05 for shooting Douglas. You see, I killed the big horn. All the same, three have lit out. There's the puzzle. The warden was hit by one bullet. I own I don't see much light, but I think you sketched the clearing. Simpson pulled out a notebook, and Stannard remarked that the plan of the ground was carefully drawn. He thought the spots the sportsman had occupied were accurately marked. Distances and the lines of the wardens and Simpson's advance were indicated. The things like a map, he said.

Starting point is 04:07:48 How did you fix the positions? I carry a compass and can step off a measurement nearly right. At Regina they teach us to study tracks, but I was at a surveyor's office before I joined up. Then you are a surveyor, said Standard with keen interest, for he saw the accuracy of the plan was important. simpson smiled surveying's a close profession i was a clerk but i copied plans and sometimes the boss took me out to help pull the measuring chain well i guess that plan will stand when stannard gave back the book his look was thoughtful but he said until the doctor arrives we must concentrate on keeping douglas alive

Starting point is 04:08:44 to begin with we'll get the packers to make a branch bed and light a fire douglas lived but so far as the others could see this was all he hardly moved but he did not talk but sometimes at night his skin got hot and he raved in a faint broken voice a packer shot some willow grouse and they made broth and stannard put away the party's small stock of liquor and canned delicacies for his use sometimes he swallowed a little food but for the most part he lay like a log in blank unconsciousness simpson stanard and a packer watched and before long stanard knew the trooper was his man he had qualities that attracted trustful youth and used his talent cleverly for all that when the doctor and an officer of the mounted police arrived stanard's look was worn and simpson's relief was keen the officer sent stanard from the room but ordered him him to wait at the barn after some time simpson came to the barn and stanard returning to the house saw the officer's brows were knit the doctors put some instruments into a case and then turned his head and looked at his companion stannard imagined they had not heard his step and for the moment had forgotten about him he was obviously hid in front the bullet marks near the middle of his body and indicates he was going for the man who shot him the officer remarked

Starting point is 04:10:35 the wound at the back does not altogether support your argument the doctor replied it is not at the middle and the fellow is lucky because it is not the marks so to speak obliquely behind the other the mark where a bullet leaves the body is generally larger to reckon on its being larger is a pretty safe rule the doctor agreed stanard's interest was keen but the officer saw him and looked at the doctor who signed to stanard to advance i imagine you have used some thought for the sick man he said sit down i want to know. In a few minutes, Stannard satisfied his curiosity, and the officer then took him to another room. He used reserve, but he was polite, and Stannard thought he had examined Simpson and the trooper's narrative had carried some weight. The doctor states Douglas must not be moved, the officer presently remarked. In the morning, I must start for the railroad, and you will go.

Starting point is 04:11:51 with me. I'll try to make things as easy as I can, but if you tried to get away, you would run some risk. The Royal Northwest have powers the government does not give municipal police. Had I wanted to get away, I would have gone some time since, Standard replied. The other nodded. Simpson admits your help was worth much. Well, you're will certainly be made accountable for poaching, but this may satisfy my chiefs. I don't know yet. I expect there's no use in my trying to get some light about your friend's plans. There is not much use, Standard agreed. For one thing, my friends did not altogether enlighten me. Very well, said the officer, smiling, so long as you do not do not

Starting point is 04:12:51 go off the ranch, you can go where you like. After breakfast in the morning, we start for the railroad. End of Chapter 15. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 16 of Northwest. This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. Northwest by Harold Bendloss. Chapter 16. The Next. The Next. mist floated about the rocks and the evening was dark to push on was rash but jimmy hoped he might get down to the trees below the snow line anyhow he must if possible get off the broken crest of the range since noon until the sun went west and shadow crept across the mountain he and the indian had crouched behind a shelf and watched snow and stones plunge to the valley

Starting point is 04:14:02 now all was quiet and the snow was firm but the mist was puzzling and jimmy could not see where he went all he knew was he followed the neck to lower ground jimmy was tired in the wilds if one can shoot straight fresh meat may sometimes be got but one must carry a rifle flour and groceries moreover he now felt the reaction after the strain and the journey on which he had started daunted him he must push across a wilderness of high rocks and snow in the mountains one cannot travel fast and when he reached the plains the distance to the american frontier was long he dared not stop at the settlements and until he crossed the boundary must camp in the grass although the days got short and the nights were cold the indian heavily loaded went a few yards in front but he came from the warm coast and his part was to supply them with game and fish jimmy got some comfort from reflecting that he himself knew the swiss rocks because he rather thought all mountains whose tops were above the snow line so to speak approximated to a type frost split their ragged pinnacles and great blocks plunged down avalanches ground their shoulders to precipitous slopes from which battered crags struck out as a rule the top of the long ridges was narrow like a rough saw edge but sometimes a bulging snow cornice followed the crest where the snow-fields dropped to a hollow a glacier generally went down in flowing

Starting point is 04:15:59 curves. One could follow a glacier, but at some places the surface wrinkled and broke in tremendous cracks. By and by the Indian stopped, and Jimmy looked about. The neck had got very steep and the mist was thick. The pitch at the top of the glacier is awkward, and Jimmy knitted his brows. If he balanced properly, pushed off, and trailed his rifle butt, he would go down like a toboggan the trouble was he might go over a perpendicular fall and into the berkshand crack to climb down and slip meant a furious plunge like the other and if there was not a berkshand he might hit a rock yet if he meant to go east he must get down and for a few minutes he sat moodily in the snow the strange thing was stannard had told him to try the neck stannard knew much about rocks and glaciers but perhaps he had not explored far then to some extent jimmy had started because stannard urged him now he thought about it to run away was to admit his guilt stannard ought to have seen this but obviously had not

Starting point is 04:17:25 all however had got a nasty jolt and when one was jolted one was not logical in the meantime he must concentrate on getting down by and by he heard a shout and steps flat lumps of snow like plates rolled down and jimmy thrilled somebody was coming and he thought he knew deering's voice then an indistinct object pierced the mist slid for some distance and stopped hello jimmy you haven't got far ahead deering shouted and his strong voice echoed in the rocks jimmy was moved and comforted deering looked very big and his hardiness was bracing i was forced to stop at the buttress in the afternoon sure said deering i reckoned on your getting held up i was on the ridge and shoved right along but I'm going to stop for a few minutes now. Get off the snow. We'll sit on my pack. What about the warden? Jimmy asked. When I started, he wasn't conscious.

Starting point is 04:18:45 Shock collapse, I guess. But you could hear his breath and a little color was coming to his skin. On the whole, I think if they get a doctor quick, he'll pull Douglas through. The problem is, we'd have a doctor. don't know, but we'll talk about this again. The ground ahead is blamed steep. Looks as if we might hit an awkward shrunk at the top of the glacier. Anyhow, we'll wait a bit. I think the moon's coming out. Jimmy agreed. He knew that where a snowfield comes down nearly perpendicularly to a glacier, one generally finds a tremendous crack.

Starting point is 04:19:30 By and by, the mist rolled off and a small dim moon came out. Deering got up, and when he strapped on his pack, they started down the slope. They used caution, and after a time, Deering stopped. The mist was thinner, and one could see for a short distance. black and white rock bordered the narrowing neck and in front the snow fell away plunging down rather like a frozen wave shreds of mist floated up from the cloud that filled the valley and jimmy looking down on the vapors level top got a sense of profound depth all the same the mist did not interest him much fifty yards off an uneven dark streak marked the bottom of the snowy wave the streak was broad its opposite edge sparkled in the moon and then melted into shadow that got deeper until it was black jimmy studied the yawning gap and shivered had deering not arrived and the moon shone out he thought he would have gone across the edge

Starting point is 04:20:47 i've no use for fooling around a shrun in the mist and we can't wait for daybreak deering remarked we must get back and make the timber line on the other side before we freeze jimmy doubted if he could get back and shrank from the effort he thought the buttress five or six hundred feet above him and for a fresh athletic man to get up in an hour was good climbing but he was not fresh his body was exhausted and he had borne a heavy nervous strain all the same to wait in the snow for daybreak was unthinkable they fronted the long climb and jimmy breathing hard and sometimes stumbling made slow progress he doubted if he could have got up the steepest pitch had not deering helped him and at another the indian's took his pack. They reached the top, and Deering studied the white slope that went down the other side. The moon had gone, and thick cloud rolled about the heights. This lot peters out in a gravel bank near the snow line. I guess we'll slide it, he said, and vanished in the mist. Jimmy braced his legs, pushed off and let himself go. In Switzerland he had studied the glissade, but when one carries a heavy

Starting point is 04:22:21 load to balance on a precipitous slope is difficult. It looked as if Deering could not balance, because after a few moments, Jimmy shot past an object that rolled in the snow. Then he himself lost control, his pack pulled him over, and he went head foremost downhill. When he stopped, the pitch was easier, and looking back he saw a belt of cloud three or four hundred feet above. He had gone through the cloud, and when he turned his head, he saw dark forest roll up from the valley in front. For all that, the highest trees were some distance off. by and by the indian and deering arrived and soon afterwards the snow got thin stones covered the mountain-side and now and then a bank their feet disturbed slipped away and carried them down at length deering smashing through some juniper scrub seized a small dead pine and when jimmy breathless and rather battered arrived declared they had gone far enough

Starting point is 04:23:38 they had got fuel and water in their stones half an hour afterwards jimmy sat down on thin branches in a hollow behind a rock in front a fire snapped and the rock kept off the wind. The smell of coffee floated about the camp and the Indian was occupied with a frying pan. When Jimmy had satisfied his appetite, he lighted his pipe. He was warm and the daunting sense of loneliness had gone. By and by, Deering began to talk. When Stannard stated you had pulled out for the foothills, I thought I'd better come along. he talked about your shoving across for the boundary but i doubted if you could make it perhaps an alpine club party starting from a base camp with packers to relay supplies could cross the rocks but when your outfit's a little flower and a slab of pork it sure can't be done my notion is we'll get back from the railroad pitch camp in a snug valley and hunt but you have no grounds to hide from the police i'm pretty keen on hunting and i like it in the mountains deering replied with a laugh to start with horses and packers is expensive but our hunting won't cost much

Starting point is 04:25:13 then at a sort of notion i ought to see you out we'll let it go at that for a time the police will watch the railroad but they'll get to get to you out we'll get to you out we'll let it go at that for a time the police will watch the railroad but they'll get to tired. You're a very good sort, Jimmy declared and resumed. The Royal Northwest boasts they have never let a man they really wanted get away. Police talk, said Deering. Reckon it up. They put two troopers to watch a hundred miles of wilderness.

Starting point is 04:25:47 In broken, timbered country, a horse can't go, and a man can hardly shove along. I allow, the boys are smart, but they can't do more than's possible for flesh and blood. When we've put them off our track, we'll fix up a scheme. Now I think about it, I don't know if I ought to have run away. Stanard rather persuaded me to start. Perhaps he was justified. The forestry department bosses can't allow their wardens to be shot.

Starting point is 04:26:22 then you belonged to a gang that had killed a bighorn on a reserve and engaged a notorious poacher for guide when douglas was shot he was getting after your man on the whole i reckon i'd have pulled out but i don't see why stanard suggested you're going for the plains he ought to know you couldn't make it he didn't know jimmy declared very well i reckon he knew you could not get down the neck anyhow he knew the ground he was up on the range jimmy was vaguely disturbed deering's remarks indicated that he was not satisfied and he thought the fellow studied him stannard reached the neck but it's obvious he did not go far enough to see the ice fall i didn't see the ice fall but i expected to get up against something of the sort stanard's a famous climber after all we might have got down it's possible deering agreed with some dryness if we'd had two good fresh men a proper rope and a proper rope and a ice-picks, I might have tried, after sun-up, but we hadn't got the proper truck, and I own, I wasn't fresh. I was exhausted, said Jimmy.

Starting point is 04:27:55 Still, an exploit we thought daunting might not daunt Stannard. I expect that accounts for it. Deering gave him a keen glance and smiled. Oh, well, he's sure a good man on the rocks. jimmy knocked out his pipe so long as he had persuaded deering that stannard had not carelessly allowed him to run a risk he was content he did not want to dispute about it he liked deering and to see him across the fire was some comfort deering had not stannard's qualities but jimmy began to see he himself was rather deering's sort than the others then in the mountains cultivation had not the importance it had for example at an english country house jimmy liked deering's raw human force his big muscular body and his rather noisy laugh anyhow deering had joined him and meant to see him out he put away his pipe pulled up his thick blue blanket and went to sleep end of chapter sixteen recording by roger maline

Starting point is 04:29:17 chapter seventeen of north-west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north-west north-west by harold binloss chapter seventeen dillon meditates when stannard reached the settlements he was again examined by the police he knew where frankness paid and was frank but he owed something to trooper simpson's narrative and something to his personal charm a magistrate ordered him to pay a rather heavy fine and give up the big horn heads and then let him go but stannard doubted if the police were altogether satisfied the officer who examined him was remarkably keen on the evening stannard returned to the hotel laura and dillon occupied chairs at the table on the terrace electric lights burned on the verandah for the days got short but the sunset was not altogether gone dillon saw laura's face and profile against the fading reflections she looked away from him to the north where pines and rocks and snow were all deep soft blue her arm was on the table her body was partly turned and dillon thought her strangely beautiful all the same he wanted her to look round you are quiet he remarked i'm thinking about jimmy in the wilds do you mind not at all dillon declared when jimmy was round the hotel i had no use for the fellow now he's in the mountains i'm bothered about him

Starting point is 04:31:21 somehow one likes jimmy and if i knew how i could help i'd start laura turned her head and gave him a curious glance why do you like jimmy He's English, and you're frankly American. That is so. To begin with, I've no pick on Jimmy because he loved you. If he had not loved you, I'd have known his blood wasn't red. Then, although he's English, in a sense, he's our type. He's sincere. We are sincere, you know, and perhaps from your point of view, we don't use much reserve.

Starting point is 04:32:02 You can move us, and we can move us, and we're very. when we're moved we talk and get busy well jimmy's like that he's marked by something generously human but i doubt if he got it at london clubs maybe it's his inheritance from the folks who built the cotton mill laura said nothing she doubted if frank's willingness to state his grounds for liking jimmy altogether accounted for his rather unusual effort indeed she imagined he labored to get a light on a subject that puzzled him well he resumed to know deering went after jimmy is some comfort if jimmy gets up against it in the rocks deering will see him through your trust in deering is remarkable he's a white man said dillon with a smile to be his friend cost me high but now i've cut out bets and cards i'd sooner he'd got my money than another you see i'd got something back the fellow's big laura was annoyed she wanted to feel deering was her antagonist and had exploited she wanted to feel deering was her antagonist and had exploited Frank's trust. The trouble was she could not altogether do so, but she dared not admit that Starnard shared his guilt and perhaps his reward. To chastised Deering, so to speak,

Starting point is 04:33:37 exculpated her father. He is certainly muscular and rather gross, she remarked. He's flesh and blood. I doubt if you quite get us yet. In the West, we haven't cultivated out rude emotions. We like a fellow who plunges at an obstacle, sweats and laughs, and sometimes gets mad. We're up against savage nature, and our job is a man's first job to satisfy human needs. Well, you know my father, he's a pretty good western type. when he started in his food was frugal and his clothes were overalls now he's moving forests and architects come to study the office block he built but if things go wrong in the woods his superintendents know he can use their talk and handle a cant-pole his power springs from the primitive streak well let it go said laura and indicated the long rows of pines melting into the gloom dark now come soon

Starting point is 04:34:54 before long the frost will come and in the mountains the cold is pretty fierce on puget sound the soft chinook blows and the white olympian stand between you and the winds from the rockies the old man's keen for me to bring you back what about our starting laura blushed for she had agreed to marry dillon soon but she said my father cannot go yet so long as jimmy is in the mountains and the warden cannot tell his story i think he will remain in canada perhaps he ought to remain oh well you can reckon on mr stanard's taking the proper line dillon agreed rather moodily you feel the thing's mechanical mr stanard is like that mechanical said laura lifting her brows his taking the proper lines mechanical he's he doesn't bother about it in the west his correctness is somehow exotic if my father is exotic i expect i am exotic sure you are like a bird of paradise or a flower from the tropics we are a rude lot of hustlers and your grace and beauty carry us away you're romantic but sometimes you're rather nice laura remarked with a smile all the same if my father resolves to remain in canada it is not a mechanical resolve but because he feels he ought i expect that is so dillon agreed and lighted a cigarette he thought stannard ought to stay and since he meant to do so to doubt him was not logical yet dillon did doubt for one thing

Starting point is 04:36:59 the fellow was Jimmy's friend. But when Jimmy started for the rocks, Deering, not the other, went after him. Then Stannard's narrative was puzzling. Jimmy had run away, and his going indicated that he was accountable for the wardens getting shot. If Jimmy imagined he had shot at a deer, he ought to have stayed. Moreover, Bob had run away, and if he had hit the war, warden it was obvious that jimmy had not stanard's tale was not plausible and since stannard was clever dillan imagined he had not told all he knew but dillon began to see his vague antagonism had another foundation he was frankly western and stanard's type was new although some people in down-east cities cultivated his qualities on the pacific slope men were highly strung optimistic and rather boyishly keen they plunged into big risky undertakings sweated and fought

Starting point is 04:38:11 in fact where nature was not yet conquered their part was protagonist dillon owned that he himself was loafing but he had not loafed long and would soon return to his proper occupation stannard had not an occupation and dillon thought the grounds for his distrust were there moreover he had not a bank roll although he lived extravagantly and indulged to his distrust were there moreover he had not a bank roll although he lived extravagantly and indulged his fastidiousness his habit was to strike exactly the proper note but sometimes its monotonous accuracy jarred fastidious cultivation was for women yet stannard was not at all womanly dillon began to sense in him a hard calculating vein for all that he must not exaggerate and laura was not like her father you could of course join my folk although mr stannard would sooner wait he said i think not my father planned the excursion to the mountains and led the party until people are satisfied about the shooting accident i must not go to your house now you are ridiculous dillon declared all the same i will not go said laura firmly then i'm going to stay with you i'd like to stay but if jimmy wants me i'm his man i don't expect jimmy will need you father imagines he's a long way off and will soon reach the plains said laura

Starting point is 04:40:02 and began to talk about something else. Jimmy was not steering for the planes. He had, in fact, known for some time that he could not get there. The morning after Deering joined him was calm and cold. The sun touched the high rocks, and in places a pine branch sparkled with dew, but a thousand feet below the camp, the mist was like a level floor.

Starting point is 04:40:32 one could not see the valley and the turmoil of a river came up with a faint horse throb as if from a long way off jimmy's fatigue and gloom were gone he felt fresh and to see deering fry pork was comforting he got a rather frugal breakfast and lighted his pipe what are our plans for to-day he asked we must try to get a deer fresh venison's most as tough as raw hide but if you put the roasted meat in a bag with salt after a week or two you can eat the stuff how many cartridges have you got six said jimmy and deering smiled you started for the planes with six shells well i've got a box of twenty-five well i've got a box of twenty-five but somebody is taken out ten or twelve looks as if we want to shoot straight the pork won't hold up long where do we go when we have got a deer i reckon we'll go north said deering thoughtfully they talk about new railroads but so far the only line of communication between the rockies and the sea is the c p r track the settlements follow the line and when you pull out of the narrow belt you're in the wilderness the police will no doubt reckon on your trying to make vancouver we'll stop in the wilds and let them watch the railroad until they get tired but if they find i haven't gone to vancouver won't they try the bush look at stanard's map said deering with a smile

Starting point is 04:42:28 note the row of ranges and valleys running north and south. But the big ridges and furrows are not even. They're broken by high bench country and cut up by cross spurs. Pretty awkward ground to search for two fellows' tracks. Our trouble's not to hide, but to get supplies. All the food they use in British Columbia comes in by the CPR. jimmy studied the map and agreed moreover he was young and the wilds called to plunge into the great desolation was something of an adventure and deering claimed to know the bush what about your hired man did you trust the fellow deering resumed i had no grounds to doubt him jimmy replied in a thoughtful voice

Starting point is 04:43:27 bob was rather inscrutable and didn't attract me but he could chop and this was all i wanted so far as you can calculate he hadn't a pick on you not at all i think he was satisfied with his pay and since i generally let him plan the work we did not dispute all the same sometimes i imagined he gave me a queer moody look do you think he was in any case stanard's man certainly not said jimmy with some surprise anyhow i don't see i don't see deering admitted i'm looking for a light but don't get much yet well when you have smoked your pipe we'll hit the trail they got off a few minutes afterwards and at noon reached the bottom of the hill a high spur blocked the valley behind them and the echoes of small avalanches rolled across the rocks deering declared the sliding snow would cover their tracks at the neck but their line was to some extent obvious and until they could break it they must push on as fast as possible to push on fast was hard fallen trees and tangled brush blocked the gaps in the rows of trunks but by and by jimmy looking through an opening saw the woods shine with reflected light the trees were like silver trees they sparkled as if touched by frost and for a few moments jimmy was puzzled then he said ram pikes deering nodded a big burn i expect it has cleared some ground for us

Starting point is 04:45:27 a short distance farther on the brushwood vanished underfoot was a soft carpet of ashes from which the trunks rose like columns their branches were gone and the smooth round logs reflected the light for a time to get free from entangling vines and thorns was a relief but the ash was soft and when one disturbed it went up in clouds the black dust stuck to jimmy's hot skin and he labored across the clogging stuff then the desolation began to react on him the birds were gone and the feathery ash was not broken by the tracks of animals it was obvious they would not find a deer all was dead and but for the noise of falling water the silence was daunting at length jimmy stopped and leaned against a trunk come off said deering although i'd sooner keep on my feet you don't want to lean against a rampike Jimmy was tired and sat in the ashes. How do the fires start, he asked. It's puzzling.

Starting point is 04:46:50 The forestry people claim they're not spontaneous, Deering replied. Around the settlements, a fire sometimes starts from a burned slashing and the police get after the homesteader. All the same, you hit brulee in Country the Indian. and prospectors leave alone anyhow i guess we're lucky because there is not much wind and while our luck is good we'll push along they set off and some time afterwards the roar of an avalanche broke the brooding calm the noise swelled and rolled about the valley as if great rocks were coming down and then jimmy heard a near sharp crash he jumped mechanically and looking back saw a pillar of dust flowed up like smoke from a blasting shot in the dust a big ram pike slanted broke and plunged another went and deering pushed jimmy we'll pull out he shouted and they began to run when jimmy stopped to get his breath the echoes had died away

Starting point is 04:48:08 and all was quiet. But he felt he had had enough of the burned forest. After studying the rocks and gravel on the hillside, he turned to Deering. You talked about breaking our line, and I expect we could get over the spur in front, he said. Let's try. End of Chapter 17.

Starting point is 04:48:34 Recording by Roger Maline. this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north-west by harold bindloss chapter eighteen the cartridge belt jimmy's clothes were torn and he was bothered about his boots he rather thought clothes and boots that would long bear the strain of a journey across the rocks were not made at all events one could not buy them at a canadian settlement store then the things were wet and the morning was cold for all that he must not grumble the deer did not like the heavy dew and their habit was to come out on the rocks and get the sun the indian thought he had found a spot they haunted and after breakfast led the others across a small table land by and by he stopped and jimmy got down in the fern in front the timber was thin and a short distance off was a smooth rock jimmy saw the rock and the trees on the other side but for a few moments this was all a deer's soft color harmonizes with stones and trunks and when its outline is broken to distinguish the animal is hard the indian frowned and signed and jimmy imagined the small patch of light color cutting a pine trunk was a head for one thing it moved and the crooked line below it looked like a leg jimmy did not see the deer's back but the top of the leg indicated where its shoulder was and he rested his rifle on a branch

Starting point is 04:50:38 he got the sights where he wanted braced his muscles held his breath and steadily pulled the trigger the deer jumped and a thin streak of smoke floated in front of jimmy's eyes The animal was not on the rock, but after a moment or two he saw it rise from a thicket and go over some tangled branches a man's height from the ground. Yet he thought the leap awkward and the deer came down in the fern before it ought. His heart beat and he waited for another shot, until he saw Deering a few yards off and remembered that their cartridges were not numerous. Deering the deering, body was firmly poised, his head was bent forward, and he balanced his rifle halfway to his

Starting point is 04:51:29 shoulder, as if it were a gun. Jimmy knew he could use it like a gun. When the deer broke from the fern at the edge of the table land, Jimmy did not shoot. The animal's leap carried it across a clump of tall raspberries, but it would vanish in a moment and the brush in front was thick. Deering's rifle jerked, and the graceful body, carried by its speed, plunged into the brush. Jimmy heard a crash, and the deer was gone. He thought it had gone over a rock, and putting down his rifle, he ran. A minute or two afterwards he stopped at the top of a precipitous slope. A stream, however, cut the mountainside, and in places small trees were really.

Starting point is 04:52:19 rooted in the stones. A hundred feet below, the deer lay on a shelf by a waterfall. I think I can reach it, said Jimmy, and went cautiously down. They needed the venison, but when he had got down a short distance, he knew he was rash, for it looked as if the rocks on the other side of the waterfall were perpendicular. Then, although he might perhaps reach the shelf, to carry the deer back was another thing using the small trees for support he got to a slab above the shelf the slab was wet and dotted by greasy moss but a few cracks and small stones broke its surface and jimmy trusted his luck when he came down the ground shook and he saw the shelf was not as he imagined a solid block but two or three large stones

Starting point is 04:53:19 stones embedded in boggy soil. At one end the cascade had scooped out a small basin and the deer's hindquarters were in the pool. Jimmy seized its four legs and bracing his feet against a stone began to pull. He pulled hard, but although he felt he moved, the deer did not. Then his foot went down and letting go the animal, he threw himself back. the deer rolled over and vanished water splashed and jimmy saw the stones plunge down the face of the cliff for a moment or two he was rather angry than alarmed they wanted the meat but the deer was gone then he saw he ran some risk of going down the cliff and he began to study the ground scratches on the stone indicated how he had reached the spot but he had let himself go because the shelf was in front the pitch was very steep and the rock was mossy not far off a small tree grew in a crack but he could not reach the trunk and rather thought to try would send him over the precipice he heard a shout and nailed boots rattled deering was coming down although he was not yet in jimmy's line of view

Starting point is 04:54:49 after a time jimmy lying against the rock turned his head and saw dearing had got hold of the tree i'm anchored said deering can you reach my hand the effort was risky but jimmy tried and deering seized his wrist deering pulled him up for a foot or two and then stopped and gasped jam yourself against the slab i've got to let go Jimmy's boots slipped on the smooth stone, and his hands were wet. He could not get a proper hold, and the moss was slimy under his knees. Spreading out his arms, he let himself go slack, and trusted his limp body would not slip back. He could not now see Deering, and did not know what he did. After a moment or two he felt him seize his cartridge belt. Use your knees. When I lift, grab the tree.

Starting point is 04:55:53 The cartridge belt got tight, and Jimmy, using its support, reached the trunk. His jacket felt slack, as if something were gone, but this was not important, and he heard Deering's labored breath. Thanks, he said rather dully. We have lost the deer. We have used two sheds. shells, said Daring. Let's get up. They got up, and at the top, Jimmy put his hand to his waist. Hello, where's my belt? Now I think about it. When I held you up, I felt something give. I guess the buckle was pulling out. Well, we ought to see the brown leather. They did not see it, and Jimmy said,

Starting point is 04:56:45 all the cartridges I had are gone. How many have you got? Twelve, said Deering, rather grimly. Anyhow, I'm not going down again. Jimmy nodded. He thought the belt had gone over the cliff. I brought about six pounds of pork from the camp. My lodes flour, desiccated fruit, and a few cans of meat. looks as if we had got to eat salmon in the old country one doesn't grumble about eating salmon jimmy remarked oh well said deering i was raised in the bush and am not fastidious but if we can't get salmon i'll be resigned the trouble is since food's short we can't push back too far from the settlements well we must try to hit a creek in the evening they came down to a small river and pitched camp on the bank the indian cut and trimmed a straight fir branch but left a fork at the thinner end

Starting point is 04:57:59 then he pulled out two cleverly carved bone barbs which he fitted on the forts and fastened by sinews to the staff you could carry the business part of this outfit in your pocket deering remarked i expect his folks have used barbs like that for a thousand years an indian's tools are standardized but when he thinks them good enough he stops all the same i reckon he gets most as far as a man can get alone he's an artist but we beat him by co-operating to make machines anyhow the fellow doesn't want you take a smoke and let him spear a fish jimmy lighted his pipe and looked about a few yards off the current splashed against the stones the water was green and the line of driftwood and dead leaves of the bank indicated that the frost was stopping the muddy streams from the glaciers some distance down the river the indian balanced on a rock in a pool at the tail of a rapid for a time he did not move and jimmy thought his quietness statuess the fellow was like the herons he had studied with his glasses by a pool on the scottish border then his body bent and the spear went down the thrust and recovery were strangely quick and jimmy rather doubted if the man had moved it looks as if he missed his stroke he said he's using a fir branch an indian spear is beautifully modelled deering replied

Starting point is 04:59:49 a few minutes afterwards the indian bent backwards and a shining object struck the bank coming to the fire he put down the fish and jimmy's appetite was blunted the salmon was lean and battered its color was dull and its tail was broken rows of scales were rubbed off the fins were worn from the supporting ribs i'm not as hungry as i was are all like that he said it depends on when you get them deering replied a june steel head fresh from the sea is pretty good but a salmon that has pushed through the headwaters in the fall is another thing when you think about it the salmon's journey inland is remarkable they bore against the autumn floods when the melted snow comes down they force tremendous rapids whirlpools and roaring falls where the waters calm in the valleys eagles and fish-hawks harry them and the mink hunts them in the shallows but they can't be stopped they follow nature's urge and shove on across all obstacles for the distant gravel banks then they spawn where they were hatched and the bears eat their spent carcasses the trouble is i'm not a bear but i've got to eat salmon when the indian had fried two or three thick steaks jimmy sympathized with deering the flesh was soft and its taste was rank for all that he thought if he had not seen the salmon he might have had a better appetite

Starting point is 05:01:43 At the hotel he had eaten because his food tempted him. Now he ate because he must. By and by he threw down his tin plate. I've had enough. If we can find a deer, we must risk another cartridge. We have got twelve. You can't reckon on getting a deer for every shot, and although, as a rule, the deer are pretty numerous about the small,

Starting point is 05:02:14 clearings. In some belts of backcountry, you can't find one. I expect they're attracted by the crops. In fact, the wild animal and large birds aren't much afraid of the ranchers. They quit when the automobiles and city sports arrive. But if we stop in the neighborhood of a settlement, the police may get on our trail, Jimmy rejoined. The police are smart, and to be a i allow their obstinate all the same to search the rocks from banff to revelstoke is a big job you can give yourself away by two things shooting and smoke but we can fix the smoke and we're not going to shoot much as soon as we hit a proper spot we'll build a shack by and by our supplies will run out that is so deering agreed in the meantime we're baffling the police just now i expect they're busy looking for our tracks but they have got other jobs and can't keep it up well when we think they're forced to quit we'll find a plan he stopped and the indian turned his head a faint hoarse bark came from the distance and echoed across the valley jimmy jumped up and looked about the light was

Starting point is 05:03:46 going and the pines were blurred. A dog? he said. A timber wolf, said Deering. He's not alone. I hear another. A howl, pitched on a high mournful note, pierced the gloom, and Jimmy shivered. The noise was strangely dreary. Will the wolves bother us? I think not, said Deering, and talked to me.

Starting point is 05:04:16 in Chinook to the Indian, who nodded. The fellow agrees, he resumed. In North Ontario, we watch out for wolves when the snow is on the ground, but as a rule, in British Columbia, they leave the ranchers alone. Sometimes they take a sheep. I reckon that's all. The trouble is they kill deer, and when the wolves start hunting, the deer pull out. jimmy got down on his blanket by the fire he felt the wilds were daunting and to see the flame leap about the branches was some comfort now and then a wolf howled in the distance but by and by all was quiet and he went to sleep

Starting point is 05:05:05 end of chapter eighteen recording by roger maline chapter nineteen of north-west this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold binloss chapter nineteen useful friends breakfast was over and although jimmy would have liked another bannock he got up and strapped on a his pack. Deering needed the bannock, for flour was running out. A fire burned on the stone hearth, and the little shack in a corner of the rocks was warm. Jimmy did not want to leave it, but he knew he must, and the Indian waited for him to start. They had not killed a deer, and although they had shot two or three blue grouse, a blue grouse is not large. Sometimes one can knock down a little willow grouse with a stick, but the willow grouse had recently vanished, and the Indian had caught nothing in his snares. In fact, it looked as if all the birds and

Starting point is 05:06:27 animals had gone south. Jimmy had eaten salmon until he loathed the battered fish, but the salmon had begun to die. "'Your load's not big,' said Deering. "'Have you put up all the food you need?' i've got all the food i'm going to take jimmy rejoined i can load up at kell's hope but you must wait until i get back oh well but since i know the bush and might make better time you ought to let me go you're obstinate said jimmy i know jardine and we want his help that is so said deering and gave him his hand anyhow you have got the indian and i expect he'll hit the shortest line i wish you luck jimmy pulled up his pack and set off speed was important for he imagined he had left deering a larger supply of food than the other knew since he was going to kell's hope he could get fresh supplies but deering could not yet if he was longer than he calculated it would be awkward him backward jimmy felt lonely and rather daunted the shack was small and rude but the bark walls kept out the wind and in the cold evenings he had liked to sit by the snapping fire

Starting point is 05:07:58 now the trackless wilderness was in front and he must get across before his food was gone he did get across but he imagined the indian's inherited talents accounted for his doing so jimmy himself did not know much about the journey when he thought about it afterwards he dully pictured the fatigue and strain the sharpening pinch of hunger and the stern effort to push on at length they came down the rocks one morning and saw his clearing in the distance jimmy gave the indian all the food he had and telling him to camp at the ranch started for jardines he was hungry and for a day or two his side had hurt sometimes he was faint and when he crossed a stony belt he stumbled awkwardly for all that in the evening he reached the split-rail fence at kellshold jimmy knew how one pulled out the bars but they baffled him and he knocked down the crossed supports in front of the house he stopped for a flickering light shone shone the bars but they baffled him and he knocked down the crossed supports in front of the house he stopped for a flickering light shone from the window, and he saw Margaret sewing by the fire. His broken boots and torn clothes embarrassed him, but he braced up and went to the door.

Starting point is 05:09:24 Margaret put down her sewing, and her look was rather strained. Jimmy leaned against the table and gave her an apologetic smile. His hair was long, his beard had begun to grow, and his face was pinched. his ragged clothes looked slack and although he had given the indian his blanket his shoulders were bent from weariness oh mr layland margaret exclaimed in a pitiful voice to my friends i'm jimmy he rejoined to know you and your father are my friends is some comfort because i'm going to use your friendship besides i rather think that you and your father are my friends is some comfort because i'm going to use your friendship besides i rather think I don't look like Mr. Layland. Margaret's voice was gentle, and she said, Very well, Jimmy, but where have you come from?

Starting point is 05:10:22 I started, about a week since, from our bark shack across the range, but I don't know much about it. The Indians at my ranch can hold out until the morning. I want to borrow some cartridges and food. Why, of course, said Margaret. and indicated a chair i'll get supper ready father's at the depot but we won't wait for him jimmy got into the chair for he imagined he did not sit down gracefully the deerskin was soft and his head went back against the rail now he was not forced to keep going he knew he was very tired margaret began to move about and by and by he asked can't i help margaret looked up with a smile no jimmy i have not much use for the help you could give

Starting point is 05:11:22 jimmy was satisfied to rest he was dull but he liked to see margaret break up the fire and carry about the plates she was very graceful and he knew her sympathetic but this was not all after the lonely bush the ranch kitchen lighted by the snapping flames was like home when supper was ready it cost him something of an effort to pull round his chair and then for a time he tried to conquer his savage appetite when one was opposite an attractive girl one did not eat like a wolf margaret knew the bush and smiled isn't the food good i really think i can cook my notion is the best hotel cook in canada could not serve a supper like yours very well said margaret if you are polite you will annoy me what did you eat in the bush salmon when i see a river i want to go the other way oh said margaret you ate salmon now when they began to float up on the stones we stopped jimmy replied margaret was moved she knew the trackless bush sometimes was cruel and all who felt its lure did not return sometimes one crossing a creek lost a load of food and sometimes one's rifle jammed then if the march to the settlements were long one starved jimmy had not starved but he was worn and thin the coffee's very good may i have some more he resumed

Starting point is 05:13:19 We used green tea because it's light and goes far, but I mustn't bother you about our housekeeping. Do you know if the police have brought back the game warden? They arrived some time since and put Douglas on the cars. A doctor went with him. Then he's alive, said Jimmy, with keen relief. He was badly hurt, but that is all I know, Margaret replied. Nobody was allowed to see him. She stopped and resumed with some hesitation. Mr. Stannard's Packers stated, Jimmy gave her a steady glance.

Starting point is 05:14:03 It looks as if I shot Douglas. In the dark, I thought him a deer. You did not imagine I meant to hurt the man. I know you did not, said Margaret in a quiet voice. very well i must tell you all i know but i'll wait until your father arrives perhaps he'll see a fresh light sometimes i'm puzzled you mustn't bother to talk said margaret turn your chair to the fire and take a smoke jimmy pulled out his tobacco pouch and frowned margaret saw the pouch was flat and took a plug of tobacco from a shelf wait a moment don't get up she said and began to cut the plug for a few moments jimmy watched her with dull satisfaction she cut the tobacco in thin even slices jimmy had remarked before that all margaret did was properly done although it was nearly dark she had not got a light and red and yellow reflections from the logs played about the room sometimes her eyes and hair shone and her face stood out against a background of shadow jimmy thought the picture charming and when it melted he waited for the flames to leap again but by and by it got indistinct give me your pouch said margaret and he tried to push it across the pouch fell from the table and his pipe went down his head looked down his head looked down his head looked at his head

Starting point is 05:15:48 leaned to one side and found the chair rail, and he knew nothing more. Margaret heard his sigh and was quiet. Now sleep smoothed out the marks of strain and fatigue, Jimmy's look was boyishly calm. He moved her to pity, but he moved her to trust. Margaret was not a raw, romantic girl. She knew the Canadian cities, and she had studied men. if jimmy had indeed shot the agent a strange blunder accounted for his doing so but margaret doubted she had some grounds to think the shot and others then she got up quietly and carried off the plates some time afterwards jardine came in and seeing jimmy stopped and turned to margaret it was typical that he said nothing but his glance was keen

Starting point is 05:16:51 margaret smiled and in a low voice narrated all she knew jardine nodded and sitting down waited until jimmy's head slipped from the chair rail and the jerk woke him up he looked about as if he were puzzled and then said hello mr jardine i didn't understand your sitting opposite me i expect i was asleep sure thing jardine agreed with a twinkle we have sorted the back room for you and you'd better go to bed i'm not going yet said jimmy i want a smoke but my tobacco's run out margaret gave him his pouch and he smiled the tobacco's yours sir miss jardine is very kind well i reckoned on her kindness because i want to borrow a quantity of truck but we'll talk about this again do you know where stanard is stanard and his daughter are at the hotel jard replied and looked at jimmy rather hard. Maybe he feels he ought to stay until the police have settled who shot Warden Douglas. But Stannard had nothing to do with it, Jimmy replied. He was leader of your party and, in a way, accountable. Maybe you Ken O'Connigan started for the bush soon after you went?

Starting point is 05:18:30 I didn't know, said Jimmy with some surprise. Bob claimed. he hadn't a gun and i think he had not sometimes i'm puzzled but i really think the unlucky shot was mine the packers allowed it was yours although they were not sure how many shots they heard can you locate the other stands i tried afterwards in the evenings when we camped in the woods i speculated about the accident said jimmy and pulling out a few small objects, arranged them to indicate the spots the sportsmen had occupied. If you will imagine the tables the clearing, Bob posted us something like this. Well, I expect the warden was going straight from my stand behind the stump. You're thinking about the bullet mark in front, said Jardine. The Packers told me about it. Did you see the other mark?

Starting point is 05:19:37 I did not, said Jimmy with a shiver. When we carried Douglas to the house, I'd had enough. But I don't see where you lead. If the mark at the back was at the middle, he was going straight for you. Well, I'll take a smoke. He knitted his brows, and for some minutes quietly studied Jimmy's plan of the clearing. Then he said, It's not as plain as it looks,

Starting point is 05:20:11 but the Packers reckon two of the police Who went in with the doctor were pretty good Bushmen. We didn't ken what they think. Anyhow, you're going to sleep and ought to go to bed. Jimmy went, and Jardine resumed his study. Margaret left him alone. In Scotland, her father was a poacher. In the Canadian woods, his rifle supplied the ranch with meat.

Starting point is 05:20:41 One could trust his judgment about shooting. By and by, he looked up. If Jimmy has fixed their stands right, it's possible he shot Douglas, and he reckons he did so. That's something, but he has a kind of notion he hurt another shot. Well, the lad's a tenderfoot.

Starting point is 05:21:05 maybe he was excited and did not hold straight bob would not get excited and he can hit a jumping deer said margaret jardine nodded meaningly i've thought about bob the warden was after him and he lit out there's the puzzle for the police three of the party quit mr deering went because he is jimmy's friend said margaret just that you can trust the big fellow jardine agreed then if he was where jimmy puts him he didn't shoot stanard stopped and it looks as if he had nothing to do with it but i done a ken stanard's not a man ye can reckon up and a line from his stand would cut the warden's track But the bullet mark, Jardine smiled. Jimmy, and maybe the trooper lad, would think that fixed it, but he didn't look where the bullet came out. I wonder if Stannard looked.

Starting point is 05:22:18 Bob is accountable, said Margaret obstinately. Very well, Bob's in the rocks. Are you for trackin' the man? By and by he must come down for food. When he does come down, we'll try to find him. Bob's a good Bushman, Jardine remarked. I allow the police will not hit his trail, but maybe he will not bother to watch out for us.

Starting point is 05:22:49 He stopped and gave Margaret a thoughtful look when he resumed. Bob would reckon to find out who shot Douglas is not our job. the job is ours said margaret quietly but jardine thought the blood came to her skin she however got up and when she had put out the plates for breakfast went to bed in the morning jardine gave jimmy boots and clothes and two days afterwards loaded him with all the supplies he would carry after breakfast jimmy strapped on his pack but when he was ready to go he hesitated the log house was warm and home-like and for two days he had rested and enjoyed margaret's society now he must plunge into the wilds he frowned the snow was creeping down the rocks and a cold wind wailed in the dark pine-tops then jimmy turned to his hosts and forced a smile you have given me all i needed i knew you would see me out sure thing said jardine in the bush your friend's job is to see you out you are useful friends jimmy replied with a touch of emotion all the same i feel i ought not to bother you i ought to start for the railroad

Starting point is 05:24:23 and give myself up to the police. If Douglas was hurt by my carelessness, I ought to pay. You mustn't go yet, said Margaret firmly. You don't altogether know the carelessness was yours, and perhaps it was not. Somehow, I think we will find out. Ah, said Jimmy, if you do find out the shot wasn't mine, But I doubt, and the doubt weighs on me.

Starting point is 05:24:56 Margaret smiled and gave him her hand. Brace up and trust your luck. Stop in the mountains until we send for you. Perhaps we will send for you sooner than you think. Jimmy went down the path and joined the waiting Indian. He was comforted, and when he plunged into the woods, his moodiness was gone. margaret went back into the house and jardine said in a thoughtful voice you kind o engaged you'd send for the lad but until you satisfy the police he's not their man he cannot come back that is so the thing is rather obvious margaret agreed and smiled however since i did engage to send for jimmy i must try to make good

Starting point is 05:25:52 end of chapter nineteen recording by roger malone chapter twenty of north-west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold bindloss chapter twenty bob's denial not long after jimmy's visit to kell's hope margaret one evening rode up the trail from the station her cayuse carried a load of groceries but when she set off her object was not altogether to bring home supplies wakening before daybreak she imagined she heard the fence rails rattle at the corner farthest from the house sometimes a deer jumped the fence and when margaret got up she went to the spot she saw no tracks but some time afterwards found a footmark where the trail left the clearing the mark was fresh and she thought it was not made by her father's boot margaret said nothing to jardine had a stranger come down the valley he would have kept the smooth path because in the dark the belt of slashing that generally surrounds a forest ranch is an awkward obstacle moreover to account for a stranger's coming from the mountains was hard had jimmy returned he would have stopped at the house but bob would not and margaret had undertaken to find bob when the vancouver train rolled into the station nobody got on board but a police trooper came from the agent's office and going along the line looked into the cars

Starting point is 05:27:51 margaret had not remarked him before the train stopped and thought his curiosity ominous if bob had stolen past the ranch he however had not tried to get on board and was hiding somewhere about margaret was puzzled and resolved to stop at the hotel and see stannard she admitted that her resolve was perhaps not logical because if stannard knew more about the shooting than others he would not enlighten her all the same she meant to see him getting down where the wagon road went around to the front of the hotel she tied her horse to a tree and took a path across the hill the trees were thick but the moon was bright and in places its beams pierced the wood in front and some distance above her she saw illuminated windows at the top of the hotel then the terrace wall cut the reflection from the drawing-room and rotunda the high wall was in the gloom but at the bottom pools of silver light broke the dark shadow of the trees margaret knew the steps to the terrace had she gone to the front door she must have waited at the office until a page brought stanard and she thought she would sooner find him in the rotunda before he knew she was about she heard music in the drawing-room and somebody on the terrace talking but the wall was high and when the music stopped all was quiet in the woods one lifts one's feet with mechanical caution and margaret was a rancher's daughter her advance was noiseless but at a bend of the path she stopped

Starting point is 05:29:50 a few yards off a man stood under a tree his back was to margaret but the dark object across his shoulder was a slung rifle and she thought she knew him stanard leaned against a trunk opposite he wore dinner dress and a loose light coat he was in the moonlight and when he shook his head margaret thought his smile ironical the other's pose was stiff and his fist was clenched margaret put her hand in the pocket of her deerskin coat and then moved a branch the man turned and his hand went to his rifle margaret heard the sling rattle you don't want your gun bob i know you besides i've got a pistol she said bob swore softly and stanard lifted his hat aren't you rather theatrical miss jardine i imagined gun pulling was out of date bob's theatrical but he's slow margaret rejoined and although her heart beat her voice was steady i haven't yet pulled my gun it looks as if you had better leave yours alone stanard remarked to bob bob's face got very dark but stanard's smarted bob's face got very dark but stanard smiled did you want to see me or the other miss jardine i want to see bob first but you may remain said margaret and gave bob a searching glance who shot warden douglas i did not anyhow bob replied fiercely i hadn't a gun and when i'd fixed the others i put out my lamp

Starting point is 05:31:48 i'd no use for using the pit light the fool plan was deering's all the same you quit i sure quit somebody shot douglas and the police knew he'd got a pick on me they'd got to put the shooting on one of the gang perhaps it's important the police knew you had to pick on douglas standard remarked for all that i didn't use my gun bob rejoined margaret pondered as a rule bob was marked by a rather sinister quietness but now he talked with something like passion he had stepped forward and he had stepped forward and he had stepped forward and he had and a moonbeam touched his face margaret thought he knew but he did not move out of the light somehow she felt she must believe his statement then stannard turned to her perhaps it's strange but i rather think he speaks the truth if you did not use your gun who did shoot douglas margaret resumed looking at bob i want to know a truth a truth super's watching the station and if i shout the hotel clerk will call him on the phone bob's passion vanished and margaret thought his calm ominous that's another thing looks as if jimmy plugged the fellow he's sort of a loud he done it and he started for the rocks i imagine bob doesn't know said stanard before you arrived he implied he implied that i'm sorry that i'm sorry he'd done it and he started for the rocks i imagine bob doesn't know said stanard before you arrived he implied that was accountable and demanded a hundred dollars in fact when he didn't get the sum he was much annoyed i was mad all right bob agreed my flour and tea's gone and i can't hire up about the settlements but if i'd a hundred dollars i'd try to make the coast

Starting point is 05:33:57 he looked hard at stanard and resumed are you going to help me get off certainly not said stannard in a careless voice i am not as rich as you think and to give you money would be rash particularly when miss jardine is about margaret pulled out her wallet i can give you ten dollars bob but i can shout to the people at the hotel you know mr layland did not shoot douglas i sure don't know said bob and gave margaret a haughty glance put up your wad i've no use for your money if you like shout for them to phone the police for a moment or two margaret hesitated she was persuaded bob himself was not accountable but she thought this was all she would know she was hurt and humiliated for now she had found bob she had not helped jimmy much shall i shout she asked stanard to choose is your part i rather think dillon is on the terrace and two or three athletic young sportsmen are at the hotel but unless you are willing to use your gun i doubt if bob would wait until the others arrive then although i don't know where jimmy is perhaps for the police to search the neighborhood would have some drawbacks margaret turned to bob get off if you come back i'll send the troopers after you bob went and when he vanished in the gloom stannard laughed

Starting point is 05:35:49 i expect your arrival disturbed the fellow at the beginning he tried to force me to give him my wallet then he took another line and hinted that leyland was the guilty man well he is gone and he is gone will you come back with me and talk to laura margaret noted that he was not curious about her object for stopping at the hotel but she said i wanted to see you what do you know about the accident i really don't know much although i am persuaded accident is the proper word jimmy thought the unlucky shot was his and when he resolved to go off i agreed but you knew what the police would think about his running away that is so said stanard coolly all the same jimmy was with me when i killed the big horn and when douglas found us at the old ranch we were using pit lights one of our party shot him and since we were again poaching it hardly looked as if the shot were accidental jimmy is young and when he saw the risk he ran he was afraid i thought he did run some risk but if he could cheat the police for a time we might find a clue to the puzzle margaret remarked his frankness although she thought he did not know jimmy had stopped at the ranch his arguments were the arguments jimmy stated he had used moreover she admitted the arguments carried some weight we have not yet found a clue she said drearily still if the warden gets better do you know where he is

Starting point is 05:37:49 for a moment or two stannard was quiet then he said we can get no news about douglas and perhaps we ought not to expect much from his narrative when you use a pit lamp your hat brim shades your face and i imagine all douglas saw was the light yet the police's reserve is strange perhaps they know something we do not said margaret well my father is waiting and i must not stop she went off and stanard went up the steps to the hotel in a corner of the verandah dillon talked to laura and stanard remarked the smile she gave the young man stanard knitted his brows and did not stop in some respects the the marriage would be good but it was not the marriage he had wanted laura to make all the same jimmy was obviously satisfied with the bush girl and stannard thought she loved him well he had done with jimmy when margaret got down at the ranch she went to the kitchen and sat by the fire for a time she said nothing and jardine quietly smoked his pipe then she looked up with a frown i found bob she said he was talking to mr stannard outside the hotel in the trees i'm thinking did he tell you much he declared when they used the pit lights he had not a gun and somehow i think he hadn't maybe said jardine with some dryness was it all you got

Starting point is 05:39:45 that was all i'm not as clever as i thought bob wanted mr stannard to give him a hundred dollars ah said jardine well i expect you see stanard laughed it was plain he was not at all afraid of bob stanard's not a fool jardine remarked i thought his carelessness sincere besides bob soon afterwards implied that jimmy hit douglas i imagine bob really doesn't know who did use his gun it's possible jardine agreed my notion is jimmy had better keep the woods in the meantime i've no use for bob's hanging around the ranch bob will not bother us i don't think he'll bother mr stanard again said margaret and got some sewing end of chapter twenty recording by roger malone chapter twenty one of north-west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold binloss chapter twenty one deering's excursion rain beat the bark roof and heavy drops splashed on the floor sometimes a gust of wind swept the window opening and smoke blew about, but on the whole the shack was dry and warm. Jimmy thought they had made a good job, and sitting by the fire he tranquilly smoked his pipe.

Starting point is 05:41:41 The Indian, opposite him, plated a snare. Deering studied a card problem in an old newspaper. The game's pretty good, but I soon got on to it, he said. When you locate the box, come across and i'll show you no thanks said jimmy smiling to know where the bower is is useful but sometimes you don't know and a tent spot knocks you out things are like that anyhow i've not much use for cards you were keen i reckon your keenness cost you something jimmy nodded that is so but i really think i wanted to satisfy my curiosity i wanted the thrills others seemed to get and i experimented with cards and two or three expensive sports now i feel i'd sooner build a shack than win a pot of money on a first-class race the strange thing is when i was at the cotton mill and dick wanted me to study the machinery i was bored i expect he tried to force you deering remarked when one is young one doesn't study the things others think one ought he frowned and jerked his head another blamed big drop on the back of my neck when the rain stops i'll mend the roof said jimmy The shack's a pretty good shack, and two or three slabs of bark will cure the leak.

Starting point is 05:43:21 Then I must get some green clay and flat stones for the chimney. You talk as if you meant to remain in the rocks. It looks as if I might have to stay for some time. Deering shook his head. In a proper cold snap, you want double windows, but we have got a hole. Then I've not much use for a box. blanket door. When the frost begins, we have got to quit. But where can we go? I don't know yet. I have thought about your ranch. Jardine stated the police had searched it, and I reckon they won't

Starting point is 05:44:02 come back. However, we'll talk about this again. I think Miss Jardine gave you a needle and thread. Jimmy said Margaret had done so and inquired why Deering wanted the thread. We can't get out, and I guess I'll sew my clothes for you. In the morning, I'm going to use Jardines. But why? Jimmy began. Deering indicated his torn shooting jacket, ragged knickerbockers, and soil-stained patis. I must start for Vancouver to look at. look up a fellow who has got some money of mine. Then I want to find out if the police have cured Douglas and what they are doing. If I wore my clothes, people would speculate about the dead-broke sporting guy.

Starting point is 05:44:54 Jardine's clothes are not very good. I've worn them for some time in the bush. Then I expect you'll find them tight. There are rancher's clothes, and I don't mind looking like a bushman. in fact until i make vancouver the part will go all right jimmy knitted his brows perhaps he had thought too much for himself but he owned he did not want deering to leave him well he said i mustn't grumble but will you be long when i've fixed my business and found out something useful i'll come right back deering replied and threading the needle began to sew. I was raised in the bush, and the small homesteaders are a pretty frugal lot. They don't throw away their old clothes. When you reach the settlements, won't you run some risk?

Starting point is 05:45:52 Jimmy inquired. I expect the risk will not be altogether mine. So far as I know, the police are not looking for me. The trouble is, I might put them on your track, but so long as I'm steering for the coast this needn't bother us i don't want them to hit my trail when i'm coming back well i'm pretty big to hide but if they are after me they'll watch out for a city sport not a bushman in the morning deering started and after a strenuous journey reached a small station some distance from the hotel he did not buy his ticket from the agent the conductor would supply him and when the long train rolled in he got aboard the porter was making up the second-class berths and when deering got his he went to bed so far his luck was good but after he had slept for five or six hours he began to doubt a savage jolt threw him against the curtain and the thin material tore from the rings deering went through but came down like a cat on the floor the brakes jarred and startled passengers ran about for the most part they did not wear their proper clothes but when deering went to bed he wore all his and he pushed through a group that blocked the vestibule the train stopped and from the platform he saw a leaping pillar of flame and reflections on rocks and trees the white beam from the locomotive head-lamp melted in the strong illumination

Starting point is 05:47:39 and moving figures cut the dark background. The picture was distinct and vivid like a scene from a film until a cloud of steam rolled across the light and all was blurred. Deering heard hammers and the clang of rails. A construction gang was obviously at work, and he imagined a trestle had broken, or perhaps another train had jumped the track. When he waited at the station,

Starting point is 05:48:08 he had not tried to hide himself. To do so was risky, since he imagined the police had warned the agent to study the passengers. If the agent had remarked him, the delay would be awkward, and he wondered whether the telegraph wires were broken. Jumping down, he went along the track and stopped in the strong light a blast lamp through across a gap. The roadbed was gone, and a great bank of stones, and saw, and he went along the track. snow rested on the hillside bent rail slanted into the hole and a broken telegraph pole hung by the tangled wires shovels rattled and a gang of men threw down soil and stones deering stopped one how long is it since the landslide cut the track about two hours since we got the call then they rushed you up pretty quick i expect to you got the call by wire? The other indicated the broken post. Wires went when the track went. The section man came for us on a trolley. We're grading for a new bridge a few miles down the line.

Starting point is 05:49:25 Are you going to be long filling her up? Three or four hours, I reckon. The boys are loading up the gravel train. But if the boss spots me talking, I'll get fired." Deering pondered. If the agent had been warned to look out for him, the fellow had had time to telegraph before the wires broke, and the police could arrange to watch the stations or put a trooper on board the train. Dearing did not think they had a warrant for his arrest, but they would try to use him in order to get on Jimmy's track. There was not much use in leaving the train because he would be spotted when he boarded another. He resolved to go back to his birth, and soon after he did so, he went to sleep. In the morning, the train started. Deering got a good breakfast at a meal station and afterwards

Starting point is 05:50:22 occupied a corner of a smoking compartment. Sleep and food had refreshed him, and his mood was cheerful. He admitted he was perhaps ridiculous, but he had begun to enjoy his excursion. Deering was marked by a vein of rather boyish humor, and to cheat the police, amused him. By and by, he speculated about his object for going after Jimmy when the warden was shot. Jimmy had plunged into the gully sooner than let him go, but perhaps this did not account for all. stanard had urged jimmy to push for the plains although stanard ought to know the lad could not cross the mountains then he had indicated a line over the neck and deering had stopped jimmy at the top of a pitch that dropped to a horrible crevasse the thing was strange and sinister but jimmy trusted stanard deering did not he was intrigued and felt he ought to see jimmy out after a time a police trooper came from the vestibule and stopped for a moment at the door of the smoking compartment his glance rested carelessly on deering and then he went through into the car

Starting point is 05:51:42 at the next station the policeman got down and went to the office when the train started deering did not see him get on board but people moved about and the end cars were behind the water tank in the afternoon when he leaned back half asleep in his corner the trooper came in again deering did not move but his eyes were not altogether shut and he saw the fellow's glance was keen and fixed in a moment or two the trooper turned his head and going into the vestibule did not shut the door quietly deering's curiosity was satisfied the police knew he was on board lighting his pipe he looked out of the window the train was speeding down the lower fraser valley orchards fields with white snake fences and wooden homesteads rolled by the sun was near the hilltops and the shadows of the pines were long when they reached vancouver it would be dark and the trooper's duties would be undertaken by the municipal police the royal northwest had nothing to do with the british columbian cities their business was in the wilds deering pulled out his watch a short distance from vancouver they would stop at a junction where a line for washington state branched off, but his business was not in Washington. Fast steamers sailed from Vancouver for the ports of Puget Sound, and since the police would expect

Starting point is 05:53:25 him to go on board, he thought he saw a plan. Some time after dark, he went to the platform in front of the car. A half-moon shone between slow-moving clouds, and he saw vague hills and sparkling water. Then the lights of anchored steamers began to twinkle, and sawmill chimney-stacks cut the sky. Lights in rows and clusters marked the front of a low hill, the cars rolled along the water side, and presently stacks of lumber blocked the view. Then the whistle screamed, the brakes jarred, and the passengers began to push out from the vestibule. Deering jumped down and looked about. cars occupied the tracks and the dazzling beam from a locomotive's headlamp touched piles of goods and hurrying people round the tall electric standards were pools of light

Starting point is 05:54:26 but smoke and steam blew about the wharf and where the strong illumination was cut off all was dark bells told wheels rattled and the clang of the steamer's winches pierced the din her double row of passenger decks towered above the wharf and deering joined the crowd at the slanted gangway he was willing for the city police to see him board the steamer at the top of the gangway a steward indicated the way to the second-class deck but deering pushed by and went to the saloon since he was playing a bush rancher's part the police would expect him to travel second class and he must for a few minutes put them off his track as soon as the luggage was on board the boat would start for the most part the people were on deck and the spacious saloon was quiet deering thought he did not look like a first-class passenger his hair was long his hat was battered and jardine's rather ragged clothes were tight on his big body searching the room with a keen glance he stopped for a group of three people occupied a seat at the other end he wondered whether he ought to steal off but dillon jumped up why it's deering he exclaimed laura started and her companion turned deering imagined the lady was mrs dillon and he crossed the floor dillon's surprise was obvious but he gave deering his hand we have been bothered about you for some time and it looks as if you had got up against it but where's jimmy

Starting point is 05:56:18 jimmy's at the shack we built in the rocks what about the warden we can get no news i imagine the police are hiding the fellow why did you leave jimmy laura interrupted and deering so she did not altogether trust him. Has he food and proper clothes? If he is in trouble, we must try to help. That is so, said Dylan. If Jimmy wants me, I'll get off the boat. Jimmy's clothes are worse than mine, but he doesn't particularly want your help.

Starting point is 05:56:57 I pulled out because I must transact some business, and I have pretty good grounds to imagine the police are on my track. i expect we'll sail in a few minutes said dillon do you think the police know you got on board deering glanced at the others he thought laura imagined he had meant to join them and she was not yet satisfied mrs dillon was frankly annoyed so long as they don't know i got off again it's not important he replied are you going to get off certainly said deering and turned to laura with a twinkle the trick is not remarkably fresh but since the police reckon i'm bound for the united states it ought to work you see jimmy's my friend and when i've put across my business i'm going back laura gave him her hand i didn't know i wish you luck when you think we can help you must send us a letter the whistle blew a bell rang and people began to enter the saloon thank you miss stanard said deering and crossed the floor he went along an alley and threw the second-class saloon to the deck in front the steamer's bows were in the gloom and a number of wharf hands hurried down a plank deering joined the row and followed the men to a cargo shed

Starting point is 05:58:34 the shed was dark but the sliding doors on the other side were open and he crawled under a freight car and crossed the track a minute or two afterwards he stopped so far as he could see nobody but a few train hands were about the steamer had swung away from the wharf and was steering for the narrows deering laughed and went up the hill behind the water front end of chapter twenty one recording by roger malign chapter twenty two of north west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold bindloss chapter twenty two deering takes counsel a canadian hotel is something of an inexpensive club people who sleep elsewhere come from meals and a number come to smoke and talk in western towns their manners and clothes are marked by sharp contrasts but so long as they observe a few primitive rules nobody inquires if they are customers of the house in consequence when deering stopped in front of an ambitious building he was not at all embarrassed the noise he heard indicated that the rotunda was occupied but while some of its occupants were no doubt important citizens he expected to find lumbermen and miners from the bush whose clothes were like his pushing round the revolving doors he went in waited until he saw the clerk was engaged and then went upstairs a noisy electric elevator was running but deering thought he would not bother the boy

Starting point is 06:00:38 on the second landing he opened a door an electric lamp threw a strong light about the room and a gentleman leaned back in a hardwood chair and rested his feet on the ornamental radiator he was dressed like a prosperous citizen and he gave deering a keen glance hello he said have you been in the woods looks like that said deering i want a razor and a bath then i want a suit of clothes the biggest standard size i doubt if the clerk and bell-boys saw a bushman come up but if they did so i'd sooner they didn't see him come down down i can fix you said the other smiling all the same i expect you must get a barber to finish the job when deering used a glass he admitted that his friend's remark was justified but so long as he looked like a wild man from the woods to recline wrapped in a white sheet and a barber's front window had obvious drawbacks as a rule a north american barber carries on his occupation as publicly as possible he got a bath and when he returned to his friend's room nielsen gave him a cigar and he began to talk very well said nielsen i can get the money for you and will soon fix up the other matters i have sent for some clothes and booked your room but you look as if you'd hit some adventures in the woods and I'd rather like to know.

Starting point is 06:02:22 Perhaps you've noted something in the newspapers about a game warden's getting shot? The colonist printed a short paragraph. I imagined the police edited the story. Old man Salter knows his job, although the shooting was on the Royal Northwest's ground. Anyhow, the tale left you to guess. But were you in it?

Starting point is 06:02:48 Sure thing, said dear. Dyering, dryly. I'll tell you." When he finished his narrative, Nielsen knitted his brows. He was frankly an adventurer, but he had his code, and Deering trusted the fellow. Moreover, Nielsen knew men, and particularly men who lived by exploiting others' weaknesses. I'm not a hunter. We'll cut out the shooting and concentrate on the gang, he said.

Starting point is 06:03:20 i want to get stanard right his occupation's ours something like ours deering agreed we play a straight game because we know a straight game pays i've spotted stanard using a crook's cheap trick but he doesn't bet high at cards his lines financing extravagant young suckers then he's rich i think not not long since he wanted money my notion is he's got a partner in the old country who supplies him stanard's something of a high brow and a smart clubman he has qualities i rather like the fellow although i know him what about the girl does stannard use her not at all said dearing miss laura's straight i doubt if she really knows her father's occupation maybe she's ambitious and calculating but she's not his sort is layland much in stanard's debt stanard's an expensive friend but i guess he wanted jimmy for laura and didn't take all he might still i expect jimmy owes a useful sum and laura's going to marry dillon ah said nielsen perhaps that's important i reckon stannard has got layland insured deering nodded he saw where nielsen's remarks led and on the whole agreed he had given the fellow his confidence because he wanted to see the arguments another would use well resumed nielsen what about dillon and your guide

Starting point is 06:05:16 dillon was not in the woods i don't know much about the guide bob's a queer fellow and is not all white then he has a pick on jimmy i reckon he took a shine to the rancher's daughter who is now jimmy's girl jealousy bites hard and i wouldn't trust a breed nielsen remarked well perhaps we have got bob's object let's study stanard's layland's wanting the ranch girl wasn't in his plan and when he knew miss stanard meant to marry dillon he'd make another layland owes him much can't pay yet and is insured let it go in the mean time and weigh another thing layland doesn't altogether know if he shot the warden but if he did shoot him he thought him a deer all the same he pulled out is the boy a fool is his nerve weak jimmy's clean grit said deering still he is a boy then it's possible he got rattled suppose when he was rattled an older man he trusted put it up to him that he ought to light out the kid wouldn't ponder he'd start that is so said deering stanard did talk like that nielsen shrugged meaningly very well i'm through with my argument if we could find warden douglas he might tell us something useful i'll try deering thought the plan good nielsen was a gambler but his word went in fact deering imagined it sometimes went with the police

Starting point is 06:07:14 nilsson knew the half-world and now that he had undertaken an awkward job strange helpers would be put to work when he had lighted a fresh cigar he resumed i don't see your object for hiding in the woods sometimes i'm romantic you don't know me yet deering said and laughed jimmy's my pal when i came near getting a fall that would have knocked me out he held me up then i was born a bushman and the bush calls i like it in the woods and i'm keen about the detective game he stopped and went on in a thoughtful voice the strange thing is when jimmy went over the rocks stanard went after him snow and stones were coming down but he stayed with the kid that was when it looked as if miss stanard would marry your pal said nielsen meaningly well i wouldn't bother about the kid but he stayed with the kid that was when it looked as if miss stanard would marry your pal said nielsen meaningly well i wouldn't bother about the police watch out for stanard somebody knocked at the door and nielsen getting up came back with a parcel your clothes he said deering put on the clothes and packed up jardines to be thrown into the harbor for a few days he stopped at the hotel and then nielsen admitted that his inquiries about douglas had not carried him far. We know where he is, and he's very sick, but that's all, he said. The police mean to use him, and he can't be got at. Then I'll start for the woods, said Dearing. The trouble is to hit the

Starting point is 06:09:06 proper line. It's possible the police are willing to leave me alone, but I mustn't help them get on to jimmy in the morning he started for new westminster although this was not the line to the mountains at westminster he vanished in the meadows along the fraser and soon after a time turned north into the woods in order to rejoin jimmy he must follow the great river gorge and at mission he risked getting on board the cars nobody bothered him and he had bothered him and he had been to beaubhers and he missed getting on board the cars nobody bothered him and at length he labored one evening up the rugged valley in which was the shack he had bought a skin coat and carried a heavy pack but he was not warm the sky was dark and threatening the ground was hard and a bitter wind shook the tops of the stiff pines deering thought snow was coming and pushed on as fast as possible until he saw a gleam of light a big fire threw a cheerful glow about the shack and jimmy occupied a pile of branches by the snapping logs he had pulled a blanket over his shoulders but when he heard deering's step he jumped up deering dropped his load straightened his back and looked about where's the indian he's gone said jimmy i expect he had enough in fact i'd begun to feel i'd had enough and when i heard your step my relief was pretty keen oh well said deering let's get supper and then we'll talk

Starting point is 06:10:56 when he had satisfied his appetite he narrated his adventures and is meeting laura and dillon if you want frank he's your man and he might be useful he remarked then i reckon miss laura's willing for him to help your friends are good that is so said jimmy looking at deering hard my friends are better than i deserve but what about douglas did you find out much deering admitted that he did not but when he talked about nielsen he used some caution since jimmy trusted stanard there was no use in trying to warn him sometime he would get enlightenment on the whole i think the police knew i was at vancouver he said their plan was to hit my trail when i started back i don't expect they did so but it's possible anyhow now the indian's gone and a cold snap threatens we have got to quit my plans to start for your ranch the ranch is not far from the railroad its being near the track has some advantages since the police searched the spot i guess they're satisfied then we want food and packing supplies for a long distance is a strenuous job the indian could move a useful load but to carry fifty pounds across rocks and fallen trees makes me tired a rifle a blanket and twenty pounds is my load said jimmy and resumed in a thoughtful voice yet i started for the planes deering used some control and let jimmy's remarks go

Starting point is 06:12:57 you could not have made it he said quietly but what about our jumping off we'll talk about it again jimmy replied i suppose we must go but now you're back i don't want to bother you brace me up until i heard your step i felt down and out he threw fresh wood on the fire and soon afterwards they went to sleep jimmy's sleep was broken and when he woke at daybreak he shivered he did not want to get up but he must fetch water the kettle handle stung his skin the pools on the creek were frozen and he saw the snow had moved or six hundred feet down the rocks rose pink light touched the high peaks and hoarfrost sparkled on the pines but the stern beauty of the wilds was daunting jimmy wanted the deep valleys up which the soft chinook blew when he went back deering was occupied at the fire he looked up and remarked with a twinkle the cold is pretty fierce if we're goin to stay you'll want a skin coat and another blanket when we have got breakfast we'll start for the ranch jimmy replied end of chapter twenty two recording by roger maline chapter twenty three of north west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north-west by harold bindloss chapter twenty three margaret takes a plunge for a time jimmy was not disturbed at the ranch on the high rocks the frost was keen but in the deep valley a gentle wind from the pacific melted the snow

Starting point is 06:15:11 jimmy dared not order sod lumber but jardine got him a door and windows and the house was warm sometimes he went shooting and sometimes he went to kel's hope jardine was friendly but when the rancher had gone to look after his stock jimmy was resigned to sit by the fire and talk to margaret was a delightful occupation at the beginning he had remarked her beauty but now he knew beauty was not all her charm margaret was clever she saw his point of view and when she did not agree her argument was logical and keen then she was proud and fearless and he sensed in her something primitive margaret was his sort and sprang from stock like his yet he felt her physical charm her eyes were sea-blue and in the firelight her hair was like red california gold she had a bushman's balance and her unconscious pose was greek although she was frank with something of a great lady's frankness jimmy soon knew her fastidious but for his part in the shooting accident his satisfaction would have been complete it looked as if the police had resolved to leave him alone and deering had made one or two excursions to the cities but jimmy doubted he knew the royal northwest do not forget moreover somebody shot douglas and on the whole he thought he had done so sometimes he wondered whether he ought to go to kell's hope but all the same he went

Starting point is 06:17:01 when deering was at calgary margaret one afternoon rode home from the station as fast as possible at the ranch she took down the load of groceries but left the horse tied to a post jardine was by the fire and had pulled off his boot in the morning he had cut his foot with his axe he gave margaret a keen glance and saw she had ridden fast well he said is something bothering you two troopers and their horses came in on the freight train i expect they're looking for mr layland ah said jardine somebody has given the lad away bob said margaret and her eyes sparkled jardine knitted his brows maybe but i dunno ken bob hasn't been around for long did the troopers saddle up when i left they were cinching on their camp truck i thought they'd soon start mr layland can't come down the valley and deering's not with him where is he to go if he could make green lake peter would put him on the mission trail he cannot make green lake margaret rejoined he cannot make green lake margaret rejoined he doesn't know the bench country and must start in the dark jimmy must start soon if he stays the troopers will get him jardine agreed and indicated his cut foot somebody must warn the lad but i can a gang margaret tried to brace up for she had not reckoned on her father's lameness the strange thing was jardine had walked some distance to round up his cattle

Starting point is 06:18:59 she must however weigh this again speed was important and jimmy was her friend in fact she had begun to think him her lover you could ride the cayuse and carry the packs if mr layland was not loaded he could make a good pace the cayuse wouldn't carry a load like mine across the bench belt and green lakes a two days hike i cannot walk i doubt if i could get on my boot jardine replied and added with philosophical resignation it's a pity of the lad i expect the police are not a on the ranch trail, but I d'n't see how we can help." Margaret clenched her hands. Somebody must warn Jimmy, and her father declared he could not. She looked at him hard and knew he could not be moved. He gave her an apologetic glance and began to fill his pipe,

Starting point is 06:20:02 as if the thing was done with. Yet it was not done with. Margaret saw, rather vaguely, because she refused, to think about it all her going to warn jimmy implied since if her help was to be useful she must go with him to green lake for a few moments she hesitated but she was generous and her pluck was good then she turned to jardine who had begun to smoke the police shall not get mr layland i will go very well said jardine if you mean to go gang, you'd better start. You'll need to take some food. I'll get the saddle bag. He crossed the floor, and Margaret remarked that for a few steps, he went lightly, as if his foot did not hurt. Then he limped, and when he got to the door, he stopped and leaned

Starting point is 06:21:00 against the post. All the same, it was not important, and Margaret began to pack some food and clothes. Ten minutes afterwards, she untied the horse and gave Jardine her hand. Goodbye, she said in a quiet voice. I don't know when I shall get back. Jardine held the stirrup. She seized the bridle, set her mouth, and started the horse. When she vanished in the woods, Jardine went back to the house, rested his foot on a chair, and knitted his brows. He saw he ran some risk, but he knew his daughter and thought he knew Jimmy. Jimmy was a white man. Jardine, so to speak, bed all he had on that.

Starting point is 06:21:51 Some time afterwards, Jimmy, cooking his supper, heard a horse's feet and went to the door. He smiled because he thought he knew the horse, but Margaret was obviously riding fast and snapping branches indicated that she had cut out a bend of the trail. When she got down, her color was high and the horse's coat was white. Roll up your blanket and put the sling on your rifle, she said. Then I'll help you pack some food. Jimmy studied her with surprise. Her look was resolute, but he got a hint of embarrassment. Then he saw a light. he said the police are on my track two troopers are riding up the valley they may stop at kell's hope for a few minutes where do you keep your groceries jimmy opened a box and margaret picked out a number of articles now make a pack because you must start at once for my cousins at green lake i expect peter will help you south

Starting point is 06:23:02 but i don't know the trail and it will soon be dark make your pack the police will arrive in a few minutes margaret rejoined impatiently and turned her head there is not a trail i am going with you no said jimmy with some embarrassment you're kind of course but you ought to see if you start me off i expect i can find my way Margaret turned and fronted him. The blood came to her skin, and her look was strained. You can't find the way, and I can't go back. The police know I'm not at the ranch, and if I start for home, I'll meet them in the valley. But we mustn't talk.

Starting point is 06:23:52 We must get off. Jimmy leaned against the table and frowned. Although his heart beat, he hesitated. He knew Margaret. pluck and he loved her, but she must not pay for her rash generosity. One must think for the girl one loved. Suppose the police do know you warned me. It's awkward, but perhaps that's all.

Starting point is 06:24:19 Anyhow, I'll go down and meet them. Since I expect I shot Warden Douglas, I must bear the consequences. Oh, but you are obstinate, Margaret exclaimed, and you, Stanard's argument. It looks as if one of your party meant to shoot Douglas and the police have not caught the man. They must catch somebody and they'll try to fix the shooting on you. To join the chain gang would be horrible. The thing has not much charm, Jimmy agreed, and was rather surprised by his coolness, but he was cool. I don't know much about the police code, but I rather think they'd stop it.

Starting point is 06:25:04 He heard a noise, and Margaret turned. I put up the rails, she said in a sharp voice. Jimmy went to the window and saw a mounted policeman pulled down the slip rails at the fence and ride through the gap. Then he heard a quick step and looked round. Margaret had got his rifle. The butt was at her shoulder, and the barrel rested against the door.

Starting point is 06:25:31 doorpost. Jimmy saw her face in profile. Her mouth was set tight. Her glance was fixed and hard. He jumped for the door, but struck a chair, and the collision stopped him. The rifle jerked, and a little smoke floated about the girl. When Jimmy reached the door, he saw the policeman's horse stumble. The trooper leaned back, tried to pull his foot from the stirrup, and fell with the animal jimmy thought it rolled on him but after a few moments he crawled away from its hoofs the horse was quiet and the man got up his movements were awkward and he looked dully at the house margaret pushed jimmy back and put the rifle to her shoulder a sharp report rolled across the clearing twigs fell from a quivering pine branch and the crissed the crissed from a quivering pine branch and the tree trooper vanished in the woods. Jimmy's hand shook, but his relief was keen. I expect his rifles in the bucket under the horse, and the horse is dead,

Starting point is 06:26:43 Margaret remarked. I was forced to shoot. Ah, said Jimmy hoarsely, I thought you would hit the man. Margaret's pose was stiff, as if she braced herself, but she smiled. He knows I shoot straight. Until his partner comes and helps him get his rifle, he'll stop in the woods. But perhaps the other's not far off. He's at the ranch, said Margaret.

Starting point is 06:27:16 He'd stop to see if you were about and try to find out something from father. Father would keep him as long as possible. She stopped, and turning her head, resumed, but the first fellow knows a woman shot his horse. When I put up the rifle, he was riding for the door. I expect that is so, said Jimmy. After all, you must go to your cousins. Let's start.

Starting point is 06:27:47 Margaret said nothing. When Jimmy brought her horse, she got up, and he ran by her stirrup. For a time, she went up the valley, and then turning back obliquely through thin timber pushed up a steep hill near the top she stopped and jimmy got his breath and looked down across the trees dusk was falling and all was very quiet gloom had invaded the clearing but he saw a small dark object he knew was the policeman's horse a thin plume of smoke went up from his house his fire was burning and he wondered when it would burn again for a few moments he was moved by a strange melancholy and then his heart beat i hate to go away if you were not with me i think i'd stay and risk it all he said i was happy at the ranch in fact i soon began to see i hadn't known real happiness before at the beginning i was puzzled but now i can account for it you were at kell's hope not long since you didn't want me to go with you margaret remarked oh well said jimmy with some awkwardness you hadn't yet shot the policeman's horse

Starting point is 06:29:15 margaret said nothing and he seized the bridle pulled round the cayuse and forced her to look down will you marry me at the mission margaret she met his glance and hers was proud i think not jimmy you are a white man and mean to take the proper line but i will not marry you because i stopped the trooper jimmy threw back his head and she liked his frank scornful laugh now you're altogether ridiculous your stopping the fellow does not account for my wanting to marry you soon after i got to work at the ranch i knew i loved you, but I went to the mountains with Stannard, and the trouble began. So long as the police were hunting for me, I dared not urge you. But now you urge me? It looks as if your scruples had vanished. Jimmy let go the bridle and bent his head. I suppose it does look like that. All the same, I love you. Margaret leaned down and touched him, you keep your rules and your rules are good perhaps it's strange but i think a woman will break conventions where a man will not still you see i'm proud

Starting point is 06:30:47 you are very hard jimmy rejoined yet you ran some risk to warn me i know your pluck but if you had not loved me i think you'd have stayed at kell's hope we'll let it go said margaret in a quiet voice there's another thing ranching is a game for you but it's my proper work yours is still at the cotton mill you're rich and your wife must be clever and cultivated i haven't known a girl with talents grace and beauty like yours jimmy declared then i'm not rich yet the police are on my track and i may soon be a prisoner he looked up and added in a dreary voice i admit it's not much of an argument for your marrying me margaret smiled perhaps you were not logical but we'll talk about it again when we get to green lake you mustn't talk now i don't know if the trooper would stop long at the ranch and we must cross the hill before the moon is up she started her horse and they pushed on an hour afterwards the moon rose from behind a broken range and silver light touched the stiff dark pines the high peaks sparkled a glacier glimmered in the rocks and the mists curling up from the valley were faintly luminous jimmy smelt sweet resinous smells and heard a distant river throb the landscape was strangely beautiful but its beauty was austere all was keen and cold and bracing and jimmy walking by margaret's bridle thought her charm was the charm of the stern and quiet north

Starting point is 06:32:51 end of chapter twenty three recording by roger maline chapter twenty four of north west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold binloss chapter twenty four jimmy resigns himself the morning was calm and jimmy walking by margaret's horse turned his head faint sweet notes stole across the rocks and he knew the distant chime of cow-bells as a rule the elfin music moved him where the cow-bells rang cornfields and orchards advanced up the valleys and man drove back the forest but jimmy's satisfaction was blunted for two days margaret and he had pushed through the quiet woods in the cold evenings they had talked by the snapping fire but now the romantic journey was near its end after a few minutes margaret stopped the horse in front dark pines rolled up the hill and the long rows of ragged tops looked like the waves of an advancing tide that broke again against the rocks. Across the valley the sun touched the snow, and at the bottom of a broken slope, a lake sparkled. Jimmy saw its surface rippled, for a Chinook wind blew, and the frost was gone. Near the end of the lake, a plume of smoke streaked the trees.

Starting point is 06:34:40 Green Lake Ranch, said Margaret. For a few moments Jimmy was quiet. When they reached the valley, he thought the strange charm he had felt in the mountains would vanish. It was too fine and elusive for him to recapture. Until they started for Green Lake, he had not known, Margaret. Cleverer than himself at Woodcraft, she had a man's strength and pluck. She did not grumble. She was frank and not embarrassed. Yet a womanly gentleness marked her, and she did not think for herself. Although her touch was light, Jimmy had felt her control and took the line she meant him to take. In the meantime, they were not lovers, but partners in romantic adventure. For your sake, I'm glad we'll soon reach your cousin's house, he said. I don't know if I'm glad for

Starting point is 06:35:39 mine. Margaret smiled, but gently shook her head. You must play up, Jimmy. i have played up perhaps it's strange but in the woods to be content because we were pals was not hard now we'll soon reach your cousins i'm not content and one is forced to think for a time you must think about beating the police that's all said margaret firmly it is not all jimmy declared when we went up the hill in the evening i asked you to marry me and you promised i promised we would talk about it said margaret before you start from peters we will do so but since you must start soon we'll go on jimmy saw he could not move her and they went down the hill at the ranch fence a man met them and took them to the house when they went in a woman got up kissed margaret and gave jimmy a smile so far as he could see mrs jardine and her husband did not think it strange he had arrived with margaret and he was somewhat comforted although he noted that margaret's color rose margaret knew her relations they were primitive honest folk and took it for granted jimmy was her lover sit right down dinner will soon be ready said peter jardine how's the old man give us your news jimmy narrated his and margaret's adventures and until he stopped his hosts said nothing it did not look as if they were disturbed but they were bush folk and the bush is quiet

Starting point is 06:37:32 for all that jimmy felt they owned themselves margaret's relations and for her sake were willing to help him out the trapper's old shack is the spot for you peter remarked after dinner we'll start margaret must stay with us margaret agreed but jimmy objected margaret is going with me to the mission the police will soon arrive i reckon they don't know her and they don't know how many women folk i've got when she puts on sadie's clothes she'll look as if she'll look as if she'll look as if she'll look as if you're not her and they don't know her and they don't know how many women folk i've got when she puts on sadie's clothes she'll look as if she belonged to the ranch maybe the police haven't found your trail but we mustn't bet on that margaret went off with sadie and jimmy speculated about their talk by-and-by he turned to his host i'm going to marry your cousin when she is willing sure said peter you reckon to get married at the mission that is so so far margaret refuses peter knitted his brows sometimes i don't see what sadie gets after and i sure can't calculate margaret's notion women beat me all the same it's plain she thinks you a white man and margaret's not a fool now we'll let it go say did you plug the warden like that, Jimmy replied. However, if I did hit the fellow, I didn't know I was shooting at a man.

Starting point is 06:39:15 Very well, you can't get down the main track to the coast, because the police will reckon on your going there and watch the stations. I'd make for the planes, and then shove south for Montana. That was Stannard's plan. Peter smiled scornfully. You were to cross the rocks and carry your grub and camping truck? Shucks. An old-time prospector might make it. You could not. You've got to lie up at the trapper's shack until we look about.

Starting point is 06:39:51 Maybe we can fix it to ship you out of the mountains on board a construction train that sometimes runs down to a station on the Calgary side. Well, let's make our packs and catch the horse. They got to work. and after the horse was caught peter turned back to the house but jimmy stopped i must talk to margaret for a few minutes he said margaret came out to him her look was quiet but he knew her resolute when dinner's over peter and i must start he said you refuse to go to the mission i want to know what this implies margaret gave him a level glance isn't it plain jimmy you know my father and now you have met my relations they are not your sort so far as i know there are remarkably good sort jimmy rejoined besides in a way i am their sort my grandfather was a mill-hand my father borrowed a small sum and started with cheap machinery to spin cotton at a little old-fashioned mill

Starting point is 06:41:06 he was frugal and laborious in fact he prospered because he had your bushman's qualities i have loafed and squandered but after a time i felt i'd had enough and began to see i'd inherited something from the people who made laylands go then if we must talk about our relations you don't know my uncle dick well i've stated something like this before but it's my reply to your argument But you mean to go back to Lancashire, and when you marry, your wife ought... To begin with, I doubt if the police will allow me to go back. Then, if I can't get you, I don't want a wife. Yet, not very long since, it looked as if you might be satisfied with Miss Stannard. The blood came to Jimmy's skin, and to conquer his embarrassment was hard. I don't think you're kind. Well, I'm young, and until I met Stannard, I was very raw. All I knew was the cotton mill, and I expect Laura carried me away. But I was not altogether a fool. Laura Stannard is a charming girl. The obstacle was she saw I was not the man for her. Then I did not know you.

Starting point is 06:42:31 Margaret smiled, but her smile was gentle. Perhaps I was not kind. You're staunch, and my experiment was shabby. Your remark was justified. Anyhow, it's not important. If I can cheat the police and get back to Lancashire, will you marry me, Margaret? For a few moments, Margaret was quiet.

Starting point is 06:42:59 Then, she said in a steady voice, You're cheating the police would not persuade me. In fact, somehow I think they will find out you had nothing to do with the wardens getting shot. The obstacle's not there. You are young, Jimmy, and you admitted you were carried away. One cannot carry you away, Jimmy rejoined. I must think for you and for myself, said Margaret, and Jimmy's heartbeat because he saw her calm was forced. Suppose your trustees did not approve your marrying a girl from the bush.

Starting point is 06:43:39 Dick Layland might not approve. His habits to be nasty, but mine's not to bother about Dick. Sir Jim is head of the house, and he's human. I can't picture his not being altogether satisfied with you. But you don't know. Jimmy pondered. Margaret's firmness baffled him, but from her point of view, he saw she took the proper line. All the same, it cost her something.

Starting point is 06:44:12 She was highly strung. Her color came and went, and her tight mouth was significant. The trouble was he dared not urge her very hard. In the meantime, he must hide from the police and might be sent to the chain. gang. I want you, my dear, he said.

Starting point is 06:44:33 I'm selfish. If you marry me, I run no risk, but you may run some. My drawbacks are rather numerous, particularly just now. Very well, said Margaret. When you come back from the mountains, I may perhaps agree. But your relations must approve, and I don't yet engage. Jimmy advanced, but she stepped back and stopped him. Then he turned and saw Mrs. Jardine wave to them from the stoop.

Starting point is 06:45:08 Dinner was a melancholy function, and Jimmy thought his hosts disturbed. They were Margaret's relations, and for her sake were willing to help, but he pictured Mrs. Jardine's weighing the risk. Then he was bothered about Margaret, for people. peter's confidence that his wife could bluff the police if they arrived before he returned did not banish his doubts at length mrs jardine got up and peter and jimmy went to load the horse by and by the rancher ran back for some tobacco and jimmy moodily fastened the pack-rope stooping by the horse he thought he heard a step but did not look up and a few moments afterwards he felt a hand on his shoulder then an arm went around his neck and margaret turned his head and kissed him he tried to seize her but she slipped away and stopped a yard or two off jimmy thrilled and his eyes sparkled now i know when i come back you won't refuse me

Starting point is 06:46:20 you don't know i don't know margaret replied in a trembling voice all the same i love you and you're going away peter and mrs jardine came out the rancher seized the bridle and called to the horse jimmy lifted his battered hat and they started across the clearing three days afterwards they stopped at a small stone hut built against the bottom of a great rock on one side dark pines rolled up to the walls and a hundred yards off one could hardly see the pile of stones was a building yet the small room was rudely furnished and the earth floor was dry they cut some wood made a fire and cooked food and after the meal lighted their pipes you have got an axe and a rifle but if you run out a grub graham the section man on the railroad will put me wise said peter tom's a white man and his post's not far from the spot we crossed the line the trapper who lived here is dead and i reckon nobody but tom and me knows about the shack. I expect I've got all I want, but I'm bothered about Margaret. You don't want a bother.

Starting point is 06:47:49 In the meantime, Margaret's my wife's sister from Calgary. That's good enough for the police. And anyhow, the Royal Northwest aren't city patrolmen. They reckon their highbrow frontier cavalry, and I guess the trooper won't allow a girl held him up. you'll stay put until we see if we can ship you out with the construction boys from the calgary side if that plan won't go we'll push across the range for the big park valley and try to run you south i think that's all but if you want to send a letter to your friends graham will mail it for you after a time peter knocked out his pipe and jimmy went with him to the door when the door when the rancher vanished in the woods and all was quiet jimmy leaned against the post and gave himself to gloomy thought it began to get dark

Starting point is 06:48:49 the snow-veined rocks melted in the mist and the pines were vague and black in the distance a timber wolf howled and the long mournful note emphasized the dreariness in the rocks where jimmy hid at the beginning he had deering society and at the ranch he had margaret's and jardines now he was altogether alone in the savage wilds going back to the fire he threw on fresh wood and although he was not keen about smoking lighted his pipe end of chapter twenty four recording by roger maline Chapter 25 of Northwest This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline. North West by Harold Bendloss. Chapter 25. The Call

Starting point is 06:49:58 Jimmy fastened his skin coat and going to the door of the section man's hut looked up the track. The railroad and an angry river occupied the bottom of the bottom of the road. of the gorge, but the water was low, and a rapid throbbed on a dull note. Jimmy knew its slack beat was ominous. The frost had stopped the streams that not long since leaped out from the glaciers. He shivered, for the cold was keen, and the coat he had gotten at Green Lake was old. Besides, he was tired. He had started before daybreak from his shack, but when he reached the railroad the moon was on the rocks in the shadow the snow that streaked the mountainside was blue across the gorge broken crags shone like polished steel and the small pines growing in the cracks sparkled with frost not far off a dark hole in a slanted white bank indicated the mouth of a snow-shed but jimmy knew the stones and snow had come down the hill

Starting point is 06:51:09 when he looked up his view on one side was cut by the top of a precipice it was like looking up from a deep pit farther along the gorge the rocks got indistinct and melted in the moon's pale reflections no track but the railroad pierced the mountains although the wide chain was broken by narrow valleys running north and south jimmy had come up the line from the valley he occupied and by another some distance off one could reach green lake the nearest station was twelve miles away at the end of graham section jimmy had arrived half an hour since but had not found graham although his stove was burning peter jardine had stated he could trust the man who had begun to clear a ranch at green lake but had stopped when his money was gone in the mountains ranching is a slow and laborious job and men whose means are small are forced at times to follow another occupation by and by a lantern twinkled at the mouth of the snow-shed and a man came up the track hello he said i've got some news and wondered if you'd blow in but i wanted to take a look at the rock cut before the freight comes through did you make supper jimmy said he had cooked some flap jacks although he felt he ought to wait until his host arrived shucks remarked graham jardine's my neighbor and he allows you're his friend but the cold's fierce let's get in They sat down by the stove, and for a minute or two,

Starting point is 06:53:02 Jimmy was content to warm himself and smoke. At the shack he had no light, but the fire and the long evenings were dreary. All the same, he was disturbed, and with something of an effort, he said, Well? Two troopers got off the westbound at the depot, and my partner, Telson,

Starting point is 06:53:25 allowed they brought a lot of truelsen, truck. Looks as if they meant to stop around and search the neighborhood. Ah, said Jimmy, I expect they know I'm about. Did they bring their horses? Telson saw no horses. If the boys were going to Green Lake, they could ride. Besides, the other outfit went there not long since. Jimmy nodded. He knew the police had not bothered Margaret, and he must think for himself. The troopers not bringing their horses was ominous, since it indicated that they were going to push into the mountains. The valley in which he hid did not open to the track. To reach it, one must climb a mountain spur, but he imagined the police

Starting point is 06:54:16 meant to climb. If they found the mouth of the valley, they might reach the shack before he knew, and if he got away, he must take the snowy rocks. I expect Jardine hasn't yet arranged to send me out on board a train, he said. Peter was trying to fix it. He had to wait until he met a construction boss, he knows, but he can't fix it now. The police will stop the gangs and tally up the boys. If they come down the line to find out where I am won't take them long,

Starting point is 06:54:53 Your chances don't look very good, Graham agreed. If you could cross the range to the Park Valley, you might get away south, but I doubt if you could make it. Jimmy said nothing. He imagined Deering stated the range had been climbed by some city members of the Canadian Alpine Club, but they, no doubt, took Packers to carry supplies and went when the snow line was high. For a lonely man to venture on the icy rocks was ridiculous. After a few minutes, Graham pulled out his watch. The freight's making good time, and when she's gone,

Starting point is 06:55:38 I must go up the track to the piece the boys underpinned, he said. I reckon I'll be away an hour, and you had better go to bed. Jimmy heard a rumble and went with Graham to the door. To watch the great train come down the gorge Would for a few minutes banish his gloomy thoughts Up the track a streak of silver light touched the rocks and trees The speeding beam got brighter And by and by dazzling radiance flooded the gorge

Starting point is 06:56:12 The ground began to shake Harsh clanging echoes rolled across the rocks One heard the big cars jolt and the big cars jolt and the roar of wheels. Then black smoke swirled about the hut, and the beam was gone. In the dark, the banging cars rushed by, a blaze touched the snow shed and went out,

Starting point is 06:56:36 and the turmoil died away. Graham picked up his lantern, and Jimmy went back to the stove. Lighting his pipe, he pulled out Stannard's map and began to ponder. It was obvious he might, not stay long at the trapper's shack. Since the police watched the neighborhood, he could not get food, and when they found the way to the valley, he would be driven back into the mountains.

Starting point is 06:57:04 In fact, he felt he ought to try for freedom now before his line of retreat was cut, but he was tired and did not see where he could go. There was no use in stealing off along the track because the station agents were, no doubt, warned to look out for him. If he started before daybreak, he might perhaps reach the trail to Green Lake, but Peter had already run some risk for him, and Margaret was at her cousins. To go to Green Lake would put the police on her track. Jimmy studied Stanard's map. Across the mountains behind the shack, the Park Valley ran southeast, and from its other end one could perhaps reach the plains and the United States. Graham had stated Jimmy could not cross the range, but Graham was not a mountaineer.

Starting point is 06:58:02 Stannard was a mountaineer and could get supplies and packers. Then Stannard was his friend, and perhaps owed him something. The adventure was daunting, but Jimmy resolved to try it. He must for a few days risk stopping at the shack, and pulling out a blank book, he wrote a note. Graham would send the note, and Stannard would, no doubt, start soon after it arrived. Then Jimmy thought he ought to let Margaret know his plans, and he wrote another note. Putting the envelopes on a shelf, he got into Graham's bunk. When Jimmy's note arrived at the hotel, Stannard was at dinner. for the most part the guests had gone but mrs dillon had returned with frank and laura and a young man had joined the party stevens belonged to the canadian alpine club and knowing about stanard's exploits had cultivated his society

Starting point is 06:59:05 stanard took the soiled envelope from the page and noted it had not a stamp who brought the letter he asked a freight brakesman gave it to our porter at the station stanard put down the envelope and resumed his dinner but laura said the hand is jimmie's aren't you curious i am curious anyhow dillon declared and mrs dillon looked up for she knew something about jimmy's adventures if you want to read your letter do so she said to stannard stanard opened the envelope and laura remarked his thoughtful look she took the note from him and after a moment or two gave it dillon is it possible for jimmy to get across dillon asked i frankly don't know said stannard and turned to stephens a young friend of ours wants to try another bold exploit he thinks he can cross the cedar range and i could help In summer, I wouldn't hesitate. To venture on the snowfields now is another thing. Stevens's eyes sparkled.

Starting point is 07:00:25 He was young and enthusiastic, and to climb with a mountaineer like Stannard was something to talk about. Although I haven't long joined the club, sir, I went with Gordon when he explored the Cascades from Rodden. If you go, I'd like to join you. i don't yet know if i'll go or not said stannard and resumed his dinner mrs dillon touched laura she was a large and rather quiet lady and not marked by much refinement but she was kind and sometimes firm i want to see that note she said laura looked at stanard and gave her the note the poor young man he's surely up against it she exclaimed i like jimmy if i was a mountain clubman i'd feel i'd got a call

Starting point is 07:01:23 stanard said nothing and laura was quiet she was disturbed about jimmy but she knew her father besides she thought stephen's curious by and by she looked at dillon who began to talk about something else when dinner was over mrs dillon joined another lady and stanard went off laura and dillon remained at the table and stephen saw they did not want his society he went away and laura asked do you think jimmy can escape if he stops at his hut i expect the police will get him dillon replied laura frowned and looked about the table was decorated by flowers from the coast, and the electric light was reflected by good china and glass. In the background were polished hardwood panels and carved pillars. The spacious room was warm. All struck a note of luxurious refinement, but Laura thought about Jimmy cut off from his supplies in the snow. Had Jimmy gone back to Lancashire, she admitted she might have married him. he had refused and for a time his obstinacy had hurt but she was not revengeful and since she had rather weighed his advantages than loved him she could let it go she liked jimmy and was moved by a gentle sentimental tenderness

Starting point is 07:03:01 are you willing to help jimmy frank she asked why of course i thought you knew i mean to help dillan declared perhaps i was jealous about jimmy but now i'm sorry for him all the same your father puzzles me he's not keen i expect he knows the risk said laura thoughtfully for stanard's hesitation was obvious since he must lead the party he feels he ought not to be rash then if jimmy got away across the mountains i expect the police would make you all account countable oh well the job is awkward although i expect we could put it over suppose we look for mr stanard stannard was in the rotunda and when laura and dillon advanced he smiled you are young and romantic but i am not when one gets old one uses caution i doubt if i am romantic but i think mrs dillon did not exaggerate laura rejoined jimmy is our friend and trusts us his note is a call sometimes deafness is not a drawback i own i'd sooner not hear the call but you mean to go it looks as if i might be forced frank's resolve is rather obvious said stannard with a resigned shrug dillon gave him a keen glance somehow he felt stannard did mean to go but wanted to be forced frank thought it strange

Starting point is 07:04:52 i feel we ought to help and now deering is not about nobody but you can lead us for a few moments stannard was quiet then he said very well but if we were not about if we're not about we can lead us very well but if we're not about it's not about nobody but if we can lead us for a few moments stanard was quiet then he said very well but if we are going we must start soon we want packers to carry food and a tent as far as possible and i'd like a good mountaineer to help on the rocks the hotel guides are gone but i expect the clerk knows where to find them grant lives at calgary i think the fellow i want's at revelstoke and he could get the train that arrives in the morning said stanard and pulled out his watch we can send a night letter and needn't use economy i'll telephone the station agent and give him the message frank knew grant of calgary was a good mountaineer but he said nothing and stanard gave laura a smile i expect you are satisfied you're as noble as i thought said laura i knew why you hesitated and it wasn't for yourself but i knew you would go end of chapter twenty five recording by roger maline chapter twenty six of north-west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold binloss chapter twenty six deering takes the trail stanard was marked by a superficial languidness strangers thought him careless and his humorous tranquillity had charm for all that when speed was important he moved fast and after he telephoned to the station he got to work he packed rucksacks for his companions

Starting point is 07:07:04 got ropes and ice-axes and arranged with the hotel cook to put up a supply of food then he sent a messenger for two or three half-breeds who carried loads for fishing parties stevens helped and admitted that stanard knew his job all he did was carefully thought about after some time dillon joined them and stanard said it's awkward but wilmer at revels stoke is engaged however he states he can send us a useful man and we are to meet him at the station he'll come by the train in the morning and we'll get on board we ought to reach the railroad hut jimmy talks about by dark and if the night is clear we'll push on if the police are about the station where we get off they may stop us it's possible stannard agreed still they didn't don't know our object, and we must persuade them we are mountaineering tourists. Boast about your climbing in the Canadian Alpine Club. Stevens knows their exploits. All the same, I imagine the police are in the mountains.

Starting point is 07:08:21 Well, your sack is packed, and when you have got your snow spectacles and the grease for your skin will stop for a smoke. In the morning, the half-breed packers arrived, and so, you have got your snow spectacles, and soon afterwards, all were ready to start. The hotel servants and three or four guests came to see them go, but when the others strapped on their loads, Stannard joined Laura on the steps. "'Well, we are going to Jimmy's help,' he said with a smile. "'Frank is very keen, but as far as possible, I'll try to see he does nothing rash. To know your marriage is fixed is some comfort.'

Starting point is 07:09:02 laura looked up quickly although stanard's smile was kind she was vaguely disturbed when frank wanted the wedding soon i thought you agreed rather easily i was satisfied to stay with you for some time oh well said stanard i'm afraid i haven't carried out my duties i'm a careless fellow and feel my daughter does not owe me much although you have grown up my own me much although you have grown up beautiful and attractive nature and your aunts are accountable then you see i'm getting old and mountaineering is my hobby sometimes one slips on an icy rock you mustn't talk like that it hurts said laura with a touch of emotion you gave me all i asked for you have always indulged me then i urged you to go and now i feel i ought not to urge to be generous in my way costs one nothing i shall not venture on the rocks i send you stanard laughed but laura studying him was moved her father was handsome and wore the stamp of high cultivation although he was not young he carried himself like an athlete she knew his strength and pluck and his gentleness to her now she thought him fine and chivalrous you follow your heart he said and kissed her then he pulled out his watch but i must not be selfish and frank is waiting dillon advanced and stanard resumed youth is romantic and sometimes exaggerates laura imagines her generosity and yours accounts for my starting on our adventure

Starting point is 07:10:58 well perhaps i'm slow and cautious but now and then one recaptures a touch of one's boyish rashness however i mustn't philosophize we must get off in a few minutes i'll join you on the trail said dillon who remarked that stannard implied that he hesitated to go stannard had said something like that before as if he wanted others to note that the plan was not his all the same it was not important and dillan took laura's hand five minutes afterwards the party started the packers carried the heavy loads the others the ice axes and stevehers carried the heavy loads the others the ice axes and stevehers Stevens and Stannard wore round their shoulders coils of alpine rope. Where the trail turned, they stopped for a moment and waved their hats, and then vanished in the trees. Some time afterwards, Laura saw a plume of black smoke roll across the pines and stole off to her room. She did not want Mrs. Dillon's comfort. Her father and her lover had started for the rocks, and if they thought,

Starting point is 07:12:14 paid for their rashness she was accountable in the morning she got a jar for a sergeant of the royal northwest police arrived at the hotel he was polite but firm and laura saw she must brace up mrs dillon had gone with her to the rotunda and to know she had her help with some comfort mr stanard started for the mountains yesterday the sergeant remarked he took a quantity of camp truck and two of your friends where did he go i don't altogether know his line laura replied when you climb high mountains you cannot make fixed plans much depends on the snow well i expect mr stannard stated where he meant to start why of course said mrs dillon he'd get off at the green river depot The sergeant remarked her frankness, but thought she saw some frankness was indicated, because for him to find out where the party had got off was not hard. Do you know Mr. Stannard's object? Our clubmen go for the rocks in summer.

Starting point is 07:13:33 His starting now was strange. Laura lifted her head, and her look was proud. She thought she could play up, and the fellow must not imagine. imagined Stannard had gone to Jimmy's help. My father is not a Canadian clubman. He's a famous alpine mountaineer and can go where others cannot. Our boys are pretty smart, said the sergeant, smiling. But are all Mr. Stannard's party expert mountaineers?

Starting point is 07:14:06 Mr. Stevens, for example, and Mr. Frank Dillon? My son, said Mrs. Dillon, who? who saw the other had talked to the hotel clerk. Frank knows something about the rocks and belongs to a club that explores the Olympian range. We're Americans. The sergeant bowed politely, but she resumed. Mr. Stannard's English. All the lot are tourists, and I sure can't see what the Canadian police have to do with their going off to climb your rocks. You're not going to draw strangers to the country if you bother them like that. Sometimes the police's duty is awkward, said the sergeant in an apologetic voice.

Starting point is 07:14:55 The police have not much grounds to inquire about my father's excursion, Laura remarked haughtily. When he killed the big horn, he did not know he poached on a game reserve, but he paid the fine, and it is done with. the sergeant saw her eyes sparkled and she was not playing a part she did not know all he knew and he must not enlighten her not long since mr stannard went shooting with the pit-light which is not allowed and the game warden was shot my father did not shoot the warden he stayed and helped the police three of his party pulled out the sergeant rejoined maybe mr layland could put us wise about the shooting and we reckoned mr stannard knows where he is then you must wait for his return if you found his track i don't suppose you could follow him on the rocks in the meantime you resolved not to help us hit his track i don't know his track Laura replied. The sergeant went off. He had talked to the hotel clerk, and although he had not found out much from Laura, he had found out something. The girl was persuaded Stannard had gone off to help Leyland, and the sergeant thought his plan really was to help the young fellow get away. In fact, the sergeant thought he saw Stannard's object for doing so. however, was disturbed. She was anxious for Jimmy and knew the risks Stannard ran in the mountains,

Starting point is 07:16:44 but she imagined she had baffled the sergeant, and she resigned herself to wait for news. When the next train for the coast rolled across the pass, Deering was on board a first-class car. He was dressed like a city sportsman, but his clothes were thick, and his shooting jacket was lined with sheepskin, for Deering knew the wilds. When he went to Vancouver, his movements interested the police, but at Calgary they left him alone, and nothing indicated that they now bothered where he went. Deering thought it strange, unless they knew something he did not. In the meantime, he was occupied by another subject. Although he meant to see Jimmy out, he had frankly no use for hiding much longer at the ranch.

Starting point is 07:17:38 Jimmy must be smuggled across the boundary to the United States and deering way to plan. When he got down at the station, he meant to push on for Jardines, but Kel's Hope was some distance off, and he resolved to stop at the hotel. He had been for some time at Calgary, and Stanmer, and Stan's, would perhaps know if jimmy was all right the clerk sent for laura and by and by she came down she gave deering a cold glance but he had long known her antagonism you cannot see my father he and frank are in the mountains she said deering knitted his brows when winter had begun one did not start for the rocks for nothing it looks as if the police have found out jimmy was at his ranch then jimmy was at the ranch we didn't know he did not come to see us i expect you stopped him you don't trust me miss laura still you ought to see jimmy dared not come to the hotel i did not think you a proper friend for jimmy and frank deering smiled he knew he was a better friend of jimmy than stannard but he said oh well perhaps it's not important anyhow jimmy trusts me and i mustn't let him down

Starting point is 07:19:12 you imply he's not at the ranch laura told him about jimmy's note and he inquired about stanard's plans when she had satisfied his curiosity his look was thought thoughtful. "'Stannard will send back the Packers at the bottom of the rocks,' he remarked. "'Has he got a guide?' He could not engage the guide he wanted. Another man about whom I don't think he knew much was sent. "'Your father needs a useful man.' Jimmy's steady on an awkward pitch, but sometimes he's rash.

Starting point is 07:19:52 The others are raw, boys. it looks as if I've got to hit the trail. Frank is not a boy, and my father is a famous climber, Laura rejoined. If he cannot cross the mountains, do you think it's possible for you? Then you ought to have started before. The police have followed Jimmy for some time,

Starting point is 07:20:16 and I think another party set off yesterday. Deering, thought to embarrass him, gave her some satisfaction. but he smiled. I know you're not my friend, Miss Laura, but I must try to be resigned. All the same, unless you put me wise, it may be awkward for Jimmy.

Starting point is 07:20:38 What about the last lot of police? She told him, and he bowed. Thank you, I'll get off. But the sergeant is in front of you, and there is not a train. The police. are pretty smart but i've known them bluffed deering remarked then the station agent and another fellow talked about a construction train's going up the line i've traveled on board a calaboose before laura hesitated and then gave him her hand after all i think you want to help and if you agree to leave frank alone i rather think you don't know your power deering

Starting point is 07:21:24 rejoined with a twinkle. Frank is well guarded from all my wiles. In fact, I'm willing to give you best. Oh, well, said Laura, perhaps I was not just. He went off, and Laura mused. She had not liked, Deering.

Starting point is 07:21:46 He was a gambler and exploited the extravagance of rich young men. Yet Frank trusted the fellow, and she began to be a man. a doubt of her antagonism were altogether warranted. For one thing, Deering was staunch, and his pluck was rather fine. Her father had started with a well-equipped party. Deering went alone, and when he got to Green Lake must baffle the police.

Starting point is 07:22:14 Then she liked his humorous politeness. He knew she doubted him, but he was not revengeful. On the whole, she thought when she gave him her hand, she took the proper line. End of Chapter 26. Recording by Roger Maline. Chapter 27 of Northwest This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Roger Maline.

Starting point is 07:22:51 Northwest by Harold Binloss. Chapter 27. Deering's Progress. soon after deering started from the hotel he met jardine deering knew the shrewd canadian scots and thought the rancher a man to trust moreover he had not yet got all the light he wanted jardine was on foot and deering said hello it's a long hike to kell's hope where's your horse margaret's got the cayuse at green lake do you not can i didn't know said deering but you're coming from the station when do they expect the construction train she stopped down the track for the boys to fix some rails the operator was grumbling because she'd not got through till dark and he'd got to block the line for the camloops freight oh well said deering since i want to get on board the calaboose perhaps her stopping in the dark is not a drawback. But what about Miss Margaret's going to Green Lake?

Starting point is 07:24:07 Jardine looked at him rather hard. I allow your Mr. Leland's friend? Sure thing, said Deering. Jimmy reckons you his friend. Well, I want to know how he got away. Jardine told him, and Deering pondered. He had undertaken an awkward job. and since he saw some obstacles he resolved to give the rancher his confidence among the trees the frost was not keen and the sun was on the road deering indicated a spruce log and pulled out some cigars

Starting point is 07:24:47 suppose we take a smoke and talk he said and when jardine lighted a cigar resumed won't miss margaret shooting the fellow's horse make trouble for her i reckon not said jardine who had heard the trooper's statement and when he got a note from margaret remarked that the narratives did not agree i'm thinking the boys didn't mean to pit it on margaret and the troopers not altogether proud it's possible but why didn't you put jimmy wise i'd cut my foot chopping a day or two before deering rather doubted if jardine's cutting his foot accounted for all but he said let's talk straight i suppose miss margaret is going to marry layland maybe but i denna can jimmy wanted to marry her very well said deering i'll tell you all i know he narrated his interview with laura and stanard's going to jimmy's help jardine's look got thoughtful and sometimes he frowned when deering stopped he said you dunna trust stanard you'd sooner jimmy hadn't gone across the rocks with him i would sooner he had not deering agreed jimmy trust stanard the others are tenderfoot's and i understand they're of not a first-class guide.

Starting point is 07:26:27 The man they've got is not a mountain guide of a... Galane's a packer on the government surveys. But I didn't see much light yet. Jimmy owes Standard a good sum. Layland insured his life in Stannard's favor, and Stannard wants money. Well, I'm going up the line with the construction gang to follow the party's trail.

Starting point is 07:26:52 Jardine got up, and his look was very grim. Just that, I'll join you. Not at all, said Dearing. Your parts to go to Green River Depot afterwards and watch out. I expect you're a good bushman, but this is a job for a first-class mountaineer. Besides, you cut your foot. Jardine gave him a keen glance,

Starting point is 07:27:22 but Deering resumed. You see, I must hit up the pace and can't boost you along. Can I hire a young man, a prospector if possible, at Green River? The other's arguments did not move him, and by and by, Jardine resigned himself to stay behind. I'm thinking my nephew, Peter, is the man you want, whilst he goes to the depot for his groceries and mail. the storekeeper will ken if he's about you can tell peter i sent you to him after a few minutes deering went off but he went slowly and did not keep the road to the station joining the line two or three miles down the valley he found a track grater's tool hut and went in and smoked the hut was cold but deering's fur coat was thick and good when dusk began

Starting point is 07:28:22 to fall, he walked along the track and stopped, three or four hundred yards from the station. By and by, a light twinkled like a star in the gloom of the woods. A steady throb rolled up the valley, and presently, Deering distinguished a locomotive's measured snorts and the rumble of wheels. The star was now a dazzling moon, and its reflections picked out far in advance, glittering rails, and frost-spangled trees. When the locomotive was level with Deering, he began to run up the line, and soon after the train stopped,

Starting point is 07:29:02 and he got behind the last car. He knew the company's rules, but he knew something about train gangs, and he had ready a few dollar bills. Although the station agent did not see him get on board, when the train rolled up the track, he occupied a box in front of the cab. Calibus stove. The men gave him supper, and when he had drained a can of strong coffee,

Starting point is 07:29:29 he pulled out some cards and showed how an expert puzzled his antagonists. Cold drafts swept the rocking calaboose, the stove roared, and once smelt locomotive smoke. Labored snorts echoed in the rocks, couplings rang, and when the train sped across a bridge, the roll of wheels drowned Deering's voice. Deering smiled and waited for the noise to stop. He had undertaken a daunting job and was bothered about Jimmy, but in the meantime he owed something to his hosts and he played up. Although Deering had some drawbacks, his rule was to play up.

Starting point is 07:30:16 A number of the men had long-studied cards and could bluff on a poor hand, hand three or four won regularly some part of their companion's wages but they knew a master's touch and for a time deering held the group then he lighted his pipe and began to talk about something else he found out that the train ran between a gravel pit and green river the men were filling up a trestle and cutting out an awkward curve have they got a hotel at the settlement deering inquired they've no use for a hotel at green river sometimes a rancher comes in for his mail and a survey party jumps off i guess that's all you can stop at the post office the man who keeps it runs a small store nothing much doing yet deering remarked do the mounted policeman come to the settlement A big shovelman laughed. They're getting busy around Green River. Two lots came in, not long since,

Starting point is 07:31:27 and a trooper's there now, but he won't bother you. Looks as if he was sent to watch out for somebody who wants to get on the train. Then you reckon they're after somebody in the rocks, said Deering carelessly. That's so, another agreed. I wouldn't bet much.

Starting point is 07:31:48 on the fellow's chance. When we ran up with the last load, a police outfit was starting for the range, three or four troopers and a pack horse. They'd loaded up some truck. "'Oh, well,' said Deering, "'the Royal Northwest are smart boys, but I've known them beat. However, I've been for some time on the road and think I'll go to bed. Can somebody give me a bunk?' they gave him a bunk and for an hour or two he slept but he knew it might be long before he slept warm again when he awoke the locomotive bell was tolling and the roll of wheels was getting slack the calaboose was very cold and deering jumping from his bunk went to the open door in front a fire burned by a water tank and the beam from the head-lamp flickered across a small small one of the fire burned by a water tank and the beam from the head-lamp flickered across a small clearing and touched a wooden house. Farther off a big blast lamp threw up a pillar of flame. The light tossed and for a few moments all was shadowy. Then the

Starting point is 07:33:02 strong illumination leaped up again and Deering saw a man who carried a short rifle walk along the line. He knew the Royal Northwest uniform. Deering picked up his fur coat and hesitated. in the mountains one must wear proper clothes and the coat was good but unless he could cheat the trooper he might not reach the mountains he touched the man who had given him the bunk i'll trade my coat and a cap for yours the fellow's skin coat and cap were old and he looked at deering with surprise why do you want a trade a track grader doesn't buy revellon furs deering indicated the trooper the policeman might calculate something like that but i expect he knows you belong to the gang you are going to dump some rails and for half an hour i want a job now i get you said the other he pulled off his shabby coat and when the train stopped and deering jumped down nothing distinguished him from the construction gang climbing on to a flat car he joined the men who threw down the rails and presently saw the trooper stop the fellow who wore his coat and cap

Starting point is 07:34:28 he did not know how the railroad man accounted for his wearing good furs but he was obviously a track grader and after a few moments the trooper let him go then the train rolled up the line and deering stayed with the men who moved the rails by and by the trooper walked past the gang glanced at the men carelessly and turning back vanished in the gloom deering thought him satisfied nobody but the track graders was about and soon afterwards he started for the house so far he had trusted his luck but he wanted help and must get food moreover he must not excite the storekeeper's curiosity a clump of pines cut the illumination up the track sometimes when the blast lamp's flame leaped up bright reflections touched the house but for the most part the ground in front was dark when deering was near the door a man came out and stopped for a few moments deering thought him a rancher and when he went down the steps met him at the bottom can i buy some flour and groceries he asked you might said the other and looked at deering as if he thought the inquiry strange why do you want groceries where are you going deering saw something must be risked and when a risk must be run he did not hesitate if i can find the trail i'm going up the valley peter jardine has a ranch at the lake I think?

Starting point is 07:36:16 That's so, said the other. I'm Peter Jardine. Deering laughed. His luck had not turned, and when the reflections from the blast lamp touched the rancher's face, he thought he had got the proper man. Then, as soon as you can get me some groceries,

Starting point is 07:36:37 I'll start for the rocks. Your uncle sent me along, and stated you would help. You see, I'm jrower. Jimmy Layland's partner and Miss Margaret's friend. Ah, said Peter, You're deering? Well, the police are after Jimmy.

Starting point is 07:36:56 For some days two troopers hunted for his tracks, and then a sergeant and another came in on the train and started off as if they knew where he was. In the meantime, a sports outfit hit the trail, but I didn't meet up with them. I made the station in the afternoon and didn't know what I ought to do. In fact, when you came along, I was wondering if I'd pull out for the ranch. You're coming with me.

Starting point is 07:37:27 I don't want to boast, but I'm a mountain clubman, and on the rocks, I reckon I can beat the police. But Jimmy's friends got off in front of the troopers. There's the trouble. They're not all his friends. Deering rejoined. On the whole, I'd sooner the police got him, then he crossed the range with the other lot. But we'll talk about this again. When can you start?

Starting point is 07:37:57 I can start as soon as my horse is loaded up, but we have got to bluff the policeman. He mustn't see us take the mountain trail. Well, I've pork and flour and groceries. Have you got all you want? i want a hudson's bay blanket and a pack-rope said deering and gave peter a roll of bills then you had better buy a frying-pan and grub-ho very well go up the trail across the clearing and wait for me by the creek said peter and returned to the store after a time he rejoined deering and tied his loaded horse to a branch the storekeeper knows i hit the green lake trail and we don't want the cayuse when we have sorted out the truck we need he'll make the ranch all right

Starting point is 07:38:54 light the lantern and we'll fix our packs deering lighted the lantern and after a few minutes strapped a bag of food in his back he pushed his folded blanket through the straps gave peter the rope and picked up the grub a Canadian digging tool very like a mountaineer's ice axe. Then they put out the light, let the horse go, and went back quietly to the railroad. Nobody was about, and stealing across the line, they plunged into the gloom. My luck's good, said Dearing. When I think about all we're up against,

Starting point is 07:39:37 I sure want it good. End of Chapter 27. recording by Roger Maline Chapter 28 of Northwest This Libravox recording is in the public domain Recording by Roger Maline North West by Harold Bindloss Chapter 28

Starting point is 07:40:05 A Dissolving Picture After a time Deering stopped and looked about The stones on the riverbank were large and sharp The night was dark and his load embarrassed him. In the distance he saw a small red fire, a dim light marked the post office,

Starting point is 07:40:27 and the reflections from the blast lamp quivered behind the trees. Deering got his breath and braced up. Born in the bush he had known poverty and stern physical toil. He was a good mountaineer, but he admitted that his two hundred pounds was something of a load to carry across icy rocks. Then he had, for the most part, lived extravagantly at fashionable hotels, and his big muscles were soft.

Starting point is 07:40:57 But this was not all. The distant lights stood for human society and civilization. Deering was very human and fought against an atavistic shrinking from the dark and loneliness. Moreover, he knew the wilds. for all that he meant to conquer his shrinking he admitted that he was perhaps a romantic sentimentalist and his adventure did not harmonize with his occupation sometimes however one was not logical and not long since he would have plunged down the rocks but for jimmy's pluck besides he saw stannard had used him to entangle the lad deering had his rude code but stannard had none he was cold and calculating and deering thought he meant to carry out the plan he tried before when he sent jimmy over the neck although deering did not like the job he meant to baffle him in the meantime all was quiet but for the turmoil of the river a few yards off dark pines occupied the narrow level belt by the track

Starting point is 07:42:09 and on the other side vague blurred rocks went up thin mist drifted about and the line running down hill melted into the gloom the trooper was at the station and deering imagined nobody was about the stones are sharp and slippery he said we'll take the track and push on for the section hut they got on the line but did not progress fast the gravel ballast was large and hurt their feet the ties were not evenly spaced sometimes deering stepped on the timber and sometimes on the loose stones then numerous ravines pierced the rocks and although the construction gangs had begun to fill up the chasms for the most part wooden trestle spanned the gaps to cross an open-work trestle in the dark is awkward and when deering balanced on a narrow tie and looked for the next, he sweated and breathed hard. On one trestle, he stopped. Sixty feet below him, he saw the foam of an angry torrent. The next tie was some distance off, and the wood sparkled with frost. In a sense, his adventure was ridiculous. When he used the railroad, he went on board a first-class car and checked his baggage.

Starting point is 07:43:38 now he stumbled over the ballast and carried on his back all he could not go without in the meantime however he must cross the trestle and he trusted his luck and jumped he got a cross and after three or four hours they reached the section shack graham was in bed but he got up and told them all they wanted to know three policemen with an indian and a pack-horse had come down the track and graham imagined they had found the entrance to jimmy's valley he reckoned they would send back the indian and the horse when they took the rocks but the fellow had not yet returned peter was puzzled about the indian they didn't hire him up at the station he remarked looks as if they'd fixed it for him to meet them it looks as if they'd made their plans and their plans were pretty good said deering however since they've got a loaded horse they can't shove on fast how long was the other outfit in front graham told him and for a few moments deering pondered then he said it's awkward stanard knows where jimmy is and he'll hit up the pace i reckon the police don't know and must look for his tracks if we hustle we'll run up against the gang the difficulty was obvious and peter frowned we might get by their camp in the dark we'd see the fire i doubt deering rejoined if the boys make a fire they'll make it where the light is hid they don't want to put jimmy wise well said peter what is your plan deering laughed a noisy laugh for now he had started

Starting point is 07:45:38 his hesitation vanished. We'll trust our luck and shove ahead. In the morning we'll get up the rocks and look about. I've brought my glasses. Let's get going. Graham gave them directions, and when they climbed a steep hill, they found the valley. The ground was broken and in places covered by tangled brush.

Starting point is 07:46:03 But they made progress, and a daybreak labored across the sea. to the top of a spur. Deering sat on his pack and used his prismatic glasses. Gray cloud floated about the mountain slopes, but the high peaks were sharp and began to shine in the rising sun. Some were rose pink and some were yellow. The hollows between their broken tops were gray and blue. A map of the mountains occupied a wall of the hotel rotunda and deering using his glasses imagined it roughly accurate i expect the blue gap is the head of the valley he remarked and when peter nodded resumed we'll allow stander joined jimmy ahead of the police and took him along we have got to hit their line and this is not as hard as it looks they can't steer for the shoulder of the big peak the rocks won't go and i see an ugly icefall on the glacier i reckon i'd head back obliquely for the call up the long arret

Starting point is 07:47:16 i don't use no habitant french peter observed oh well our club men have begun to use the tourists talk said deering and gave peter the glasses anyway you see the ridge that runs up to the neck peter studied the ridge he had hunted mountain sheep and imagined sun and frost had worn the rocks to something like a knife edge in places sharp pinnacles broke the top and he thought it significant that for the most part the snow did not lie the shadow behind the top no doubt marked a great precipitous gulf but the farther end of the ridge touched a white hollow between two peaks if one could get across one might find a glacier going down the other side i reckon your friends couldn't make it between sun up and dark he said anyhow the police would see them on the rocks stanard might hit a line a few yards below the top but i imagine the clouds will soon roll up give me the glasses i want to locate a gully that goes for some distance up the ridge peter saw his object the long ridge ran back obliquely from farther up the valley and to get up by the line deering marked would cut out the corner moreover peter imagined the police had reached jimmy's hut, and if they found the tracks of Stanard's party, they would climb the ridge from the other end. In consequence, Deering's going up the gully would put him in front.

Starting point is 07:49:02 I guess we'll start. When we noon we'll be nearer, and if the mist's not thick, you can look for the line you want. They went down the hill, and by and by the cloud rolled up the slope, and rocks and peaks were lost in gloom. Then Deering began to get tired, for although there was no snow at the bottom of the valley, the ground was rough. After an hour or two he pushed into the timber and stopped. Perhaps it's risky, but I've got to eat and take a rest, he said.

Starting point is 07:49:41 The trees are pretty thick, and if the smoke goes up, the hill's a good background, they cooked some food and then sat by the fire not far off the belt of trees was broken and presently deering saw the cloud had got thin and begun to roll back up the mountains vague rocks pierced the vapor and grew distinct the mist trailed away from battered trees and slanted fields of snow for a time it clung about the high dark precipices and then one saw the snow-packed gullies seemed the crags like marble veins a faint light pierced the vapor and the broken top of the ridge began to cut the background deering pulled out his glasses and went to the opening in the wood the light was getting stronger but he did not think the cloud would altogether melt and he must search the rocks while search was possible by and by a beam touched the ridge and the snow glimmered like pale gold against blue shadow above the shadow were broken peaks but the belt of dark blue indicated a gap and deering noting the strong color thought the gap profound the landscape lighted by the unsteady beam was strangely beautiful

Starting point is 07:51:11 the pale illumination did not travel far and the rocks outside its reach owed something of their mysterious grandeur to the contrast deering however was not romantic and thought he saw a line across a steep white slope and up a buttress to the ridge if he could get up he would cut stanard's track and imagined he would not be much behind the party he concentrated on the ridge the slope along the top was not even but went up rather like a terraced walk rocky buttresses supported the terraces and for the most part the stones were free from snow deering knew this indicated a very steep pitch one buttress was marked by a broad white band and when he rubbed the glasses he thought he saw on the snow a small object he had not remarked before the object moved and calling peter he gave him the glasses what's that a cinnamon the bears have come down said peter the big horn have gone for the low benches i guess the thing's a man deering agreed and waited perhaps it was strange but of all the animals civilized man alone was willing to front the cold on the daunton heights. The ridge, outlined against a vague background of majestic peaks, looked as remote as another world. To imagine flesh and blood could reach it was hard, but Deering meant to try,

Starting point is 07:52:57 and knew standards calculating steadiness. If one went carefully studying the obstacles and using the axe and rope, it's a man all right, I see another, said Jardy. and gave Deering the glasses. Dearing saw three men. They advanced very slowly, and he pictured their cutting steps before they moved. One crossed the snow belt and vanished. When he was anchored in the rocks,

Starting point is 07:53:29 he would steady his companions. Deering knew it was Stannard, for Stannard would not trust a poor guide at a spot like that. The others, perhaps, were Dillon. and Stevens. Then he saw two more, Galane, the Packer, and Jimmy. Anyhow, Stannard had started with three companions, and now he had four. Deering knew all he wanted to know. He watched the party, strung out at even distances, move across the white band, and then the figures melted. They had not reached the other side, but when he rubbed,

Starting point is 07:54:11 his glasses, they were gone. The peaks in the background vanished, the ridge got indistinct, and the black pines on the lower snowfields faded, as if a curtain were drawn across the picture. Deering shut his glasses and went for his pack. The mist was not thick, and he knew his line to the buttress. Put out the fire and let's get off, he said. You can't cross the ridge in the dark, and the cold's going to be fierce, Peter remarked. That is so. I doubt if Stannard can make the neck, but if he gets there, he must wait for morning. Maybe we'll find a hole in the rocks.

Starting point is 07:54:59 Peter said nothing. He had engaged to go where the other went, and must try to make good, although the road was daunting. in thick timber a bushman confront biting cold but on the high icy rocks one could not make camp and light a fire if their luck were very good they might find a hole behind a stone in which they must wait for daybreak and try not to freeze he put out the fire and when they went through the wood pondered gloomily to reach the neck would cost them much but to get there was not all they must get down on the other side and for the most part the mountain tops were tremendous precipices peter rather thought the neck opened on a glacier but sometimes a glacier is broken by awkward ice falls all the same peter set his mouth and pushed ahead in the valley he could hit up the pace for deering but he imagined to follow the big fellow on the rocks was another thing when a bushman took the rocks he went to shoot bighorn and bear the mountain clubmen studied climbing as one studies the ball game end of chapter twenty eight recording by roger maline chapter twenty nine of north west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain

Starting point is 07:56:39 Recording by Roger Maline North West by Harold Bindloss Chapter 29 Held Up A few pale stars were in the sky and the moon was over a vague grey peak Deering shivered beat his numbed hands and looked about The frost was keen and he had not thought he could sleep

Starting point is 07:57:06 But when he looked about before the stars were bright and the moon was not above the peak. In front, the buttress cut the sky, and although the rocks were indistinct, he saw the belt of snow Stannard had crossed. Since Stannard had got his party up the buttress, Deering imagined he could get up, but the rocks were awkward.

Starting point is 07:57:30 Deering wore the railroad man's skin coat and a thick Hudson's Bay blanket. For climbing, their weight was an embarrassment. but he would sooner carry the load than freeze although he lay with his shoulders against jardine he was numb and the outside of the blanket sparkled with frost a tilted slab partly covered them but the gravel in the hole was frozen and deering's hip joint hurt the worst trouble was when he was very cold his brain got dull and he hated to use effort yet effort was needed for day had begun to break and he must cross the neck by dark to stop another night on the high rocks was unthinkable and he knew his luck might turn if thick snow fell or a strong wind blew he and peter would stay on the rocks for good moreover jimmy was in front and deering thought jimmy ran a daunting risk he ought to get up and start but he shrank from the frost and for a minute or two he weighed his grounds for doubting stanard jimmy owed stanard a large sum and had insured his life

Starting point is 07:58:53 if he went over a precipice the company would pay stanard deering admitted the argument looked ridiculous stanard was highly cultivated rather extravagant than greedy and not at all the man to plan a revolting crime yet he had not engaged a proper guide and his companions were trustful young fellows whom he could mislead moreover he had gone down into a snow-swept gullower moreover he had gone down into a snow-swept gully to help layland and knew this would weigh stanard had then expected jimmy to marry laura deering pushed peter who woke up and grumbled deering opened his pack awkwardly and pulled out a bannock and some canned meat day is breaking when you have had your breakfast we must start get a hot drink i've not much use for breakfast peter replied when do you reckon we'll get down to the timber when i camp i like a fire depends on our luck said deering dryly i doubt if you'll make a fire to-night if i wasn't a fool i'd go right back standards most a day's hike ahead then if the police have hit his trail they're not far by behind us we cut out some ground and on the rocks two men go faster than five stannard must find a line for his gang and us then i expect he'll be held up for a time at the neck i don't know where the police are peter ate the bannock and put on his pack well let's get going the light was not yet good their muscles were

Starting point is 08:00:49 stiff physical fatigue reached on their nervous strength and at the belt of snow they stopped the belt was perhaps ten yards across and occupied a channel in the rocks the surface was smooth and hard and deering imagined if one slipped one would not stop until one reached the valley a row of small holes however indicated that stanard's party had gone across and up the dark forbidding buttress on the other side deering frankly shrank from the labor and risk of crossing but he dared not turn back where the boys have gone we mustn't stop he said tie on the rope and give me the grub hoe peter gave him the hoe the blade was curved like a carpenter's ad's and at its head was a short pick the tool although he was a rather heavy, was a good ice axe. In soft snow one can kick holes, but the snow was hard, and Deering doubted if the notches standard had cut would carry him. He used the pick, balancing in a hole while he chipped out the next, and when they got across, he sent Peter in front. Their hands were numb, and where the snow had melted, veins of ice filled the cracks in the

Starting point is 08:02:19 rocks. The hold was bad, and Peter stopped at the bottom of a slab Daring had remarked when he sent him in front. I sure don't know how we're going to get up. Stannard got up, said Dearing, and looked about. Thirty feet below him, the belt of snow pierced the rocks. It looked nearly perpendicular, and the snowfield at its foot was horribly steep. in the shadow the surface was gray and dark patches marked where rocks pushed through a very long way down across a sharp but broken line the color was blue and deering thought the line the top of a precipice he turned and looked up the slab was upright and about ten feet high he could not see a crack or knob but he noted two or three fresh scratches lean against the rock and spread your arms he said and when peter did so climbed up his back standing on the other shoulders he could reach the top of the slab the top was nearly flat and when peter did so climbed up his back standing on the other shoulders he could reach the top of the slab the top was nearly flat and went back for some distance but the snow was hard deering dared not trust his numbed hands and he tried the pick the blade got hold but he could not see farther than the handle

Starting point is 08:03:52 if he had caught a small lump of ice that would not support him the rope would pull jardine off the rock all the same something must be risked brace up good he said and trusted the pick the tool held and he got his chest on the top but now the blade was near his body his reach was short and when he used his hand his stiff fingers slipped across the snow it was obvious he must move the pick but the tool was his main support and the effort to push it forward might send him down still if he could get three or four inches higher he might perhaps balance on the edge his boots got no grip on the smooth slab but when he used his knee his clothes stuck to the stone when his waist was nearly level with the top he pulled out the pick and moved it forward for a moment or two the blade came back and he began to go down then it held and after a stern effort he was up the rock above the ledge was broken and throwing it the rope across a knob, he helped Peter. Half an hour afterwards, they reached the ridge behind the buttress. Deering's hands were bleeding, and he was not cold. His skin was wet, and he breathed by labored gasps. In front, the ridge went up unevenly to the neck.

Starting point is 08:05:34 The narrow, broken top, for the most part, was supported by precipitous rocks. one must use caution and could not go fast but after a time a snow cornice began on one side the top leveled by the wind was smooth and so far as it rested on the snow was firm as a rule a snow cornice is widest above and deering knew if he crossed the line where it overhang its bates he might break through but the marks in front in front indicated where stannard had gone stanard knew much about snow cornices and deering wondered whether he could not have found some grounds for throwing off the rope and letting jimmy venture on the dangerous overhang he had obviously not done so moreover he had brought his companions up the buttress if deering himself had meant to let somebody fall he thought he would have tried at the awkward slab in fact he admitted that to picture stanard's weighing a plan like that was theatrically extravagant yet he knew stanard who was not the man people thought he was very clever and if he plotted to get rid of jimmy he would not do so soon after he had taken him into the mountains he would wait until he had nearly carried out his job and was bringing his party down from the rocks anyhow deering's business was to overtake the party to wonder whether he exaggerated jimmy's danger would not help for a time he made good progress along the cornice and in the afternoon he reached the neck

Starting point is 08:07:27 at the end of the ridge stanard's tracks forked one row of footmarks crossed a steep snowbank running up a peak the other went along the hollow neck all the outfit went up the neck and then two or three turned back peter remarked after examining the trampled snow deering nodded stannard sent them back and pushed ahead with galane to look for a line down the other side when we get across we'll see what he was up against at the end of the neck they stopped and deering frowned he had been longer than he thought and a pale illumination behind a peak indicated that the sun was low in the valley below he saw a frozen lake and a dark winding band he knew was timber on a river bank he had food and if he could reach the trees he needed not bother about the frost a canadian grubho made for cutting roots is a useful tool and he could build a wall of bark and branches light of fire and brew hot tea the trouble was to get down to the friendly pines in front of him a snow-field sloped to a spot at which two uneven converging rows of dark rocks ought to have met. The rocks were the tops of precipices, but the point of their intersection was cut out, and a glacier began at the gap. Deering could see for a short distance

Starting point is 08:09:08 down the glacier until it plunged across the top of a steeper pitch, and when he used his glasses he noted its surface was crumpled, as if it broke in angry waves. In fact, it was rather like a rapid, suddenly frozen at the top of a fall deering knew it was an ice fall and the waves were giant blocks the rocks at the side were very steep and veined by snow nothing's doing here he remarked i don't see stannard but he won't find a useful line let's look for the boys they turned and following the tracks along the neck after some time went round a buttress that broke the front of the range on the other side three people occupied a little hollow in the rock one got up awkwardly it's peter he shouted why deering you grand old sport deering gave jimmy his hand and noted that his look was strained and his face was pinched miss laura put me on your track and mr jenny's Jardine wanted to come along, he said, and studied the others who did not get up. They've had enough, said Jimmy.

Starting point is 08:10:33 We were two nights on the rocks, and the cold was keen. Stanard's gone to see if we can get down the glacier, but I don't think he's hopeful. Anyhow, let's go back into our hole. When you wriggle down under a blanket, it's a little warmer than outside. deering joined the others a jammed stone partly covered the hole and the boy's packs fur coats and blankets kept them from freezing but he saw their pluck was nearly gone what about the police he asked when he had lighted his pipe we don't know where they are jimmy replied stanard brought us up the ridge but from my shack you see another way up at the head of the valley i went over to study the ground and thought the climb harder than it looks all the same i imagine the police have tried it of course when they got to the snow they wouldn't find our tracks but they know we're in the mountains then they're south of us jimmy nodded on this side of the range they'd reckon on our pushing south and expect to cut us off

Starting point is 08:11:53 now you see why stanard's keen about getting down the glacier we can't get down the icefall won't go said stephens moodily i doubt if i could get down a ladder my notion is stannard knows his plans a forlorn hope and galane is badly rattled the fellow's a common packer stanard ought not to have hired him dillon agreed still we couldn't wait and when the revelstoke man sent galane we were forced to start anyhow i'd trust stannard where i wouldn't trust a guide he hasn't hit a useful line yet stephens rejoined we're held up and i doubt if we can stand for another night in the frost i'm willing to go back and risk the police said jimmy still we couldn't start until davy break and would be forced to camp again on the ridge. The valley's not far off, if we can make it. We must wait for Stannard's report, said Deering, soothingly. When I was at the hotel, the clerk gave me a letter for you. Jimmy beat his numbed hands and opened the envelope. Then he laughed, a dreary laugh. In a way, the thing's a joke.

Starting point is 08:13:21 Laylands has something to do with a Japanese cotton mill, and Sir Jim writes from Tokyo. He's going to England by Vancouver and sails on board the first CPR boat. He means to stop for a few days and look me up. Jimmy studied the postmark and resumed, I expect he's at Vancouver now. Your luck is certainly bad, Deering remarked in a sense. sympathetic voice. Jim's the head of the house. Dick owns him boss, Jimmy went on.

Starting point is 08:14:00 His letters kind, and if he arrived before, when I was making good, I might have got his support. I wanted to persuade him I was not a careless fool, but when he gets to know my recent exploits, Deering imagined Jimmy had wanted his uncle to agree about his marrying Margaret. Since Sir James was a sober business man, the lad had not much grounds to hope he would approve his nephew's romantic adventures. After all, I rather think we'll cheat the police, he said. They don't know where we are, and when we make the valley, we'll hit up the pace. I've friends who'll help you across the frontier, and you can sail for England from New York. The drawback is we can't make the valley.

Starting point is 08:14:52 Standard can't lead us down, Stevens interrupted gloomily. Deering looked up. We'll know soon. I hear steps. Stannard came round the corner, saw Deering, and stopped rather quickly. Hello, we did not expect you. Were you at the hotel? Have you got some news? i was at the hotel deering replied the morning before i got there a police sergeant arrived i understand he was curious about your excursion stanard's glance was keen and deering thought him disturbed you imply the fellow knew i'd gone to join jimmy miss laura imagined something like that but what about the glacier

Starting point is 08:15:47 stanard hesitated and knitted his brows i think we'll risk it in the morning you see if we pushed along the range we might meet the police besides we must get down to the timber soon you sure can't get down remarked galane the packer who had followed stanard we'll try said stanard and turning to the others forced a smile well i want some food and frank might light the spirit lamp you must brace up for another night on the mountain but we're lucky because we have got a corner where we shan't freeze end of chapter twenty nine recording by roger maline chapter thirty of north west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north-west by harold binloss chapter thirty the gully day broke drearily the sky was dark and snow clouds rolled about the peaks in the hollow behind the rock stanard's party crowded around the spirit lamp one could get no warmth but in the snowy wilds the small blue flame and steaming kettle called moreover each would soon receive a measured draught of strong hot tea all were numb and their faces were pinched stephens was frankly despondent and when dillon broke his hard bannock his stiff hands shook galane was apathetic but when stannard measured out the tea he joked and deering laughed to laugh cost the big man something but he knew he might

Starting point is 08:17:54 stern effort was needed and human effort does not altogether depend on muscular strength the packer's mood was daunting and it was obvious they would not get much help from him jimmy was quiet he must concentrate on holding out and could not force a laugh he admitted he had not pluck like stanard's stanard was indomitable and now his gay carelessness was was very fine although he was the oldest of the party and his face was haggard he joked and his jokes were good when the meal was over he got up and beat his hands we must get down before dark and i think i know a line he said if our luck is good we'll camp in the trees by a splendid fire to start was hard but they got off and the snow was firm the steep slope below the neck was smooth and for a time they made progress jimmy remarked the thickening snow cloud and new stannard thought it ominous for he pushed on as fast as possible so far one could use some speed the obstacles were in front the snowfield stopped at the top of a chain of precipices the rocks were broken by the deep gap through which the glaciers went but jimmy noted smaller breaks he thought were gullies filled by snow he could not see the front of the precipices but he pictured there falling for six or seven hundred feet at the bottom no doubt were steep spurs and long ridges across which one might reach the trees rolling up from the valley

Starting point is 08:19:48 the precipice was the main obstacle but jimmy did not think the rocks were perpendicular anyhow the glacier was not and if one could cross the ice falls it would carry them down the trouble was the cloud was getting thick after a time they stopped at the head of the glacier and stanard jimmy and deering climbed to a shelf that commanded the icefall mist rolled about but for some distance one saw the bright white belt curved down between the rocks then jimmy saw the fall and set his mouth the snowy ice was piled in tremendous blocks and split by yawning cracks it looked as if the cracks went to the bottom and one imagined others hidden by fresh snow stanard turned to deering who shook his head the boys can't make it i doubt if you can nothing's doing very well said stanard i marked a gully about two miles south i don't know if you'll like it but we must get down deering pulled out his watch you've got to hustle the boys can't stand for another night on the mountain When they rejoined the others, it looked as if his remarks was justified. Galane declared, if they could not cross the ice fall, they must stop and freeze.

Starting point is 08:21:29 Stevens owned he was exhausted, and doubted if he could reach the gully. Jimmy would sooner have risked the fall, since he was persuaded the other line would not carry them down. But if Stannard thought the line might go, he was willing to. to try it. They fronted the laborious climb to the snowfield, and soon after they got there, the mist blew across the slope. The party was now drawn out in a straggling row, and by and by, Deering stopped and looked about. He knew two or three were behind him, but he saw nobody. "'Where are the boys?' he shouted. Peter said he had not seen Stevens and Dylan for some time,

Starting point is 08:22:17 but they were no doubt pushing along, and the party's track was plain. I'm going back, said Dearing. Watch out for Jimmy. He plunged into the mist and presently found Stevens sitting in the snow. Dylan was with the lad, and when Dearing arrived, urged him to get up. Stevens Dully refused and said there was no use in the others bothering. He could go no farther. Deering pulled him up and shoved him along.

Starting point is 08:22:53 You're going to the gully anyhow, he shouted with a jolly laugh. When we get you there, you can sit down and slide. Dylan helped, and sometime afterwards they came up with Peter. "'Where's Jimmy?' Deering asked in a sharp voice. "'Stannard reckoned he was near the spot he'd marked. He took a rope, and Galane and Jimmy went along. They allowed I must stop to watch out for you.' "'You let Jimmy go?' "'Sure I did,' said Peter, with sullen quietness.

Starting point is 08:23:34 "'I reckon you needn't bother about Jimmy. something's bitten you. Stanard's all right. If he can't help us, we have got to freeze. Deering said nothing. Stanard's charm was strong, and cold and fatigue had dulled Peter's brain. There was no use in arguing,

Starting point is 08:23:58 and he followed the other's track. He could not see much, for the mist was thick. The ground got steeper, rocks pierced the snow. It looked as if he were near the top of the precipice, but so long as the marks in front were plain, he need not hesitate. After a few minutes, he saw Gylane. The Packer leaned against a massy block, round which he had thrown the rope. The end was over the top of the rocks. Hello, said Deering. What's your job?

Starting point is 08:24:35 i'm standing by to steady mr stanard top of the gullies blocked and he calculated to get in by a traverse across the front there's a kind of ledge but we didn't see a good anchor hold deering remarked that the fellow's grasp was slack and a single turn of the rope was round the stone if a heavy strain came on the end he thought the rope would run and galane would not have time to throw on another loop cold and fatigue had made him careless get a good hold and stiffen up said deering i'm going after stanard the rocks were not as steep as he had thought and the ledge was wide enough to carry him but a yard or two in front it turned a corner although the mist was puzzling deering thought it melted in the meantime he must reach the corner sometimes jimmy was rash and if stannard allowed him to run a risk he ought not to run nobody would know when deering got to the corner the mist rolled off the mountain top he saw a tremendous slope of rock pierced by a narrow white hollow for four or five hundred feet the gully went down and gradually melted in a fresh wave of mist. Deering noted the sharpness of the pitch and then fixed his glance on Stanard, who leaned back against the rock. Jimmy, holding on by Stanard's shoulder, was trying

Starting point is 08:26:20 to get past on the outside of the ledge. Deering stopped and his heartbeat. The others did not see him, and he dared not shout, but if Stanard moved, it was obvious Jim. Jimmy would fall. Stannard did not move, and Jimmy, crossing in front of him, stopped and looked down. The stretch is awkward, and you can't steady me, he said. Still, I think I could reach the slab and slide into the gully. Before we bring the others, perhaps I ought to try. You have a longer reach than mine, and you are younger,

Starting point is 08:27:01 Stannard replied. Deering could not see the slab, but he imagined Stannard had noted something about it that Jimmy had not. Now Jimmy fronted the other way. Stannard's hand was at his waist, and Deering thought he loosed the knot on the rope. Hold on, Jimmy, he said in a quiet voice.

Starting point is 08:27:26 Jimmy stopped. Stannard turned, and although his look was a little, cool, Deering thought his coolness forced. He leaned against the rock, but Deering saw his hands were occupied behind his back. I thought you went for Stevens, he remarked. The kid wasn't far back, Deering replied and laughed. Galane's rattled and half-frozen. I reckon he might let you go, but my two hundred pounds is a pretty good banker. Slip off the rope and I'll help Jimmy. He won't pull me off. Stannard awkwardly pulled out the

Starting point is 08:28:10 knot, and Deering, who had thought to see the rope fall, was baffled. For all that, he knew Stannard's cleverness and imagined the fellow knew he had experimented. I'm going in front of you, he resumed. Wait until I tie on, Jimmy. You can't trust the slab. When he had tied on, he braced himself against the rock. Jimmy vanished across the edge, and the rope got tight. After a few minutes, he came up. So far as I can see, we can get down by cutting steps, but I couldn't see very far, he said. Your tip about the slab was useful, deering. The top was rotten, and a lump came off. i was lucky because i put on the rope on the rocks caution pays deering remarked well let's get up and go for the others cutting steps for four or five hundred feet is a pretty long job

Starting point is 08:29:18 they went back along the ledge but deering felt slack and his big hands shook he had borne some strain and rather thought that had he arrived a few moments later jimmy and perhaps gillane would have gone down the rocks yet he did not know in fact he admitted that he might not altogether know end of chapter thirty recording by roger maline chapter thirty one of north-west this librovoc's recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold bindloss chapter thirty one stanard's line a wave of mist rolled across the rocks but the vapor was faintly luminous as if a light shone through deering stanard jardyne and jimmy waited on the rock but the vapor was faintly luminous as if a light shone through deering stannardine and jimmy waited on the steep bank above the ledge gilane had gone back for the others when he arrived the party would start deering knew the venture was rash and the labor heavy they would use two ropes and the leader must kick and cut steps in the snow the others behind would then occupy the holes and hold him up until he cut another lot cutting steps however soon tired one's arms and when the leader was exhausted to pull him up and tie on a fresh man might be dangerous then nobody knew what was at the bottom and the gully might break off on the front of an icy cliff all the same some rashness was justified nothing indicated that the mist would altogether roll away and in two or three hours it would be done

Starting point is 08:31:21 dark. If they stopped for another night on the high rocks, all would freeze. An effort to reach the timber and camp by a fire was, so to speak, their forlorn hope. Besides, Stanard was persuaded they could get down, and Deering admitted his judgment was good. By and by, Stanard gave him a careless glance. I'll lead on the first rope and take Galane and Stevens. Jimmy and the others will go with you. Deering wondered. He was resolved Jimmy should use his rope, but Stannard's proposing it was significant. If Stannard knew why he had joined them on the ledge, it looked as if he were resigned to let Jimmy go. Then Stannard pulled out his watch. We must get a off. Shout for Galane. Your voice carries well. Deering shouted and fixed his glance on the slope behind

Starting point is 08:32:25 the group. After a few minutes, two or three indistinct objects loomed in the mist. The boys are coming, he said, and resumed in a puzzled voice. Galane went for Stevens and Dylan, but I see four. There are four, said Jimmy, and Deering's mouth got tight. He thought the first man did not belong to Stannard's party, and now he saw two others behind the advancing group. The police, said Stannard, and shrugged resignedly. Jimmy turned.

Starting point is 08:33:04 His face was pinched and his pose was slack, but his look was calm. You have played up nobly, but we're beaten, and I've had enough. in fact to know i'm beaten is rather a relief deering nodded gloomily there was no use in trying to get away the royal northwest are empowered to shoot and as a rule shoot straight he waited and noted mechanically that stannard was a few yards nearer the top of the rocks by and by a police sergeant stopped opposite the group we have got you don't move until you get my orders he said and signing a trooper indicated galane's party hold that lot off we're not looking for trouble and the boys won't bother you said deering what's your business he turned and glanced at stannard who said nothing the mist was getting thin and deering thought his look strained gilane had stopped behind the police and the sergeant advanced pulling at his belt i have a warrant but my hands are frozen and i can't get inside my coat you can show us the warrant later said jimmy i'm james layland the man you want

Starting point is 08:34:33 we don't want you the sergeant replied jimmy's leg shook and he sat down in the snow after the long strain his relief was poignant and reacted on his exhausted body he gave the sergeant a dull puzzled look then whom do you want harvey stanard said the other and stanard turned his figure cut the misty background and he carried himself as if he were not disturbed in fact jimmy imagined he had expected something like this i am stanard why do you want me when i can loose my belt i'll read you the warrant the charge is killing game warden douglas then douglas is dead said stannard in a quiet voice he died four or five days since the sergeant replied ah said stannard embraced himself well i have nothing to state i reserve my defence stop him shouted the sergeant and leaped across the snow stanard stepped back stumbled on the steep bank and vanished for a moment jimmy numbed by horror wondered whether his imagination had cheated him then he saw stanard was really gone and he ran for the ledge the others joined him but stanard was not on the ledge two or three hundred feet below a dark object rolled down a long slab and at the bottom plunged into the edge two or three hundred feet below a dark object rolled down a long slab and at the bottom plunged into the bottom plunged into the edge to a gulf where the gray mist tossed.

Starting point is 08:36:26 He's gone, Deering remarked to the sergeant. Perhaps you'll find him when the snow melts. They went back to the spot where they had left their packs and ropes. For a time, all were quiet, and then the sergeant said to Dearing, He beat me, but I don't get it yet. I didn't reckon on his going over. He stated he reserved his defense. perhaps he was rash deering remarked in a thoughtful voice in the meantime however we must let it go and think about getting down to the bush how did you find us

Starting point is 08:37:07 we went for a neck behind mr layland shack when we saw no tracks we pushed along the main range we reckoned you'd gone by the long ridge and we might cut your trail we were three nights in the rocks and we were three nights in the rocks and we were three nights in the rocks and we were three nights in the rocks and we were are all played out. Then you had better join us. We are going to try Stanard's line down the gully. I don't engage to make the woods, but I don't see another plan. The sergeant hesitated. Stannard hit the line?

Starting point is 08:37:42 He declared the line would go, said Deering quietly. Perhaps you have not much grounds to trust him, but he was a great mountaineer. jimmy turned and threw deering the end of the rope don't talk he said to the sergeant if you mean to join us tie on we must start a few minutes afterwards they crossed the shelf deering lead and jimmy going first on the second rope rather doubted if they would reach the trees in summer the long straight crack was obviously the mountain's rubbish shone the mountain's and its sides were ground smoothly by rolling stones now it was packed by hard firm snow to slip would mean a savage glissade and then perhaps a plunge much depended on the leader's nerve reaching down held by the rope he must chip out holes and then when the man behind him occupied the notches move a foot or two and cut enough

Starting point is 08:38:53 other. Sometimes Deering used his boots and sometimes the ice-pick. But for the most part, when his party had gone across, the holes were broken and Jimmy was forced to cut. The labor was exhausting, and by and by, Deering owned he had had enough. The trouble was to help him back and put another in his place, but Galane got into the loop and brought them down some distance. Then he stopped, and for a few minutes all lay in the snow. Mist hid the bottom of the gully, and none dared hope their labor would be lightened much when they got there. For all they knew, they were painfully crawling down to the top of a precipice. In fact, nobody was willing to brace up for the effort to change the leaders. After a time, Jimmy turned his head. The mist was lifting. it went up in torn shreds and the bottom of the gully began to get distinct where the dark trough ran out from the rocks a smooth snow-field went down

Starting point is 08:40:05 the vapor steadily rolled off the slope until jimmy saw a vague dark belt he thought was timber his heart beat and he got back his pluck stannard hit the proper line he said we'll pitch camp in the woods dillon took gillane's post the sergeant took jimmies and they pushed on by and by the mist rolled down and hid the pitches below but now all knew where they went the gloom vanished and slack muscles were braced for all that when they reached the snowfield deering looked to the west and frisked the light's going and the trees are a long way off he said mush along boys you have got to get there in places the snow was loose and to get forward was hard jimmy pushed stevens for some distance and they were forced to stop for a young police trooper on some pitches the snow was hard and slippery and rocks with icy tops broke the surface. Dark crept up from the valley, and the trees were behind the ground in front. Yet from the daunting gully they had looked down across the vast white slope, and the picture that melted like the mist led them on. Ahead were rest and food and warmth. At length, two or three

Starting point is 08:41:40 hours after dark, Dylan stumbled and rolled in the snow. Watch out for the juniper I ran a-one. up against he shouted keep going this trails for the woods half an hour afterwards jimmy threw off his pack and leaned against a spruce the ground was steep and stony but rows of small trunks cut the glimmering snow all round was fuel and one could build a shelter and eat hot food he thrilled and the blood came to his frozen skin they had run daunting risks and borne all flesh and blood could bear but the strain was done with they had made it end of chapter thirty one recording by roger maline chapter thirty two of north-west this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north west by harold bindloss chapter thirty two by the camp fire in the timber the cold was not very keen and the tired men braced themselves for the effort to pitch camp peter and the sergeant took control and the t t t t t t t t t t t t'rion took control and the sergeant took control and the, soon a big fire burned behind a wall of branches. Against the wall, twigs and thin branches were

Starting point is 08:43:16 packed for beds. Where the bushman can find fuel and material for building, he does not bother about the frost, and in winter the Royal Northwest patrols sleep by their campfires far out on the snowy wilds. A trooper fried pork and doughy bannocks, Deering brewed a kettle of strong tea, and when all had eaten like famished animals, the men, for the most part, went to sleep. For a time, however, Deering the sergeant and Jimmy sat by the fire and smoked. On the mountains they were absorbed by the stern physical effort and concentrated mechanically on getting down. Animal instinct urged them forward, but now the risk of freezing was gone, they began to think

Starting point is 08:44:08 like men. The sergeant and Jimmy were puzzled and imagined they might get some light from Deering. Jimmy's brows were knit, and when he looked about, he frowned. Although he was warm and the hot tea had revived him, he felt his brain was dull. Sparks leaped up from the fire, smoke tossed about the camp. One heard the wind in the pine tops, and the trunks reflected gleams of flings. flickering light. The mist had blown away, and Jimmy saw far off a dim white ridge cut the sky. Then he turned his head and shivered, for he knew Stannard's broken body was somewhere in the rocks, and perhaps nobody would find the spot. Stanard was his friend, a cultivated gentleman and a famous mountaineer,

Starting point is 08:45:03 but he had slipped and gone down the precipice like a raw tourist. moreover although it looked as if he had killed the game warden he had said nothing in fact it looked as if he were willing for jimmy to pay yet jimmy was not persuaded for stanard to use treachery like that was unthinkable you're satisfied i'm not accountable for the shooting accident he said to the sergeant i guess my chiefs are satisfied our orders were to leave you alone for a few moments jimmy was quiet he had carried a heavy load and now the load was gone he could urge margaret to marry him and get on with his ranching perhaps if she agreed he might go back to lancashire but he must not yet dwell on this when did your officers find out i had nothing to do with it he resumed not long since the day before warden douglas died all the time he was at the hospital we waited for his statement but got nothing although i've seen men shot douglas puzzled me and i reckon he puzzled the doctors sometimes he was sensible but he didn't talk and when we asked him about the shooting he looked at us as if he'd plum forgot then one day it all came back and he gave us his story the night was dark and douglas could not see much deering remarked i expect you had something to go on that helped you fill out his statement

Starting point is 08:46:49 the sergeant smiled the trooper who measured up the distances and made a plan for the clearing was a surveyor's clerk then douglas was shot in the center of his chest but the mark at the back was to one side. Besides, we had got Mr. Layland's hired man. Miss Jardine put us on his track. He sure doesn't like Mr. Layland, but his tail was useful. In fact, if Mr. Layland had not pulled out, you would not have bothered him? I expect that is so. When Stannard sent Mr. Layland off, he reckoned to give us a useful clue. Our duty was to try the clue. Jimmy looked up sharply, but Deering said, "'Standard's plan was good, but your officers are not fools. Then another thing is obvious. If you had tried very hard, you might have hit Mr. Layland's trail before.'

Starting point is 08:47:53 "'It's possible,' the sergeant agreed with a touch of dryness. maybe the bosses were after stanard but i don't get it all yet stanard was not a fool i guess he knew we couldn't put it on him that he meant to shoot douglas since he was using the pit light he'd have gone to the pen but i guess he could have stood for all he got yet when he saw he was corralled he stepped back off the rocks stannard was an english highbrow a year or two in a penitentiary would have knocked him out perhaps this accounts for it oh well said the sergeant i guess we'll let it go for three nights i've shivered on the rocks and i want to sleep he lay down on the branches and jimmy waited the smoke was gone the fire was clear and red reflections played about the quiet figures at the bottom of the rude wall after a time jimmy thought all slept and he turned to deering i don't know if the sergeant was satisfied but i am not you imply that when stanard stepped back he knew where he went deering pondered he saw jimmy was disturbed and puzzled but he doubted if there was much use in enlightening him stanard was gone jimmy had trusted the fellow and had already got a nasty knock yet if he had begun to see a light deering had not yet if he had begun to see a light deering had not

Starting point is 08:49:34 meant to cheat him. He was not Stannard's champion. Well, he said, it certainly looks like that. But why? The sergeant thinks they would not have tried Stannard for shooting with intent to kill. He declares Stannard could have stood for all he got. I expect that it's so. Sometimes, however, people are not logical. For example, when you thought you had shot him, Douglas, you pulled out. I ought to have stayed. Now I think about it, Stannard rather persuaded me to go,

Starting point is 08:50:14 Jimmy agreed, and looked adeering hard. When you recently found out Stannard had gone to my help, why did you go after him? For one thing, I knew he had not got a proper guide. I thought the job, a man's job, and Stevens and Dillon are boys. somehow i fear that's not all said jimmy and for a moment or two was very quiet then he resumed

Starting point is 08:50:44 when stannard and i were on the ledge you were at the corner i was going to jump on the slab but you shouted sometimes you're rash when you jump on a rock you want to know the rock is sound the slab was not sound said jimmy in a hoarse voice still i was on the rope and stanard knew if i went down i might pull him off the ledge he stopped and deering saw he did not want to solve the puzzle it's done with and you're a staunch friend he resumed well i'm very tired deering gave him a sympathetic nod and pulling his blanket round him got down on a pile of twigs jimmy sat with his back against a log and looked into the gloom behind the black pine tops high up on the lonely rocks a rotten slab dropped to the gully and but for deering stanchness he might have taken an awful plunge in the meantime the cold was keen his body was exhausted and his brain was dull he did not know much and did not want to know all the thing was done with and he resolved to let it go by and by he got down on the twigs by deer by and by he got down on the twigs by deering stretched his legs to the fire and went to sleep in the morning after breakfast the sergeant lighted his pipe and stopped the troopers who had begun to roll up their packs we won't break camp yet boys he said and turned to deering mr stevens can't stand for a long hike and my orders were to bring stannard back

Starting point is 08:52:39 sometimes the police orders do not go said deering dryly until the snow melts nobody will bring stanard back he has cheated you i've got to try and want your help you can reckon on mine said dillon and looked at jimmy laura must be satisfied that is so i'm going to stay said jimmy and when deering agreed the sergeant ordered a trooper and galane to start for the railroad he stated he must send a report and jimmy and dillon gave the packer some telegrams the men set off and soon afterwards the others leaving stevens to watch the fire began to climb the long steep ridge behind the camp the effort cost them much all were slack and tired and knew their labor would not be rewarded. Yet for some hours they struggled across the snow fields and searched the rocks with the glasses. In the afternoon they went back

Starting point is 08:53:52 and lying about the fire, talked and smoked. At daybreak they started again and reached higher ground. The day was bright and the rocks and gullies were distinct, but when the sun sank behind the range they had found nothing all the same jimmy saw that when stannard resolved to try the gully his judgment was strangely good there was not another line down the rocks and nowhere but at the bottom could the party have reached a slope leading to the trees at length deering gave the sergeant his glasses nothing's on the big gravel bank and we can't get up the cliff he said i have had enough and i expect you are satisfied maybe you'll find standard after the thaw but when he stepped off the rocks i think he went for good i've tried said the sergeant let's get down at sunup we'll pull out for the railroad they went back but after supper nobody talked much somehow the camp was gloomy and jimmy fought against a vague sense of horror to know they would take the trail in the morning with some relief at daybreak they broke camp and started downhill

Starting point is 08:55:21 all were glad to go but when they reached the valley jimmy stopped and looked up at the distant white streak in the rocks now he was on level ground to picture his crawling down the awful gully was hard and at the top was the snowbank where stannard vanished jimmy shivered but after a few moments turned and ran to join the others he was young the sun was on the mountain and the doubts and horror he had known melted like the dark the thing was done with the load he had carried was gone and he was free perhaps it was strange but he began to perceive that the freedom he thought he enjoyed with stanard was an illusion stanard's light touch was very firm and he had led jimmy where he did not mean to go laura not knowing all she did had helped him to resist and when he knew margaret stanard's control was broken it looked as if stannard had not meant to let him go but jimmy refused to speculate about the other's plans at length so to speak he was his own man he had paid for his extravagance and extravagance had lost its charm now he knew no obstacle to his marrying margaret and if she were willing he resolved to resume his proper job at the cotton mill when he thought about it his heart beat but margaret was not yet persuaded and unless she knew his relations approved to persuade her might be hard

Starting point is 08:57:08 well sir james was at vancouver in fact he was perhaps at the hotel and jimmy was keen to meet him progress however was slow broken trees and rocks from the mountain blocked the way fresh snow had fallen and stevens was lame he had slept with his wet boots on and his foot was frostbitten then dillon was slack and moody his fatigue was not gone and if gillane had sent the telegrams when the party reached the settlement laura would be waiting dillon shrank from enlightening her and jimmy sympathized end of chapter thirty two recording by roger maline chapter thirty three of north-west this librivox recording is in the public domain recording by roger maline north-west by harold binloss chapter thirty three sir james approves the sun was low but the light was good and jimmy's party crossing a hillside saw a long plume of smoke the smoke moved and when it melted the rumble of a distant freight train rolled up the valley After a time they saw telegraph posts, a break in the rocks, and two or three small houses. Then their fatigue vanished and all went fast, but Jimmy was sorry for Dylan, whose mouth was tight.

Starting point is 08:58:56 Jimmy thought Laura waited at the railroad, and Frank must tell her Standard would not come back. Moreover, she must soon know Stannard had shot the game warden and was willing for Jimmy, to pay. When they reached the bottom of the hill, he stopped, Dylan. I expect Laura has got a cruel knock, but perhaps we can save her some extra pain. If you take the line you think will hurt her least, I'll play up, and you can trust Deering. Dylan said nothing, but gave Jimmy a grateful look. Half an hour afterwards they pushed through a belt of trees and saw a party. waiting by the railroad. It was obvious the telegrams had arrived. Although the people were some

Starting point is 08:59:47 distance off, Jimmy picked out Margaret, who stood by a man he did not think was Jardine. The bush ranchers did not wear furs like his. By and by, he distinguished Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Jardine, Graham, the section hand, and a police trooper, but they were not involved. important and he speculated about the stranger until when the track was not far off he saw a light margaret's companion was sir james layland jimmy frowned his uncle's arrival was awkward for he had rather hoped to work on margaret's emotion and carry her away in fact he had wondered whether to take her boldly in his arms might not be a useful plan now the plan would not work although when he stopped in front of margaret he saw she was moved the blood came to her skin and her glance was very kind she wore an old fur cap and a soft deerskin jacket in fact her clothes were a rancher's daughter's clothes but somehow she was marked by a touch of dignity she gave jimmy her hand and he turned to his uncle you know miss jardine sir it looks like that sir james replied with a smile since you are my nephew i felt i ought to know your friends

Starting point is 09:01:20 then miss jardine was kind and seeing my curiosity helped to throw some light upon your romantic adventures jimmy gave margaret a grateful look and laughed i expect you were puzzled sir to some extent i was puzzled sir james agreed i'm a sober and perhaps old-fashioned business man the golden days when i was young and rash are gone but one recaptures a reflection of their vanished charm ah said jimmy i knew you were human no days were golden for uncle dick i expect you know we jarred dick indicated something like that but he has a number of useful qualities perhaps they're inherited qualities because i think one or two are yours for example i went to see your ranch you have made good progress on sound business lines although chopping trees is obviously a strenuous job do you know much about ranching jimmy inquired i do you know much about ranching jimmy inquired i do you know much about ranching jimmy inquired i do you know much about Do not. Miss Jardine thought I ought to see the ranch, and her father enlightened me. Margaret blushed and Sir James smiled. Friends are useful, Jimmy, so long as one's friends are good, but we mustn't philosophize.

Starting point is 09:02:56 They are cooking some food for you at the post office, and the station agent has agreed to stop the Vancouver Express. He imagines the train will arrive before very long. they went to the post-office and soon afterwards the train rolled down the gorge jimmy helped margaret up the steps gave peter his awkward thanks and jumped on board by and by the cars sped past a small stone hut and he wondered whether he was the man who had not long since stolen down at night to meet the section hand when they reached the hotel the guests jimmy had known were gone and a lonely stranger occupied a room the clerk stated they would shut down for the winter as soon as the party went but dinner would be served as usual in the big dining-room jimmy refreshed by a hot bath dressed with luxurious satisfaction to wear clean dry clothes and no others would cook his food was something new when he went downstairs sir james was in the rotunda now you're the fashionable young fellow i expected to meet he remarked with a twinkle you see dick drew your portrait oh well said jimmy i expect i bothered dick and perhaps he was a better friend than i thought all the same i hope to persuade you the portrait was something of a caricature

Starting point is 09:04:31 sir james gave him a thoughtful glance it is possible when you came down the hill at green river carrying your heavy pack your mouth tight and your eyes fixed i knew my nephew sometimes when the cheap mill-engine stopped and your father put down his pen and took off his coat he looked like that well it's long since i have got a title i did not particularly want but after all we are new arrivals and the primitive vein is not yet run out he stopped and resumed mrs dillon is in the drawing-room but we must wait for miss jardine she and her father are my guests you are kind but i thought them my guests sir sir james smiled you are rather dull jimmy after all i am the head of your house they went to the dining-room and at the door jimmy stopped margaret and jardine crossed the belt of polished wood between the pillars but now margaret was not dressed like a bush girl the deerskin jacket was gone her clothes were fashionable and her skin shone against the fine dark-colored material yet she was marked by the grace and balance one gets in the woods and jimmy thought her step like a mountain deers then he saw his uncle studied him and he crossed the floor mrs dillon frank and deering came in but although sir james was an urbane host sometimes the talk got slack laura had not come down and another occupied stanard's chair the stranger jimmy had remarked dined alone some distance off but when mrs dillon got up he joined the group

Starting point is 09:06:32 you agreed to give me an interview he said to sir james that is so sir james replied you wanted to see my nephew i think and since we may talk about stannard i would like mr deering to join us they went to the rotunda and the stranger pulled out some documents he was old and rather fat but his clothes were fastidiously neat and his glance was keen you know i'm mason and my london address is on my card he said the card does not state my occupation but i lend money i imagined something like that said sir james stanard was your partner he was my agent stanard belonged to exclusive sporting clubs i could not join but perhaps this is not important i understand you are satisfied he is dead deering nodded nothing made of flesh and blood could stand for his plunge down the rocks since he was a famous mountaineer i expect you thought his carelessness strange i have some grounds to think you could account for it said deering dryly we will talk about this again said mason and turned to sir james mr layland owes me a large sum i have bought his notes sir james studied the documents and gave them to jimmy who admitted the account was accurate very well said sir james my nephew meets his bills the interest is high but he must pay for his extravagance

Starting point is 09:08:24 before i write you a check i want to see your agreement with stanard and would like some particulars mason gave him a document and when jimmy stated that he knew stanard's hand resumed stanard joined me some years since at a time when he was awkwardly embarrassed the combine had advantages stanard had qualities i had not his friends were fashionable sporting people for all that he was bankrupt and i supplied him with money exactly said sir james still perhaps stanard's agreeing to tout for you was strange my nephew thought him of hastidious gentleman there's another thing since he was willing to exploit his friends did you not imagine he might cheat you mason smiled stannard dared not cheat me and perhaps i can give mr deering the light he wants i knew something about stanard that had others known would have broken him when we made our agreement he declared the person he had injured was recently dead and the risk he ran was gone perhaps he was sincere but sometimes i doubt not long since when he began to keep back sums i ought to have got i made inquiries and found out that another knew in fact it looked as if stannard were buying the fellow's silence with my money had he been frank i might have broken the extortioner but he was not frank i think he knew he had deceived me about the agreement and was afraid

Starting point is 09:10:13 anyhow he tried to meet the demands until i think i see said deering you do not yet know all stannard's plans and now they're not important i expect we can take it for granted that he imagined the demands could not long be met then he saw the police had found out his part in the shooting accident and he went down the rocks it looks like that mason agreed deering turned to jimmy jimmy's look was stern and his brows were knit deering thought he saw a light but he said nothing and sir james got up if you will go with me to the office mr mason i will write you a check they went off and soon afterwards dillon joined jimmy laura wants to see you he said in a disturbed voice she knows stanard shot douglas and it's now obvious he meant you to pay but i rather think that's not all she talks about her not being justified in marrying me the thing's ridiculous if stanard was a crook she's not accountable but my arguments don't carry much weight perhaps you can help you agree to you agree to you agree with you-aq she's not accountable but my arguments don't carry much weight perhaps you can help you agreed to play up i'll try said jimmy and went to the drawing-room nobody but laura was about and her forlorn look moved him her face was pinched and all her color was gone but she gave jimmy a level glance you know i'm sorry he said and taking her cold hand resumed with some embarrassment

Starting point is 09:12:05 frank's my friend and you were very kind not long since i thought you thought you were my lover said laura in a quiet voice you were lucky because you were not but had you agreed to go back to the cotton mill i might have married you now you know my shabbiness i know nothing like that jimmy declared i do however know i owe you much you were the first to warn me where my extravagance led now i want to help ah said laura you are generous i was willing to cheat you and it's plain my father was not your friend jimmy studied her and thought her afraid in fact he began to see why she had sent for him laura was keen she knew something but he imagined she did not know all anyhow he was not going to enlighten her you mustn't exaggerate the importance of the shooting accident he said i and mr stannard used our rifles the night was dark and i imagined i had hit the warden i expect mr stannard had no grounds to think the unlucky shot was his until recently the police believed the shot was mine laura was quiet for a few moments and then with an effort looked up my father knew the rocks he was a famous mountaineer yet when the police sergeant ordered him to stop he went down the bank after all his carelessness was not very strange jimmy replied mr stannard was leader and had borne a heavy strain in fact we were all exhausted and our nerve was gone

Starting point is 09:14:09 then the police came out of the mist the sergeant shouted and mr stannard knew they claimed he had shot the warden he was startled and so to speak mechanically stepped back he stopped for although his object was good he knew laura's cleverness he did not know if he had altogether banished her doubts but she gave him a grateful look frank is your friend she said in a quiet voice he wants me to marry him are you satisfied i ought not to refuse why of course i'm satisfied jimmy declared you had nothing to do with a shooting accident you were my friend before frank was i hope we're friends for good to refuse to marry frank is ridiculous since i'm persuaded you ought not to doubt laura gave him her hand you are staunch jimmy but i'm tired she said and let him go in the hall jimmy met sir james who said i am going for a quiet smoke will you join me not for a time sir sir since i arrived i've been strenuously occupied doing things i have been strenuously occupied doing things i ought. Now I'm going to do something I want to do. For example, Sir James inquired,

Starting point is 09:15:43 I'm going to talk to Margaret. I hope to persuade her to marry me. When I suggested our taking a smoke, my object was to inquire about your friendship for Miss Jardine. After all, I am your trustee. I hope you approve my plan, sir, Jimmy rejoined. you know where to stop, Sir James remarked with a twinkle. Perhaps my approval carries more weight than you think, because had I not approved, Miss Jardine would not have agreed. Then you have talked to her about it, said Jimmy, with keen surprise.

Starting point is 09:16:27 Not at all. Miss Jardine is not dull. I soon saw she understood my importance, but did not mean, to use her charm her friendliness was marked by some reserve in fact it was plain she acknowledged my business was to judge if she were the girl for you and she would not persuade me well i liked her pride and although we did not talk about it i rather think she knew i did approve thank you sir said jimmy with a grateful look sir james put his hand on jimmy's arm when i started from bombay i was bothered about you dick had found out something about stanard and he imagined that miss stannard was his accomplice miss stannard didn't know stanard's occupation she is not accountable for her father that is so sir james agreed i think miss stannard a charming girl but-but she is not accountable for her father that is so sir james agreed i think miss stannard a charming girl but-but she was not the girl for you. Laylands are manufacturers, and your job is to control a big industry. Miss Stanard's is to cultivate her social talents and amuse herself.

Starting point is 09:17:48 Margaret Jardine, however, is our sort. She's staunch and sincere. You know her pluck and all she risked for you. You want a wife like that, and I wish you luck. jimmy found margaret in the drawing-room mrs dillon had gone off with laura and jimmy advanced resolutely at green lake i asked you to marry me and you refused yet you knew i loved you and perhaps i had some grounds to think the blood came to margaret's skin i did know jimmy but to marry you because i stopped the trooper was another thing now you're ridiculous all the same in some respects your refusal was justified my drawbacks were plain for all you knew i was an extravagant wasteral and the police were on my track since i mustn't urge you i was forced to be resigned sometimes you are rather dull margaret remarked and smiled well i'm not forced to try for resignation now i was something of an extravagant fool but the police will leave me alone the police were not the obstacle said margaret in a quiet voice jimmy laughed it looks like that the trooper who tried to catch us did not bother you long

Starting point is 09:19:25 if sir james was the obstacle he's so to speak removed you have conquered him and he declared a few minutes since that you were the girl for me he's a kind old fellow don't you think you ought to indulge him he reached down and took her hands i want you margaret my extravagance is done with i'm going back to undertake my proper job and i need your help then i must try to help said margaret and jimmy took her in his arms the end of chapter thirty three end of north-west by harold binloss

Classic Audiobook Collection - Northwest! by Harold Bindloss ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

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