“I thought it was just stiffness, and would wear off if I kept going. Besides, I didn’t want to be a baby and complain.”
“’Tis no stiffness. ’Tis th’ snowshoe ailment, an’ ’twould get worse, an’ no better, with travelin’. ’Tis wonderful troublesome sometimes. Dad says if you gets un, stop an’ camp where you is, an’ bide there till she gets better. ’Tis th’ only way there is, Dad says, t’ cure un.”
“I never heard of it before.”
“Now I’ll be pitchin’ th’ tent, an’ you sits on th’ flat-sled an’ keeps still.”
“Oh, I’d freeze if I sat down. I’d rather help.”
They had just got the tent up and a roaring fire in the stove when Amesbury and Ahmik came for toboggans upon which to haul the meat to camp.
“I’m thinkin’,” said Dan, “we’ll have t’ be bidin’ here a bit. Paul’s havin’ th’ snowshoe ailment bad.”
“What’s the trouble, Paul?” asked Amesbury.
Paul explained.