"I'll make him," said Batiste.
But Gaspé preferred to take his dog out of the traces rather than surrender him to the tender mercies of a hunter. "I know they are very cruel," he whispered to Wilfred. So Yula was left to draw the empty sled back to the fort, and he did it in first-rate style.
"He is just cut out for hauling, as the hound is for hunting," explained Batiste. "It is not any dog can do it."
They entered the gate of the fort. The men stood patting and praising Yula, while Batiste exchanged greetings with his cousin.
Before he unlocked the door of his shop, Mr. De Brunier called Wilfred to him.
"Now is your chance, my boy," he said kindly. "Batiste tells me he passed this Bowkett on his way to the camp, so you are sure to find him there. Shall I arrange with Batiste to take you with him?"
The opportunity had come so suddenly at last. If Wilfred had any misgiving, he did not show it.
"What do you think I had better do, sir?" he asked.
"There is so much good common sense in your own plan," answered his friend, "I think you had better follow it. When we shut up, you cannot remain here; and unless we take you with us, this is the best thing to do."
Wilfred put both his hands in Mr. De Brunier's.