"Oh, well, I suppose I can get another made for Rainey before the first boat goes down."
"Then is it on account o' the bread," the Colonel was saying, "that the old-timer calls himself a Sour-dough?"
"All on account o' the bread."
They crowded out after Benham.
"Coming?" The Boy, who was last, held the door open. Mac shook his head.
It wasn't one of the bitter nights; they'd get down yonder, and talk by the fire, till he went in and disturbed them. That was all he had wanted. For Mac was the only one who had noticed that Kaviak had waked up. He was lying as still as a mouse.
Alone with him at last, Mac kept his eyes religiously turned away, sat down by the fire, and watched the sparks. By-and-by a head was put up over the board of the lower bunk. Mac saw it, but sat quite still.
"Farva."
He meant to answer the appeal, half cleared his throat, but his voice felt rusty; it wouldn't turn out a word.
Kaviak climbed timidly, shakily out, and stood in the middle of the floor in his bare feet.