Again he essayed an explanation from David.
There was now a glad, happy look on the boy’s face as if by some means he had discovered that Roy was in possession of the name he had tried so very hard to utter. Probably Roy’s look of relief, or, what is more likely, the movement of his lips, as he repeated the words to himself, had given the boy his cue.
The question was scarcely put before it was answered by those black eyes, which closed several times in as many flashes. Then, as if the excited boy’s unnaturally pent-up feelings had suddenly broken bonds he gave a horrible, ghastly laugh that sent an unpleasant thrill through all within hearing.
Delgezie, who had remained perfectly impassive while Roy was interrogating David, jumped excitedly to his feet at the sound of this unnatural laughter.
“What’s that?” he demanded, gazing around him in a scared, bewildered fashion.
Roy touched the old man’s arm softly. “Come, Delgezie,” he said, cheerfully. “We will now go and find Kasba; David thinks she might be sheltering in Peter’s Gully. I think we can find that even in this drift, eh, old man?”
The old Chipewyan started suddenly at hearing his daughter’s name. He gazed at Roy for a moment in doubt, then, perceiving a smile on his face, he smiled pathetically in return.
“I think so,” he replied, and at once started for the door.
“Wait! Catch hold of this,” cried Roy, pitching one of the bundles to him, then slipping the other over his own shoulder. “We must go equipped or we may as well stay at home.”
The distracted father was now all impatience to be off. But Roy paused to give Broom a few instructions for the proper disposal of David. Then, carrying a small compass in his hand, he walked outside, closely followed by the old Indian.