The ready mother instantly leapt to the girl’s assistance.
“Lightin’ Bill to the landin’,” she said sharply. “Which the scallawag menfolk around this shanty don’t seem yearnin’ to do.”
“She don’t need to,” Clarence protested.
“Don’t she?” The mother laughed. “You’re too late, boy. Guess Bill, here, ’ud hate to be lit by folks who need reminding the thing’s due. You boys beat it to your blankets. Kid’ll see Bill on his way.”
The man was ready. He bulked tremendously under the thick fur of his outer clothing. He pulled his fur cap low down on his head, while the Kid lit the queer old hurricane lamp with a burning brand from the stove. Hesther’s diminutive figure was further dwarfed beside him as she prepared to make her farewell.
“It’ll be quite a piece before you get along again,” she said, in a voice that was not quite steady. And the man laughed shortly for all there seemed no reason.
“I just can’t figger how soon before I’m along back,” he said. “I’d like to fix it, but it wouldn’t be reasonable anyway. You see, mam,” he went on, his gaze turned on the girl who shut the lamp with a slam, “Gold Commissioners have their ways, and sort of make their own time. And though I reckon to pull some wires I can’t say when I’ll get through. And then ther’s always the winter trail. But I’ll sure be along back before the spring break.”
His gaze came back to the little woman who was regarding him with wistful eyes of affection, as though he were one of her own boys, and he thrust out a hand which was instantly clasped between both her rough palms.
“I just got to be back then,” he went on. “And when I come you can gamble I got things fixed so tight you’ll only need to sit around and act the way I tell you.” He smiled down into the misty brown eyes. “You keep a right good fire, mam,” he said gently. “Ther’s no trouble for you while I’m gone. Mike’s not a thing but a nightmare to look at, but he’s got clear orders while Chilcoot and I are on the trail. And he’ll put ’em through to the limit. You won’t need for a thing he can hand you. So long.”
The mist in the mother’s eyes had developed into real tears, and they overflowed down her worn cheeks.