The making of a man

by W. D. Flatt

“YOU’RE A COWARD, AND YOU’RE GOING TO BE
TREATED LIKE A COWARD.”

“I am sorry I had to punish you, but you know yourself that it was necessary. If you will behave yourself the rest of the way I will treat you kindly; but you will be watched, and if you try any tricks like that last one on me you will get your deserts just as you did that time. You may think you are a strong man, but you are not a brave one. You’re a coward, and you are going to be treated like a coward.”

The night was spent at this point in the woods, and Robert rose early to try to size up the situation. During the night two of his dogs returned to him. One, while somewhat injured, was able, after a supply of food was given him, to do part of his share of the work with the sled. Before leaving the place Robert could not resist the temptation of going to have a last look at the old leader, Don, who had fought so bravely for his master in the struggle of the day before. With these thoughts naturally came a remembrance of his old dog back in the Orkney home, and this led to thoughts of his mother and father and brothers and sister.

When the start was made Robert saw that he was face to face with assuming most of the burden of drawing the sled. The two dogs were of some little help, but without Don to lead them they needed continual attention. Again Robert made an appeal to the prisoner, suggesting that if he would behave himself and would travel ahead of the sled the chains on his feet would be removed. The only response, given as usual in foul words, was that not one step would be travelled. Robert saw then that the prisoner expected and hoped that he would collapse and that thus freedom would come to him. The fellow’s calculations were wrong, however. He did not know the endurance of the lad, nor did he realize that there was a heart within this young body which did not know defeat. After he had cut down still further the load of supplies, Robert strapped the prisoner still more securely and then, putting the dogs ahead of him where he could use the whip when necessary, he got himself into the harness and started on again.

Then, as so frequently happens when men struggle against difficulties and when the crisis seems to be past, nature seemed to smile and give her aid. The sun came out again and played with its rays on the mantle of snow. With the moderating weather and the heat of the sun the snow packed better, and this made the drawing of the sled much easier. During the day, also, two or three deer crossed the trail and a fortunate shot brought a very welcome food supply. Just in time, too, for the provisions were almost exhausted. This incident impressed Robert, as had not occurred to him before, with the generous provision God had made for man in the forest solitudes. He understood, as he had not done previously, that a food supply was generally ready and that it only required man’s own efforts to secure what he needed.

With the more favorable weather, too, and with an instinctive feeling that he was approaching civilization, Robert began to appreciate something of the bits of nature in this new district. As another day or two passed they began to travel through almost unbroken forest, rough and rocky sections where the trail, though better than it had been before, showed occasional signs of travel. Animal life, too, began to be more frequent, and although it was winter time almost every foot of the trail showed traces of animals, small and large, going about as instinct directed.

For several days the sled with its heavy burden was drawn along the trail. As the days went by Robert anxiously consulted the map which had been given him by Factor Donald, and while it was difficult to follow this with any accuracy, he knew by certain signs that he could not now be far distant from Little York. One day two Indians were encountered. Robert had no wish to meet strangers, and particularly Indians, until his prisoner was safely landed at the destination. Therefore, when he saw that they were not members of any tribe he was familiar with and realized that in all probability their language would be different from that to which he was accustomed, he tramped past them without stopping. He saw how carefully they eyed the prisoner, but finally they passed by without commenting.

After another day the prisoner was surprised when Robert did not make the usual halt for camp in the evening. The moon was full, and after such supper as could be prepared the young man kept on through the night with only a short rest as the light became dim during the early morning. On the following day plainly-blazed trails leading through the yet unbroken forest of pine and oak monarchs such as he had not previously seen were met with, and here Robert stopped, resting, to look up at these huge giants of the forest towering to the skies. That afternoon a log cabin was seen. Robert realized how a lone pioneer had blazed his way into the forest solitude, how he had hewn out a home for himself and his loved ones in the heart of the forest, and at the moment there returned to him his dream by the camp-fire in the north-western district, and he wondered and renewed his determination to go into the forest shortly and to build such a cabin for his future home. He would have liked to have visited the cabin, from whose chimney a welcoming smoke appeared, but with him duty was always first and the landing of his prisoner safely was uppermost in his mind. After a few minutes’ rest he started onward with quickened pace, and since the trail seemed to furnish a downward slope the way from this on seemed easier.

The following morning Robert noticed further signs of habitation. He passed here and there strips of clearing, and about noon came out of the forest. After the several days travelling through the unbroken sweeps of woodland it was like entering a new world, and coming over the crest of the hill Little York lay below and in full sight. His goal was reached. As his eye swept over the hamlet below him, the largest centre he had seen since leaving his Orkney home, he saw the bright coats of the soldiers standing out against the snow as they paraded on guard along the fort to the west, and he noted also the windmill standing at the edge of the lake to the east. Beyond a stretch of water to the south lay a barely-wooded sandbar.

Naturally, some little attention was attracted and comment was made as the strange party passed through the streets which, to Robert’s eyes seemed unusually busy. Several tried to halt him to inquire his business, but as always duty came first, and only stopping to inquire the way to the jail, he passed on without hesitating. His charge was soon landed in custody and his responsibility for the prisoner turned over to the jailer.