“Not when we can see smoke whipping from that chimney!”
“Sure! Smoke means fire—and people—and everything!”
“And almost within arm’s reach!”
In fact, the house with the smoking chimney was a weary distance from them; but unexpected help was nearer at hand. For, while they still stood gazing into the broad valley, a curious procession emerged from a clump of woods at the bottom of the hill. It was a long line of yoked oxen, pair following pair through the snow, while about them floundered shouting men, urging them on with whip and goad.
Sam’s voice rose in an exultant cry. “See that! Whole neighborhood turned out to break roads! Come on, Tom; come on!”
But Orkney, clutching his arm the tighter, held him back.
“Wait a minute! I’ve got to tell you something. I want to tell it now—while we’re alone.”
“Oh! another time——”
“There’ll be no other time as good,” Tom insisted. “Look here, Parker! I’ve never hit it off with you, with your crowd. We’ve jarred each other. You didn’t like me; I didn’t like you. But now I’ve seen your bunch in trouble, and I’ve seen how you stick together through thick and thin. And your fellows have been fair to me.... I’ve never had a crowd like that. I didn’t believe there could be such a crowd.... No; don’t try to pull away! You’ve got to hear me! I started back with you, because that seemed to be the sensible thing to do. I expected the fellows would roast me, snub me, rub it in that I’d been a fool to bolt. I meant to stand it and say nothing; but back in Plainville I’d get even, fast enough.... Well, if I kept quiet, I saw things. It just forced itself on me, after a while, that maybe I hadn’t got along with you because I didn’t know how to get along with anybody.... I heard what you said about your mistakes and the crowd’s mistakes, and I understood. Bother all that, though! I know I’ve made enough mistakes of my own.... Hold on! There’s one thing more, and it’s the biggest thing of all—to me. Every one of your fellows wanted to come with you on this trip, but you chose me. It was the biggest thing you could have done for me. It squared the account—and more.... And that’s all I’ve got to tell you, except that the slate’s clean, so far as I am concerned; and that I won’t worry you or your crowd. I’m going back to Plainville, and I’m going to take my medicine. And I reckon you won’t hear me whine.”
Sam, genuinely embarrassed yet honestly pleased and relieved, tried to escape the restraining hand.