Part 5 (2/2)
”After the dogs,” said Connie as he banged the door behind him.
”Le's mush,” said 'Merican Joe, when they returned to the dogs.
Connie grinned. ”No, we can't do that. I've seen some pretty raw _chechakos_, but never one like him. If we pulled out they'd probably both die.”
'Merican Joe gave an expressive shrug. ”_S'pose_ we ain't got no grub.
He ain' care _we_ die.”
”No, but we're men, and he----”
”He ain' so good lak Injun dog,” interrupted 'Merican Joe.
”Just about--but we can't go off and leave him, at that.”
Twenty minutes later Connie and the Indian entered the cabin.
”You took yer time about it,” complained the man. ”Hustle around now an'
cook me up a meal of vittles.”
”Where's your firewood?” asked the boy, smothering his wrath.
”Go out an' cut it, same as we do.”
”Don't you keep any ahead, nor any kindlings?”
”Naw, it's bad enough to cut a little at a time.”
Connie's glance sought the room. ”Where's the ax?”
”Out in the brush, I guess. My partner cut the wood last. I don't know where he left it.”
”Well, it's under about two feet of snow now,” answered the boy dryly, as 'Merican Joe departed to get their own ax and cut some wood.
By the time the cabin was warmed and the man fed, the storm had ceased.
”Let me have a look at your foot,” said Connie. ”I expect it had better be tended to.” The man a.s.sented, and the boy turned back the covers and, despite much groaning and whining complaint, removed the bandage and replaced it with a clean one.
”Pretty bad gash,” opined Connie. ”How did it happen?”
”Cuttin' firewood--holdin' the stick with my foot an' the ax struck a knot.”
”You've got to learn a lot, haven't you?”
”What d'you mean--learn? How you goin' to cut firewood without you hold it with yer foot?”
”Nex' tam dat better you hol' de chunk wit' you neck,” advised 'Merican Joe.
”Is that so! Well, believe me, I ain't takin' no advise offen no Siwash, nor no kid, neither!”
Connie pulled his cap down over his ears and drew on his mackinaw and mittens. ”We're wasting time here, the days are short and if we're going to find your partner we've got to get at it. How long is your trap line, and where does it run?”
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