The Fur Bringers A Story of the Canadian Northwest

Saddling him, she rode east along the trail by the r

will over the rolling, grassy bottoms,

owed at high water; the banks were low, and at this season muddy. But the sky was as blue as Colina's eyes, and

nscious of a certain dissatisfaction with life. Not as a result of the d

fur season was over, and the flour mill was closed; the Indians had gone to their summer camps; and the s

not much interested in that. In short, she was lonesome. She

e poplar saplings, Colina proceeded farther than she

prairies-and instantly dismounted to gather a bunch to thrust in her bel

er, her sorrel gelding, would crop the grass contentedly until she was

ting away a few steps, turned and looked at her with a droll air.

ged his head and dan

se in her cheeks deepened. The inevitable happened-she lost her temper and stamped

ond as she was of exercise, she preferred having the horse use his leg

he grass with insulting unconcern. Colin

ay out of her dilemma, Colina perceived a thin spiral of smoke ris

set off with her own confident assurance of finding aid. Ginger displayed no inclin

the bank she heard a voice. She h

oth with their backs to her and oblivious of her approach. Of the man, sh

the dog: "Our last

're lucky, we'l

g to Colina-she was

he was young; he was not common; he had a fair, pink skin that contraste

ard was his affectionate,

e glimpse of a st

sprang to his feet. Colina experienced a sudde

ager dark eyes there was a quality that took her completely by surprise

uspended motion; his wide eyes leaped to hers-and clung there. They silen

ly flustered. "Please catch my horse for me," she sa

nd into his hair. She had never seen such a painful blush. He kept his head up, a

se he fancied that she, from his rough clo

-his blush gave he

nce. She all but stamped her foot

b toward Colina. The dog, making to follow him, he spoke a word of command and it returned to t

he?" he as

e bottoms where Ginger could be

you," he said cooll

't as easy as you think," she said haught

s face suddenly breaki

horses,"

fied answer that sprang to them. Inside her she said it: "Smarty! I shall laugh when he leads yo

ng eaten his fill, quietly allowed himself to be taken. The young man ca

d stood waiting for her to mount. There wa

na?ve glance. When Colina frowned under it he literally d

They were at the same time bold and humble. They contained an imploring appeal without any sacri

h an offended air. He instantly yielded, and she moun

loose her rein. Out o

hat he was b

ice was very low-she could feel the effort he was maki

n with a touch of boyish eagerness: "There's only a traveler's grub, of course. I got

silver: "If I go, I shall be tormented by the feeling that he go

ie Ginger to the poplar-tree, but even in the boun

and set to work over his fire. Colina sedately followed and s

oftness began to work in her breast; he was so boyish, so clumsy, so anxious to entert

r own weakness. She look

rier, and he had a ridiculous curly tail. He had

dog!" Colina

ound and affectionatel

thabasca," he said promptly

id was mean. "Of course his looks haven't anything to do w

id the young man. "I ta

, dog," sa

suddenly strick

is name?"

ob

ob!" said Col

out acros

d his mast

years, and frantically licked his hand. This display

Colina's feet. "Mind yo

ack to his former place with an air of relief, and turning his back to her lay do