A Gentleman of Courage

and it came to him quickly where he was. The fire was out and dawn was breaking up the gloom of the forest. He missed the fire, and the bacon frying ov

s cheerfully as though they had a week's rations with them. But his eyes were constantly questing for something to eat, and it occurred to him as a

interminable distance away now, shut out by miles of wilderness. There was something fascinating about it,[61] too. There were birds about them and rabbit runwa

s suggested for dinner Peter made a grimace of revulsion. Twice they had tried it experimentally on their camping trips and both times it had nauseated him. He insisted he woul

oots," said Donald, "but if you can hold out u

site for their camp in the rim of the high timber, and while Peter brought in firewood Donald made snares from another section of boot top. These he set in the runways. It was scarcely more than dusk when the first big snowshoe ran his head through a noose and found himself swing

man remained on his knees at his side, the smile of tenderness in his face changing slowly into a look of haggard grief. When he rose to his feet the luster had died out of his eyes and years had fallen upon his shoulders. He caught his breath sobbingl

years to come without Peter? For Peter was not only Peter. In taking the mother, God had given her soul back to him in the body of her boy. She was a part of[63] him, speaking with his voice, looking out of his eyes, loving with his love, a comrade and

in its consolation and cheer. Every day through the years this visioning of his wife had come to him; through those years she had walked hand in hand with him, she had been with him in the upgrowing of Peter, had helped to teach him

r our Peter," her eyes seemed to

he put no more wood upon it, but sat motionless and

er and sweet with the perfumes of balsam and spruce and growing things under his feet. These things were a part of his God, and of Peter's God. Just as the woman had built up his faith in him, pointing out its truth and beauty and glory, so had he built up in Peter an illimita

in cleared and his heart grew stronger as he paced more swiftly through the moonlight. The world was gloriously big, he told himself again and again. Somewhere in it was a place for him and Peter, and when h

t of his balsam bed. He[65] did not know his father had not slept during the night. Donald McRae began to whistle when he saw the b

n Vogelaar. Donald McRae seemed to recall them now with great pleasure, and he was sure Peter would enjoy his little visit with them, especially as there were several boys and girls of his own age to play with at Five Fingers. Of course he would come back soon, and maybe they w

g of an axe ahead of them. A quarter of an hour later they could hear several axes, and the distant c

s," he said. "Can yo

6

t want to," he said. "I w

eter. I'll come back soon. I pr

e in Peter

o a long ways yet, dad.

ew him int

lmly. "And you must get the paper in the bottle to Simon McQuarrie

m not a

on Peter's disheveled hair. "Maybe I'll come back tonight," he whispered de

could not get all the air he wanted to breathe. He tried to wave his hand in response, but in a moment it fell limply to his side. Donald McRae saw the gesture and a sob came in his breath. He disappeared behind a windfa

Peter, and give me strength to bear

face he turned into the