The Man in the Twilight

cing white cloud filled the dome of the summer sky, speeding under the pressure of a strong top w

to the water-front below. The view of it all was irresistible to him in his present mood, and

m. He was concerned only for the mood of the man beside him. So

nt's silent contemplation. "It's too good to lose. It's too g

t which covered the lower slopes of the hillside. His keen deep-set eyes were on the

ide and deep, a veritable sea-lake, backing inland some fifteen miles behind the wide headland gateway to the East, which guarded its entrance from the storming Atlantic. Its shores were of virgin for

he heart of it all, the great watercourse of the Beaver River debouched upon the cove whi

ed itself into the cove below. These were the two things in Nature he had demanded to make his work possible. For the rest, the rugged immensity of scenery, the mighty contours of the aged land about him, the vastness of the harsh primordial world, so inhospitable, so forbidding under the fierce climate which Nature had imposed, made no appeal. It served, and so it was su

outly made roads, where seven years ago not even a game track had existed. He had set it up beside his water-power, and had given it the name which belonged to the ruined trading post he had found on the southern headland of the cove when first he had explored the region. Sachigo. A

he oldest regions of the earth's land, driven and beaten and desolated under a climate beyond words in its merciless severity. But now the place was peopled. Now human

re were sheltering "booms" in the river mouth crammed with logs, and dealt with by an army of river men equipped with their amazing peavys with which they thrust, and rolled, and shepherded the vast mass of hewn timber towards the slaughterhouse of saws. Then, immediately surrounding the mill, there was a veritable tow

y-six. We'll have a hundred and thirty-six some day. Look down there at the booms." He stood pointing, a tall, lean figure on the hillside. "Tens of thousands of logs, and hundreds of men. We'll multiply those again and again-one day. It's fine. The freighters lying at anchor awaiting their cargoes. Some day we'll have our own ships-a big fleet of 'em. Se

Lizzie g

e was thinking only of the message they

tubby vessel approaching the wharf below. But it was only for a moment. Some subtle thought impelled him, and he glanced back at the

gether. He remembered the delight with which they had looked forward to its completion, and ultimately their boundless joy in the task of its furnishing. He remembered how Nancy had insisted that it should contain not only their home, but his own private office, from which he co

ll, I've seen all I want, old friend. Now I'm ready. Fight? Oh, yes, I'm ready to fig

*

ns, swinging their burdens out over the holds of the vessel taking in its moist cargo. The stevedores were vociferously busy, working against time. For, in the brief

amer plugging its deliberate way over the water towards them. It was a small,

rge with an excitement that fired his dark eyes. His wide-brimmed hat was thrust back from his forehead, and he stood with his hands thrus

e came st

e whole game i

eep silent no lo

ep

packet boat rang out over th

"It would be good to get Master Walter here, fifty-three degrees north." A short, ha

m the approaching vessel. He flashed a keen l

rson,"

He's a good b

on. Maybe Bat understood the thing that was passing in the other's mind. At an

ter. Then he added: "Fancy navigating the Labrador coast for

tood. The other was talking because

h. Think of it, cooped within those timbers that are never easy till they lie at anchor in the shelter of a harbour. I'd just hate it. Their life? What is it? It's not life at all. Hard work, hard food, hard times, and hard drinking

*

rs flew from lip to lip. Creaking cables strained at unyielding bollards. Gangways clattered out from deck,

ading. The captain of the vessel, "Old Man" Hardy, was with them. The seaman was beamin

xplained, with a grin that lit up the whole of his mahogany features. "Y'see we're loaded well-nigh rail under with stuff for your mill, which don't leave a dog's chance for the other folks along the coast. The Company guesses they got to put on a two thousand tonner. The Myra.

shook h

ilorman on the Labrador coast! Well, I'm sorry you don't feel good about it. Bu

Hardy

tle of scrap like this old packet. But I'd have been glad to finish my job with her. Still, tim

nality of the crew and the five passengers, mostly "drummers," from the great business houses of Quebec and Montreal, who were struggling to land their trunks of

Standing said pleasantly. "I suppose they like shipping wi

They skipped half an hour before putting to sea. It happens that way now and then, if they're only soused enough when they get aboard

rge, grey, official-looking sack on his shoulders. He was a sli

flavoured his demand. Then he added, with studi

h as he watched the unhandiness of the man

. He's about as unhandy as a doped Chinaman. I'd say Masters is playing safe keeping

and only saved himself from a bad fall by precipitating his burden upon the quay. There was no respons

ice," he said. "It's a good healthy pull up the hill for him,

to be able to oblige so important a customer of his

hem mails right up to Mr. Standing's office. He a

came back with an

he order at the mail carrier with a plentif

et right along up, Captain. There's liable to be things need seeing to in that

was right. He knew it-now. And in a fever of impatience he was yearning to come to