Don looked queerly dubious and hesitated. “You are very kind, but I’m afraid my tobacco ain’t a cigar.” The girls laughed and assured him they would enjoy the aroma. Don nodded and lit up; but as he puffed he was careful to blow the smoke so that the wind would carry it away from where the girls were sitting. These girls were all right, he said to himself--nice and pretty and considerate. He began to feel quite at home with them. Puffing serenely he took up his narrative with added zest.
“Mr. John wasn’t very strong as a youngster; he had some fever when a baby that left him kind o’ delicate. But he was fearless, quick and mighty steady. After a couple o’ years he started to pick up--and now--there ain’t a logger in Minnesoty that can beat him in rowing or wrestling or at huntin’. I took to him from the start, and I love him as I would if he were my own son. The Lord don’t make ’em any better than John Morton--let me tell ye!”
“It is fine of you to say so, Mr. McCormick,” said Helène; “and I’ve no doubt Mr. Morton thinks very highly of you, too.”
“I guess he does. He took me to the city, gave me all kinds of chances; but somehow or other I never could cotton to straight town life. Always wanted to go back to the woods and the water--I am satisfied to end my days there.”
“Well, about two years ago, Mr. Morton comes up to his camp pretty late in the season and wants me to go huntin’ and fishin’ with him. It was kind o’ late for fish, and Mr. John is a queer hunter, he is. He would just watch the game, follow them up, maybe--but shoot? You can’t get him to kill anything. He has all the trophies he wanted, he said--and as long as we had grub there wasn’t no need of killing God’s creatures.
“He was quieter than usual, and he says to me that he wants me to go with him to Africa--doing some exploration work, some observing--and says he, ‘Don,’ he says, ‘you come with me and we’ll have a good time; you’ll learn some new things, see new kinds o’ game, and get fine experience; and I can do something I wanted to try for years.’ It was kind o’ sudden like, but I agreed. And so, the week after Christmas we went to London and Paris and from there to Egypt--and there we stuck out for nigh on twenty months. I ain’t seen snow in two years--’most forgot how real cold feels--and I’m mighty glad to get a taste of both once more! And to think that some ten days or so ago I was in the hottest part of the world--now, would you believe it?”