He smiled at her extravagance and abruptness. The times when they had gone canoeing together had been their merriest, happiest times. It seemed to her that it needed only some such outing to restore the former conditions of their life.
“Why not? The potatoes won’t hurt, and it’s so lovely.”
“There are other matters, more important than potatoes. I have put them off too long. Now--Margot, do you love me?”
“Because there is somebody whom you must love even more dearly. Your father.”
“My--father! My father? Of course; though he is dead.”
Pierre’s ill temper was short-lived, but his curiosity remained. However, when Adrian steadily refused to gratify it his interest returned to himself.
“Wherever you’re going. Nothing to call me back.”
“Not if he’s sick. That would be as cruel to him as troublesome to us. Besides, you need go no further than yonder shore.”
“Couldn’t find your road to save your life.”
“I think I could. Besides, you will be wanted at the island. I don’t think Mr. Dutton is a well man. With nobody but an old woman and a young girl he’ll need somebody. You’re not much good, still--”
Pierre laughed. They had about reached the forest and he rested his paddle.
“You hear me. I’m going to where you go. That was the master’s word. I wouldn’t dare not do it. If I did, my mother’d make me sorry. So that’s settled.”
Adrian had doubts as to the truth of this statement of the islander’s commands. He recalled the words, “as far as you desire.” After all, this was not setting a time limit, and it was perfectly natural that anybody should like company through the wilderness. Why, it would be a wild, adventurous journey! the very sort of which he had dreamed before he had tasted the prosaic routine of the lumber camp. He had his colors and brushes, the birch-bark which served so many forest purposes should be his canvas. They had food, and Pierre, at least, his gun and ammunition--no lad could have protested further.
“All right. It will be a lark after my own heart. We can quit as soon as we’re tired of it; and--look here, Mr. Dutton said you were paid to take me to the nearest town. How far is that? How long to get there?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Donovan’s nighest. Might go in four days--might a week. Canada’s closer, but you don’t want to go north. South, he said.”