a slight smile of contempt curled frank’s lip as he said, “a strong arm without a bold heart is not of more value than that of my eda here in the hour of danger. but i think better of gaspard than you seem to do. he’s a sulky enough dog, ’tis true; but he is a good, hard worker, and does not grumble; and i sometimes have noticed traces of a better spirit than usually meets the eye. as for his bulk, i think nothing of it; he wants high spirit to make it available. françois could thrash him any day.”
“perhaps so,” replied stanley; “i hope they won’t try their mettle on each other sooner than we expect. not that i care a whit for any of the men having a round or two now and then and be done with it; but this fellow seems to ‘nurse his wrath to keep it warm.’ on such an expedition as ours, it behoves us to have a good understanding and a kindly feeling in the camp. one black sheep in the flock may do much damage.”
“he’s only piebald, not black,” said frank, laughing, as he rose to quit the tent. “but i must leave you. i see that eda’s eyes are refusing to keep open any longer, so good-night to you all, and a sound sleep.”
frank’s concluding remarks in reference to him were overheard by gaspard, who had risen to look at the night, and afterwards kneeled near the tent, in order to be at some distance from his comrades while he said his prayers; for, strange though it may seem, many of the rough and reckless voyageurs of that country, most of whom are roman catholics, regularly retire each night to kneel and pray beneath a tree before lying down on their leafy couches, and deem the act quite consistent with the swearing and quarrelling life that too many of them lead. such is human nature. as gaspard rose from his knees frank’s words fell upon his ear, and when he drew his blanket over his head that night there was a softer spot in his heart and a wrinkle less on his brow.
when frank stepped over to the place where his canoe lay, the aspect of the camp was very different from what it had been an hour before. the fire had burned low, and was little more than a mass of glowing embers, from which a fitful flame shot forth now and then, casting a momentary glare on the forms of the men, who, having finished their pipes, were all extended in a row, side by side, under the large canoe. as they possessed only a single green blanket each, they had to make the most of their coverings, by rolling them tightly around their bodies, and doubling the ends down under their feet and over their heads; so that they resembled a row of green bolsters, all their feet being presented towards the fire, and all their heads resting on their folded capotes. a good deal of loud and regular snoring proved that toil and robust health seldom court the drowsy god long in vain. turning to his own canoe, frank observed that his indian friends were extended out under it, with a wide space between them, in which his own bedding was neatly arranged. the grave sons of the forest had lain down to rest long before their white comrades, and they now lay as silent and motionless as the canoe that covered their heads. being a small canoe, it did not afford protection to their legs and feet; but in fine weather this was of no consequence, and for the morrow they cared not.
before lying down frank kneeled to commend himself and his comrades to the protection of god; then stirring up the embers of the fire, he pulled out a small bible from his breast pocket and sat down on a log to read. frank was a careless, rollicking, kind-hearted fellow, and how much there was of true religion in these acts none but himself could tell. but the habit of reading the word, and of prayer, had been instilled into him from infancy by a godly mother, and he carried it with him into the wilderness.
when he drew his blanket over him and laid his head on his capote the stars were still twinkling, and the moon still sailed in a clear sky and gave silver edges to the ice upon the sea. all was calm and solemn and beautiful, and it seemed as if it could never be otherwise in such a tranquil scene. but nature does not always smile. appearances are often deceitful.
