We could make out the three
figures. "Darned nuisance, them deers is. They'd have been shot long
ago if the spring-house girl hadn't objected. She thinks she's the whole
cheese around here."
"Set it down again," Mr. von Inwald panted. We heard the rattle of
bottles as they put down the basket, and the next instant Thoburn's fat
hand was resting on the rail of the fence over our heads. I could feel
Miss Patty trembling beside me.
But he didn't look over. He stood there resting, breathing hard, and
swearing at the weather, while Mike waited, in surly silence, and the
von Inwald cursed in German.
After my heart had been beating in my ears for about three years the fat
hand moved, and I heard the rattle of glass again and Thoburn's groan as
he bent over his half of the load.
"'Come on, my partners in distress,
My comrades through this wilderness,'"
he said, and the others grunted and started on.
When they had disappeared in the snow we got out of our cramped position
and prepared to scurry home. I climbed the fence and looked after them.
"Humph!" I said, "I guess that basket isn't for the hungry poor. I'd
give a good bit to know--" Then I turned and looked for Miss Patty. She
was flat on the snow, crawling between the two lower rails of the fence.
"Have you no shame?" I demanded.
She looked up at me with her head and half her long sealskin coat
through the fence.
"None," she said pitifully. "Minnie, I'm stuck perfectly tight!"
"You ought to be left as you are," I said, jerking at her, "for people
to come"--jerk--"to-morrow to look at"--jerk.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213