Tell'm you're a bad man, and that you
staked that claim before he was dry behind the ears, and that if he
comes nosin' around tryin' to file on it you'll beat his head off."
Bishop got up, stretched, and went outside to feed the dogs. "Don't
forget to beat his head off," he called back. "And if you're squeamish
about it, just call on me. I won't keep 'm waitin' long."
CHAPTER XIV
"Ah, the salt water, Miss Welse, the strong salt water and the big waves
and the heavy boats for smooth or rough--that I know. But the fresh
water, and the little canoes, egg-shells, fairy bubbles; a big breath, a
sigh, a heart-pulse too much, and pouf! over you go; not so, that I do
not know." Baron Courbertin smiled self-commiseratingly and went on.
"But it is delightful, magnificent. I have watched and envied. Some day
I shall learn."
"It is not so difficult," St. Vincent interposed. "Is it, Miss Welse?
Just a sure and delicate poise of mind and body--"
"Like the tight-rope dancer?"
"Oh, you are incorrigible," Frona laughed. "I feel certain that you know
as much about canoes as we."
"And you know?--a woman?" Cosmopolitan as the Frenchman was, the
independence and ability for doing of the Yankee women were a perpetual
wonder to him. "How?"
"When I was a very little girl, at Dyea, among the Indians. But next
spring, after the river breaks, we'll give you your first lessons, Mr.
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