She never interfered and we went on just
the same, but everything seemed different somehow."
The Maluka suggested that perhaps he had "got farther than the dog"
without knowing it, and the idea appearing to Dan, he "reckoned it must
have been that." But his whimsical mood had slipped away, as it usually
did when his thoughts strayed to Mrs. Bob; and he went on earnestly,
"She was the right sort if ever there was one. I know 'em, and she was
one of 'em. When you were all right you told her yarns, and she'd enjoy
'em more'n you would yourself, which is saying something; but when you
were off the track a bit you told her other things, and she'd heave you
on again. See her with the sick travellers!" And then he stopped
unexpectedly as his voice became thick and husky.
Camp-fire conversations have a trick of coming to an abrupt end without
embarrassing any one. As Dan sat looking into the fire, with his
thoughts far away in the past, the Maluka began to croon contentedly at
"Home, Sweet Home," and, curled up in the warm, sweet nest of leaves, I
listened to the crooning, and, watching the varying expression of Dan's
face, wondered if Mrs.
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121