trader," agreed Bob, "and the's a rare lot o' fur
aboard she an' the's enough trader's goods t' stock a Post. Mr. Forbes
were tellin' me I should be gettin' salvage for bringin' she t' port
safe."
"Aye," confirmed Douglas, "you should be gettin' salvage. 'Tis th' law
o' th' sea an' but right. We'll ha' t' be lookin' t' th' salvage for
un lad."
"But how'll we be gettin' un now?" Bob asked, much puzzled. "An'
how'll we be findin' th' owner?"
"Th' owner," explained Douglas, "will be doin' th' findin' hisself I'm
thinkin'. But t' get th' salvage th' schooner'll ha' t' be took t' St.
Johns. Now I'm not knowin' but I could pilot she over. 'Tis a many a
long year since I were there but I'm thinkin' I could manage un, and
we'll make up a crew an' sail she over."
"We'll be needin' five t' handle she right," said Bob. "'Twere
wonderful hard gettin' on wi' just me an' th' two huskies. We'll sure
need five."
"Aye, 'twill need five of us," assented Douglas, "I'm thinkin' now
Dick an' Ed an' Bill would like t' be makin' th' cruise an' seein' St.
Johns, an' we has th' crew right here."
The three men were not only willing to go but delighted with the
prospect of the journey. They had never in their lives been outside
the bay and the voyage offered them an opportunity to see something of
the great world of which they had heard so much.
"I'll be wantin' t' go home first," said Dick, "an' so will Ed, but
we'll be t' Kenemish an' ready t' start in three days."
"'Twill be a fine way t' take th' maid t' th' mail boat so th' doctor
can take she with un," suggested Richard.
"An' father an' mother an' Bessie can go t' th' mail boat with us,"
spoke up Emily, from her couch. "Oh, 'twill be fine t' have you all go
t' th' mail boat with me!"
And so this arrangement was made and carried out. On the appointed day
every one was aboard the _Maid of the North_, and with light hearts
the voyage was begun.
Two days later they reached Fort Pelican, when Netseksoak and Aluktook
went ashore to await the arrival of the ship that was to take them to
their far northern home, and Bob said good-bye to the two faithful
friends with whom he had braved so many dangers and suffered so many
hardships.
The following morning the mail boat steamed in, and Emily was
transferred to her in charge of the doctor, who greeted her kindly and
promised,
"You'll be going home a new girl in the fall, and your father and
mother won't know you."
Nev
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