human
It's pretty hard to say, Ethan, he told the other;
gpt
I can't make up my mind that's he's any sort of a scamp. His actions tell us that, you know.
human
And it's hard for me to believe that any man who loves a child as he does that one of his, can be a bad man,
gpt
Yet you saw how he turned red in the face when I handed him the telegram, and explained how we found it caught under the bow seat of his birch-bark canoe,
human
What was it he mumbled at the time; I didn't quite get it?
gpt
He admitted, the other explained,
human
That sounds queer, don't you think, Phil?
gpt
Why, no, I can't say that I do, Ethan was told.
human
Any of us might do something on the spur of the moment that we found reason to feel sorry for afterwards. Only the other day I bitterly repented of insulting that noble old bull moose by daring to snap my camera at him point-blank, didn't I? He made it pretty warm for me, I tell you.
gpt
But this mysterious man must have done something dreadful, to have him say he was so repentant!
human
You're only jumping at conclusions, he was told, bluntly.
gpt
I heard him say at the time he was lying there in the pine woods and suffering, that he realized he had done somebody a great wrong, and that if he lived he meant to right it. Now, according to my notion, that was a fine thing for him to say.
human
Mebbe so, remarked Ethan.
gpt
I've heard my father say that the best men are those who've been through the fire, done some wrong, and repented, so that they think they must spend the rest of their lives making good. And between us I kind of fancy Mazie's daddy. He seems to be a pretty nice man.
human
Mazie evidently thinks there isn't another like him in the whole world, Phil told him;
gpt
Then it must be in connection with Mazie, added Ethan, quickly;
human
I wonder now,
gpt
What are you thinking about?
human
But then there's no doubt he's her father, so that could hardly be,
gpt
Well, what about it, Phil?
human
Oh! I just happened to wonder if he could have stolen the child from some one, and had now made up his mind that it was wicked, and she must be returned. But then, how could a father be tempted to steal his own child? I reckon that must have been a silly notion. Let's forget it.
gpt
Like as not we'll never know, Ethan observed, a little provoked, it seemed, on account of not being able to solve the mystery that surrounded Mazie and her
human
Wait and see, the other advised him.
gpt
As it is now, he feels under some obligations to the lot of us, and may think we deserve to hear his story before we get him down to civilization again.
human
Some obligation? repeated Ethan.
gpt
Well, it's my honest opinion he owes you his life! If you hadn't found him when you did, he'd be dead right now. And then about that job of setting the bones in his leg, you did yourself proud there. It'd be a queer thing, and ungrateful in the bargain, if he said good-by, and never once opened up to explain things.
human
It isn't going to bother me a bit,
gpt
Now, is that a hint that I'm foolish to keep it on my mind?
human
If the shoe fits, put it on, his chum told him.
gpt
But one thing sure, he'll never be able to walk on that leg by the time we expect to start home.
human
Which I take it means we'll either have to carry him all the way down to the village on that stretcher, if it takes two days; or else one of us go after a team.
gpt
Without any road up here, Phil explained,
human
Huh! I like that! grunted Ethan, though he must have meant it in sarcasm, for his tone showed anything but enthusiasm.
gpt
We all congratulated ourselves on the way up here on the fact that we'd have it easy going out of the woods, because all that canned stuff and other grub would be devoured. And now by jinks! if we don't have to lug a _man_ out. Whee!
human
But there's no other way, Ethan; and you'd be the last fellow to vote to leave him behind, if I know you,
gpt
Sure, I would, and don't you mind how I grumble every little while, Phil. My grandfather on my mother's side was a whaler, and I guess now I must have inherited his sailor way of growling. I try to cure myself of the habit, but she will break out once in a while. It's harmless, you know; it comes from the mouth but not from the heart.
human
I haven't chummed with you as long as this not to know you like a book, old fellow, he said, affectionately, as he laid a hand on the other's shoulder.
gpt
We've had some pretty good times, together with X-Ray Tyson and jolly old Lub; and we hope to enjoy a lot more. Wait till we get down there on Currituck Sound this fall, when the ducks are arriving in flocks. You know I've got the finest little shooting-box located there you ever heard tell of. And, say, perhaps we won't have the grandest time going.
human
I hope nothing will keep us from going along with you, that's all,