Поклик предків
The Toil of Trace and Trail
Whentheyputaclothes-sackonthefrontofthesled,shesuggesteditshouldgoontheback; andwhentheyhadputitontheback,andcovereditoverwithacoupleofotherbundles,shediscoveredoverlookedarticleswhichcouldabidenowhereelsebutinthatverysack,andtheyunloadedagain.
Threemenfromaneighboringtentcameoutandlookedon,grinningandwinkingatoneanother.
"You’vegotarightsmartloadasitis,"saidoneofthem;"andit’snotmeshouldtellyouyourbusiness,butIwouldn’ttotethattentalongifIwasyou."
"Undreamedof!"criedMercedes,throwingupherhandsindaintydismay."HoweverintheworldcouldImanagewithoutatent?"
"It’sspringtime,andyouwon’tgetanymorecoldweather,"themanreplied.
Sheshookherheaddecidedly,andCharlesandHalputthelastoddsandendsontopthemountainousload.
"Thinkit’llride?"oneofthemenasked.
"Whyshouldn’tit?"Charlesdemandedrathershortly.
"Oh,that’sallright,that’sallright,"themanhastenedmeeklytosay. "Iwasjusta-wonderin’,thatisall.Itseemedamitetop-heavy."
Charlesturnedhisbackanddrewthelashingsdownaswellashecould,whichwasnotintheleastwell.
"An’ofcoursethedogscanhikealongalldaywiththatcontraptionbehindthem,"affirmedasecondofthemen.
"Certainly,"saidHal,withfreezingpoliteness,takingholdofthegee-polewithonehandandswinginghiswhipfromtheother. "Mush!"heshouted."Mushonthere!"
