We don't have a chance to be anything here. Now, I
suppose you----"
Here Mr. MacPherson entered and the loquacious Secretary Bayard became
suddenly engrossed in his work. The factor opened a door leading into
a small room to the right.
"Come in here, Ungava Bob," said he, "and we'll have a talk. Now," he
continued when they were seated, "what do you think you'll do?"
"I don't know, sir. I wants t' get home wonderful bad," said Bob.
"Yes, yes, I suppose you do. But you're a long way from home. It looks
as though you'll have to stay here till the ship comes next summer. I
can send you back with it."
"'Tis a long while t' be bidin' here, sir, an' I'm fearin' as
mother'll be worryin'."
"There's no way out of it that I can see, though. I'll give you work
to do to pay for your keep, and I'm afraid that's the best we can do
unless," continued the factor, thoughtfully "unless you go with the
mail. I find I've got to send some letters to Fort Pelican. How far is
that from Eskimo Bay,--a hundred miles?"
"Ninety, sir."
"Do you speak Eskimo?"
"No, sir."
"Well, the dog drivers will be Eskimos. The men that leave here will
go east to the coast. They will meet other Eskimos there who will go
to Pelican. It's a hard and dangerous journey.
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