Mr. Forbes was at the wharf when Bob landed, and when he saw who it
was exclaimed in astonishment:
"Why it's Bob Gray! Where in the world, or what spirit land did you
come from? Why Ed Matheson brought your remains out of the bush last
winter and I hear they were buried the other day."
"I comes from Ungava, sir, with some letters Mr. MacPherson were
sendin'," answered Bob, as he made the painter fast.
"Letters from Ungava! Well, come to the office and we'll see them. I
want to hear how you got here from Ungava."
In the office Bob told briefly the story of his adventures, while he
ripped the letters from his shirt, where he had sewed them in a
sealskin covering for safe keeping.
"Has un heard, sir, how mother an' Emily an' father is?" he asked as
he handed over the mail.
"Mr. MacDonald sent his man down the other day, and he told me your
mother took it pretty hard, when they buried you last week, although
she has stuck to it all along that the remains Ed brought out were not
yours and you were alive somewhere. Emily don't seem to change. Your
father and nearly every one else in the Bay has had a good hunt. Go
out to the men's kitchen for your supper now and when you've eaten
come back again and we'll talk things over."
In the kitchen he heard some exaggerated details of Ed's journey out,
and something of the happenings up the bay during the winter.
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