At his suggestion Bob stayed
with the drive. He took his place quietly as a visitor, had the good
sense to be unobtrusive, and so was tolerated by the men. That is to
say, he sat at the camp fires practically unnoticed, and the rivermen
talked as though he were not there. When he addressed any of them they
answered him with entire good humour, but ordinarily they paid no more
attention to him than they did to the trees and bushes that chanced to
surround the camp.
The drive moved forward slowly. Sometimes Billy packed up every day to
set forth on one of his highly adventurous drives; again camp stayed for
some time in the same place. Bob amused himself tramping up and down the
river, reviewing the operations. Occasionally Roaring Dick, in his
capacity of river boss, accompanied the young fellow. Why, Bob could not
imagine, for the alert, self-contained little riverman trudged along in
almost entire silence, his keen chipmunk eyes spying restlessly on all
there was to be seen. When Bob ventured a remark or comment, he answered
by a grunt or a monosyllable. The grunt or the monosyllable was never
sullen or hostile or contemptuous; merely indifferent.
Pages:
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132