Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-01
Scottish American,

| brawny lumbermen of Thistlewood Camp
sat hatless and coatless. upon the boxes
rudely converted into seats, In small
open space OF the Canadian bush. Judging
| from the hearty peals OF laughter that
] resounded aloud on every side the men
were totally unmindful OF the perturbec
state OF the elements. though the win
was whistling through the trees unit
they swayed in almos, dangerous proX
| unity 10 the campers beneath. To IN,
onlookers these men appeared to EMO,
| their evenings to the fullest possible
| extent After hard days work In I'M
thickest parts of the forest, exposed to
the bitter cold OF the hard Canadian
winter. they would gather together and
recount their varied experiences to their
| few but admiring circle. One OF the
number appeared not to join In the mer-
riment, but that did not in any wise
/ dampen the enthusiasm Of his comrades.
for Geordie Dunbar had long been known
to be Of a very quiet and serious dispo-
sition. When Geordie las he was IA
miliarly called in the camp had wan
dered into the wiids Of the Ottawa VAL
| ley three years ago and begged, IN
| his honest, broad Scotch. to be Initiated
| into the mysteries of numbering, the men
! who were now his staunchest friends
| had laughed at the idea of a young and
| slender ScOtchman, of little more than
/ 20 years Of age apparently, allying him
| self in a foreign land TO the many hard
| ships OF such life; but eventually he was
accepted and soon the characteristic de-
| termination and wonderful adaptability
/ of the Scot TO whatever circumstances
\ he may be placed in asserted themselves:
| In a comparatively short time he had
unconsciously immured himself into the
rough but sterling affection of his fellow
| workmen, commanding the respect and
| admiration Of them all.
In appearance Georde was greatly
! changed Three years Of hard work had
transformed the handsome youth into
bearded. broadened man. but aged far
beyond his years. That he had good
reasons for choosing such life the
| lumbermen had suspected. but as he
never volunteered any account Of his
| past his desire for secrecy was respected.
| Now his former friends could scarcely
| have recognized In him the same man,
except for the strong Scotch accent,
which still chung TO him after years OF
| absence from his native land.
yes. mates" Tom Hood. the eldest OF
! the party. and by virtue of his seniority
| the leader as well, was saying, in my ex-
| perience i have always noticed That so
| much of this sort OF weather in the
late fall is certain sign of double
| quantities of snow not far of.
well Tom" said Jim Carruthers,
rising from his seat and stretching him.
self to his full height. well not dispute
il; we all agree that for the spinning OF
a yarn and as rare old weather pro-
phet there isn't your equal betwixt this
and the gulf: but one thing sure Is. We
can't make roads till the snow does come.
I wish Dick would move a bit faster.
It looks as If he might get snow-bound
These clouds above have an uncommon
look about them. What can be keeping
him anyway" Indeed. Jim Carruthers
was not the only one that feared some
thing unusual was keeping Dick away to-
night so late. and the party looked from
one to the other with questioning looks
till at length Geordie spoke.
81 hae had some fears for Dick for
twa 'oors back. When we went DOT tae
the far thicket this afternoon thegether
he certainly had nae intention o. stayin'
later than usual then. If he disna come
sune I think we had better TAX turn
aroon' the glen an gle a bit LUX for him.
What think yep
|. "Ay." said Tom Hood. replying. "a
good plan: that we will. Hadn't we bet
ter start right away. He's been gone a
long time now. In the face OF storm,
too. He IS not so fond OF chopping as
all that"
For my part" said Hawkins. Il move
we turn in for the night. and let Dick
come home when he feels inclined. I'm
tired enough without starting on Wild
goose chase at this hour. He'll come
home when he gets ready. I suppose he
is capable Of taking care of himself"
Hawkins spoke with a barked English
accent, and was the least popular in the
shanty. owing 10 the fact that though he
had only Joined the party a few months
previous. he had already SHOWN an irri-
tating desire 10 override the opinions Of
the elder lumbermen. Geordie, especially,
always felt some unaccOuntaole aversion
to his presence. and as Hawkins spoke.
with his eyes fixed upon the young Scot,
the latter, slowly and deliberately ig-
noring his speech, replied:
LAY, mates, Toms advice is guild. i say,
let a. that's wllin form a party an max
e search; depend ont DICKS 10 tnis lang
ava for naething."
No sooner was this idea put forth than
it was acted upon, much 20 the chagrin OF
Hawkins. who had no alternative but TO
get up and follow reluctantly In the di-
rection of the others, with look that
BODIED III for the man whose very word
was law with his companions.
He seemed all right, Geordie, when you
left him. YOU say?" inquired Hood. Man,
but this is a queer thing. / nope no harm
has come to him. AS Geordie here would
say. It's no canny'. Faith, I'll soon be
half a Scot myself" laughed he. But
| come. Geordie. we will take this way to
the thicket, where you left him; the
rest of YOU will take the high road there,
too. Wen likely, some Of us, fall in
with him before we meet again. Lose no
time in making the round. L. We look
sharp we'll beat the storm yet"
AS the parties separated again that
omlnous look which compelled Georde
TO look at Hawkins riveted his attention
A something which he felt, rather than
reasoned, told him TO be on his guard for
anything that might occur, and decided
him at that moment to use his influence
TO have this unpopular member expelled
from the camp at the earliest possible OPP
portunity. They had not been gone long
ere the snow began to fall. and their
progress I'm the bush was slow, indeed.
II can't see," grumbled Hawkins, why
all this work and ado should be. simply
because one happens TO be a bit late;
though / fancy. If only Dunbar said So
you'd every one of you gladly stay out in
the storm all night to humor his
whims. My own opinion is If anything
mas nappeneu 10 DiSh' mat puiSt SSo'
knows more about it than he pretends."
what do you mean?" demanded
Carruthers. quickly. well, didn't he so
out with him this afternoon? Yes; and
no knows best where he is to be found !;
he has seen him last; but did he offer
any reasons for Dicks absencey Not
he"
IF anything's happened TO keep Dick
away. as you now seem to think. you
must admit you do not go about helping
him very cheerfully. Geordle gave no
...eore for nick'a strange ahspnC. he