Uppy ran briskly, snapping the lash of
his whip and la-looing to the dogs in the manner of the Eskimo driver.
Dolores did not wait for Peter's demand for a further explanation of
their running away and her remarkable words to Blake. She told him. She
omitted, for the sake of Peter's peace of mind, the physical insults she
had suffered at Captain Rydal's hands. She did not tell him that Rydal
had forced her into his arms a few hours before and kissed her. What she
did reveal made Peter's arms and shoulders grow tense and he groaned in
his helplessness.
"If you'd only told me!" he protested. Dolores laughed triumphantly, with
her arm about his shoulder. "I knew my dear old Peter too well for that,"
she exulted. "If I had told you, what a pretty mess we'd be in now,
Peter! You would have insisted on calling Captain Rydal into our cabin
and shooting him from the bed--and then where would we have been? Don't
you think I'm handling it pretty well, Peter dear?"
Peter's reply was smothered against her hooded cheek.
He began to question her more directly now, and with his ability to grasp
at the significance of things he pointed out quickly the tremendous
hazard of their position. There were many more dogs and other sledges at
Blake's place, and it was utterly inconceivable that Blake and Captain
Rydal would permit them to reach Fort Confidence without making every
effort in their power to stop them.
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