Perilous Passage by B.J. Bayle

Author:B.J. Bayle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV016160
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2007-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

When a rush of adrenaline overcame his fear, Peter glanced right and left. To try to circle around DuNord would be foolhardy, even though he might be able to outrun the heavy man. Somewhere to his left was the river — not a good choice. He tensed himself to dart deeper into the woods, then paused uncertainly. DuNord had stopped twenty feet away and was looking at him with a strange expression.

“I will do so no more,” the hulking voyageur said. Puzzled, Peter waited, and DuNord repeated his words, adding, “I swore the oath. No more will I strike a dog.”

Peter’s mouth dropped open in surprise, and he stared back at the man.

DuNord gestured impatiently and frowned. “Many things in my life I have done, but never did I break the oath.” With that he turned on his heel and trudged back through the trees.

Peter’s mind whirled as he watched DuNord disappear into the forest. He wanted to call after him but didn’t know what to say. Shaking his head, he thought about what had just happened.

Slowly, Peter retraced his steps to the camp where he found Dog curled against a wide-branched pine tree in a soft pile of drifted snow. The campfire was sputtering, popping sparks onto the damp ground each time Boulard poked it with a stick. Thompson was leaning against a rock cleared of snow as he used his knife to scratch words on a piece of bark. Beside him stood Thomas, and nearby Villiard, Côté, and Pareil waited with heavy packs on their backs and straps around their heads. Peter felt a cold chill run up his spine. Were they leaving, too?

Thompson straightened and handed the strip of bark to Thomas. “Give this to William Henry and ask that he copy it on paper before he sends it on to Fort William.” Then, to the waiting men, he said, “Take care through the pass if you choose to walk on the river. The ice might not bear your weight now. And take from the provisions we cached in the tree where we lightened the load for the dogs.” Almost as an afterthought he added, “It’s possible William Henry can’t give you all the provisions we need. Please be sure to tell him we thank him for what he can spare.”

Packs on their backs and leading the sleds they were ordered to leave with William, the men grinned as they waved and left the camp. Thompson looked at those who remained — Boulard, Vallade, L’Amoureux, and Peter. “It’s now near the end of January. So we have about two months to wait for the snow to leave the river. We must first build a shelter and then find the means to build a canoe of sufficient size to carry men and goods. It will be a daunting task to find wood for the canoe. I walked a distance in these woods and found birch, but it appears the rind is too thin for our use. For shelter there is cedar aplenty, though the size of the trees may wear our axes down to the handles.

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