PAGE 11
The Weight Of Obligation
by
“You’re mighty good–after the rotten way I acted,” the former whispered once.
And Johnny’s big hand trembled so that he spilled the broth.
His voice was low and tender as he inquired, “Are you resting easier now?”
The other nodded.
“Maybe you’re not hurt badly, after–all. God! That would be awful—-” Cantwell choked, turned away, and, raising his arms against the log wall, buried his face in them.
* * * * *
The morning broke clear; Grant was sleeping. As Johnny stiffly mounted the creek bank with a bucket of water he heard a jingle of sleighbells and saw a sled with two white men swing in toward the cabin.
“Hello!” he called, then heard his own name pronounced.
“Johnny Cantwell, by all that’s holy!”
The next moment he was shaking hands vigorously with two old friends from Nome.
“Martin and me are bound for Saint Mikes,” one of them explained. “Where the deuce did you come from, Johnny?”
“The ‘outside.’ Started for Stony River, but–“
“Stony River!” The newcomers began to laugh loudly and Cantwell joined them. It was the first time he had laughed for weeks. He realized the fact with a start, then recollected also his sleeping partner, and said:
“Sh-h! Mort’s inside, asleep!”
During the night everything had changed for Johnny Cantwell; his mental attitude, his hatred, his whole reasonless insanity. Everything was different now, even his debt was canceled, the weight of obligation was removed, and his diseased fancies were completely cured.
“Yes! Stony River,” he repeated, grinning broadly. “I bit!”
Martin burst forth, gleefully: “They caught MacDonald at Holy Cross and ran him out on a limb. He’ll never start another stampede. Old man Baker gun-branded him.”
“What’s the matter with Mort?” inquired the second traveler.
“He’s resting up. Yesterday, during the storm he–” Johnny was upon the point of saying “played out,” but changed it to “had an accident. We thought it was serious, but a few days’ rest’ll bring him around all right. He saved me at Katmai, coming in. I petered out and threw up my tail, but he got me through. Come inside and tell him the news.”
“Sure thing.”
“Well, well!” Martin said. “So you and Mort are still partners, eh?”
“Still partners?” Johnny took up the pail of water. “Well, rather! We’ll always be partners.” His voice was young and full and hearty as he continued: “Why, Mort’s the best fellow in the world. I’d lay down my life for him.”