Читать книгу By Bursting Flash Bulbs - Roy J. Snell - Страница 7

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Next morning, after a hearty breakfast of hot cakes, bacon and coffee, Jimmy emerged from Tim’s cabin into a changed world, a world of gray fog. The city, the sea, the Seminole, all were lost to his view. Only the cabin and the short stretch of road lay before him.

“Well,” he sighed, “I’ll be going into town.” Drawing on his heavy raincoat, he prepared to leave. “Don’t look for me until you see me,” he warned.

“The latchstring’s always on the outside,” said Tim. “Come an’ go as you bloomin’ well please. I’m too old to worry much about a young chap of your build.”

Jimmy found Molly at the trading post. A smile of approval overspread his face. Very high boots laced to the knees, a bright plaid skirt, a brighter shirt and still brighter smiling eyes were what he saw.

“Shall we go?” she asked.

“Why not?”

“It’s likely to rain and blow, perhaps snow—we never can tell. But we won’t melt!” she laughed.

“The best way to enjoy a rainy day is to get out in it,” said Jimmy.

“That’s right. Let’s go.” And off they went.

Jimmy was still wondering about the pupmobile. He did not wonder long. From some neatly kept kennels at the back of the store Molly led six small black dogs. These were on leashes. Marching on ahead of them, like a king, was the largest gray wolfhound Jimmy had ever seen.

“Jimmy, this is Buck,” said the girl, introducing the big dog as if he were a man. “We named him after Jack London’s dog in the Call of the Wild. That’s a wonderful book. And Buck is like the dog in that book. He wanders away sometimes for days at a time. He came to our home and scratched at our door one bitter cold night. No one’s ever claimed him. His past is shrouded in mystery,” she ended with a dramatic flourish. “Perhaps you can solve it.”

The big dog marched up to Jimmy, placed his damp nose against Jimmy’s hand, gave a loud sniff, then lifted his head for a pat, at the same time looking the boy squarely in the eyes.

“He likes you,” the girl cried. “He’s adopted you. That’s the way he does it. He’s your dog and mine. He’ll befriend you—fight for you, die for you, if need be. That’s the way he is.”

“Good,” said Jimmy. “I may need a friend sooner than you think. And one who’ll die for me, too.” He did not smile.

He was not long in finding out just what the pupmobile might be. After walking a few blocks they came to a narrow gauge steel track that ran away across the tundra. From a low shed, with Jimmy’s help, Molly pushed a small flat four-wheeled car onto the rails. After that she hitched the six black pups to the car.

“All aboard,” she shouted gaily. At once Buck climbed onto the car. He was followed by Jimmy and Molly.

“Mush!” shouted Molly. The six pups sprang into the harness, and they were off.

“This road served the mines of the Kongarok district once,” Molly shouted above the noise of the rattling, squealing wheels and the yip-yipping dogs. “Now it serves mostly me. The mines are a dream of the past.”

Jimmy thought the pupmobile a clever invention. He was in for a lark, he could see that, and was glad of it.

“This is fine,” he thought. “But the car has no brakes. We’re going up hill. Pretty soon we’ll be going down. And then?”

He decided to wait and see. What he saw when the time came amused him a great deal. When at last they were at the crest of the long, low hill that sloped away for a full half mile, the car came to a standstill. Molly dropped off at the back. Instantly the six pups turned about to climb aboard. There was so little room that Jimmy was all but crowded off. “What now?” he thought.

With mouths wide-open in broad grins, the six pups turned round to stare at Molly as if to say:

“We’re all set. What are we waiting for?”

Molly gave the car a push, then climbed aboard. At once, with its load of dogs and humans, the car began to move, slowly at first, then faster and faster they glided along. And the faster they went the louder was the chorus of howls that came from the delighted pups.

“This is great,” Jimmy shouted. “But suppose we scare up a rabbit?”

“Once we did,” the girl laughed. “One of the pups jumped off and was run over. I think they’ve learned their lesson.”

Three more up and three more joyous downward glides and they sighted a small tented city and a great herd of brown and spotted creatures that dotted the hillside.

“That,” said the girl with a touch of pride, “is one of our reindeer herds.”

The tented camp was located some distance above them on a hill. They had a stiff climb of a quarter of a mile to reach it. They were approaching the first tent when Jimmy and Buck both came to a sudden halt. Buck uttered a low growl. Jimmy reached first for his exposure meter then his camera. A look, a shift of the hand, a click, and he had taken a picture.

“Buck!” the girl exclaimed sharply as the dog growled again. “What’s gotten into the dog, barking at one of our men?”

Just then a dark-faced native in parka and skin trousers passed them. He smiled, but somehow Jimmy did not like the smile.

“He’s a King’s Islander, isn’t he?” said Jimmy. “I took his picture.”

“Yes,” said the girl. “He’s a very good man. All the men from King’s Island are. Father is practically turning over three of our herds to their care.”

“I wonder—” Jimmy did not finish.

“What, Jimmy?”

“Just nothing, I guess. It’s a queer world.

“Know anything about cameras?” he asked.

“Yes. Quite a lot. I’m a regular camera bug. Got a darkroom and everything.”

“Good!” said Jimmy. “I took a picture, a rather strange one, last night.” He told her about the flash in the dark.

“You’ll get yourself in trouble,” said Molly.

“I most generally do,” said Jimmy. “And it seems it’s never quite my fault.” He told her of the mysterious face in the dark and the stolen letters.

“That’s important.” Her face was sober. “Father has told me a little about the robbing of the mails. He says there’s sure to be a big war, sooner or later. Do you think there will be a war, Jimmy?”

“I hope not. But if there is to be one we should be prepared.

“But Molly!” he exclaimed. “You were going to show me my first reindeer herd, and here we are talking about war. War is far away! The reindeer are here! Show me, Molly, show me!”

“Sure I will,” she exclaimed, “Come on! Let’s go!”