"Well--you'll git there all right," said the blacksmith, voicing the
hope that swelled in his heart. "So long, and let us know how the
little feller makes it with the children."
"By jinks!--so long," said Keno, striving tremendously to keep down his
rising emotions. "So long. I'll stay by the claim."
"And give our love to them three little gals," said Bone. "So long."
One after another they wrung the big, rough hand, and said "So long" in
their easy way.
"Bye, Miss Doc," said Jim, at the last. "Skeezucks--say good-bye--to
Miss Doc--and all the boys. Say good-bye."
The little fellow had heard "good-bye" when the three little caps of
red departed. It came as a word that hurt his tiny heart. But,
obediently, he looked about at all his friends.
"Dood-bye," he said, in baby accents. "Dood-bye."
CHAPTER XX
IN THE TOILS OF THE BLIZZARD
Something was tugged and wrenched mighty hard as Jim rode finally
around the hill, and so out of sight of the meagre little camp he
called his home, but resolution was strong within him. Up and up
through the narrow canon, winding tortuously towards the summit, like
the trail of a most prodigious serpent channelled in the snow, the
horse slowly climbed, with Tintoretto, the joyous, busily visiting each
and every portion of the road, behind, before, and at the sides.
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