they came to that tree with the mark on
it, grandfather said, 'Boys, we have reached our home. Let us thank
God.' He went up to a big spruce tree, drove his ax in to the butt, then
kneeled down with the two little boys beside him, and I have heard my
father say that when he looked away up between the big trees and saw the
bit of blue sky there, he thought God was listening at that blue hole
between the tree-tops." Martin paused abruptly, and for a few moments
silence held the group. Then Doctor Dunn, clearing his throat, said with
quiet emphasis:

"And he was right, my boy; make no doubt of that."

"Then?" inquired Miss Brodie softly. "If you don't mind."

Martin laughed. "Then they had grub, and that afternoon grandfather cut
the trees and the boys limbed them off, clearing the ground where the
first house stood. That night they slept in a little brush hut that did
them for a house until grandmother came two weeks later."

"What?" said Doctor Dunn. "Your grandmother went into the forest?"

"Yes, Sir," said Martin; "and two miles of solid black bush stretched
between her and the next woman."

"Why, of course, my dear," said Mrs. Dunn, taking part for the first
time in the conversation. "What else?"

They all laughed.

"Of course, Mother," said her eldest son, "that's what you would do."

"So would I, Mamma, wouldn't I?" whispered Rob, leaning towards her.

"Certainly, my dear," replied his mother; "I haven't the slightest
doubt."

"And so would any woman worth her salt if she loved her husband," cried
Miss Brodie with great emphasis.

"Why, why," cried Doctor Dunn, "it's the same old breed, Mother."

"But in Manitoba--?" began Mr. Rae, still clinging to the subject.

"Oh, in Manitoba there is no forest to cut. However, there are other
difficulties. Still, hundreds are crowding in, and any man who has the
courage and the nerve to stay with it can get on."

"And what did they do for schools?" said Mrs. Dunn, returning to the
theme that had so greatly interested her.

"There were no schools until father was too big to be spared to go
except for a few weeks in the winter."

"How big do you mean?"

"Say fifteen."

"Fifteen!" exclaimed Miss Brodie. "A mere infant!"

"Infant!" said Martin. "Not much! At fifteen my father was doing a man's
full work in the bush and on the farm, and when he grew to be a man he
cleared most of his own land, too. Why, when I was eleven I drove my
team all day on the farm."