'"
When the document was written, Roscoe read it aloud, then both signed it,
Roscoe guiding the battered hand over the paper.
This done, there was a moment's pause, and then Phil said: "I'd like to
be in the open. I was born in the open--on the Madawaska. Take me out,
Padre."
Roscoe stepped to the door, and silently beckoned to Devlin and myself.
We carried him out, and put him beside a pine tree.
"Where am I now?" he said. "Under the white pine, Phil." "That's right.
Face me to the north."
We did so. Minutes passed in silence. Only the song of the saw was heard,
and the welting of the river. "Padre," he said at last hurriedly, "lift
me up, so's I can breathe."
This was done.
"Am I facin' the big mill?"
"Yes."
"That's c'rrect. And the 'lectric light is burnin' in the mill and in the
town, an' the saws are all goin'?"
"Yes."
"By gracious, yes--you can hear 'em! Don't they scrunch the stuff,
though!" He laughed a little. "Mr. Devlin an' you and me hev been pretty
smart, hevn't we?"
Then a spasm caught him, and after a painful pause he called: "It's the
biggest thing in cables.
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