ng and Thirlwell and Scott sat outside the shack,
watching the river while the sunset faded across the woods. A few
_Metis_ freighters had gone to the settlements for supplies and mining
tools, and although much depended on the condition of the portages,
Scott expected them that night.

"Antoine will bring up our mail," he said. "It's some time since Miss
Strange has written to you about her plans."

Thirlwell said it was nearly three months, and Scott resumed: "Well, I
think if I'd had a part in the business, I'd have tried to find if the
Hudson's Bay agent was alive. It's possible that he could tell you
something about the location of the ore."

"I don't know that I have any part in the business," Thirlwell replied.
"I promised to go with Miss Strange, but that's all."

"If she finds the lode, she'll need a mining engineer."

"She'll have no trouble in engaging one if the pay is good."

"But you wouldn't think you had first claim to the post? In fact, if you
helped the girl to find the ore, you'd be satisfied to drop out and
leave her alone?"

Thirlwell frowned. He had made no plans for the future and certainly did
not mean to trade upon Agatha's gratitude, but he knew it would hurt
him, so to speak, to drop out and let her look for other help.

"The lode isn't found yet," he rejoined.

"Anyhow, I feel that the girl or you ought to have got on the agent's
track," Scott insisted. "He knew where Strange went, and saw him when he
returned. It's possible that Strange confused his memory by his
subsequent trips, but the agent heard his story when the matter was
fresh."

Thirlwell did not answer, and Scott cut some tobacco. When he had
finished he looked up the river.

"The _bateaux!_ Antoine has made good time."

Two craft drew out of the shadow of the pines, slid down the swift
current, and presently grounded on a gravel beach. They were of the
canoe type, but larger, and their bottoms were flat, since they were
rather built for carrying goods than paddling fast. There was a good
water route to the rocky height of land, across which the cargo was
brought on the freighters' backs from a river that joined the wagon
trail to the settlements. As soon as they landed, the crews began to
carry up boxes and packages, but a young man left the group and came
towards the shack. He wore neat store-clothes that were not much the
worse for the journey, and although his skin was somewhat dark, looked
like a young business