answer and thought it better to leave the
puzzle alone.

"But you are doubtful," she said. "Confidence is a strong driving
force."

"In a way, that's true," he agreed. "Still it sometimes drives you into
mistakes, and when you get to work in the right way it doesn't matter
much if you're confident or not. Your feelings can't alter Nature's
laws. If you know how the vein dips, you can strike the ore; if you sink
the shot-hole right, and use enough powder, you split the rock."

"It's obvious that you are a materialist."

"I'm a mining engineer," Thirlwell rejoined with a smile.

Agatha gave him a quiet, friendly look. "It's lucky I have you to help,
because I could not have gone far alone. I've studied Nature's laws in
the laboratory, but in the bush she works on another scale. There's a
difference between a blow-pipe flame and the subterranean fires. Now if
I don't find the ore, it will be some comfort to know that I have
properly tried." She glanced at her wrist-watch and got up. "It is later
than I thought!"

"Your tent is ready," Thirlwell replied.

She turned and saw a light shining through the V-shaped canvas on the
edge of the trees, but although she was tired, felt reluctant to leave
the fire. It had burned low between the logs, but it gave the lonely
spot a comfortable home-like look, and the bush was dark. Thirlwell,
sitting where the faint light touched him, somehow added to the charm by
a hint of human fellowship. He looked as if he were resting by his
hearth, and she had spent a happy hour with him in quiet,
half-confidential talk.

"Thank you. Good-night," she said, and went away.

When she reached the tent she looked about with surprise. The earth
floor was beaten smooth and sprinkled with pine-sprays that gave out an
aromatic smell; a bed had been cleverly made of thin branches and packed
twigs. Her blankets were neatly folded and the small canvas bucket was
filled. All she was likely to need was ready, and the boxes that had
held her outfit were arranged to make a seat and wash-stand. She felt
grateful for this thought for her comfort, and putting out the miner's
lamp, sat down on the twig-bed and hooked the canvas door back.

Although there was no moon, she could distinguish the black pine-trunks
across the river, the lines of foam where the current broke upon the
reefs, and the canoes drawn up on the bank. Thirlwell and his _Metis_
packers had gone, and as hers was the only tent she wondered