where they
slept. The fires were nearly out, and except for the noise of the river
a solemn quietness brooded over the camp.

She began to muse. She had liked Thirlwell when she met him at the
summer hotel, but she liked him better in the bush. He harmonized with
his surroundings; he was, so to speak, natural, but not at all uncouth.
The woods had made him quiet, thoughtful, and vigilant. She had noted
his quick, searching glance, and although there was nothing aggressive
about him, he had force. Yet she did not think him clever; she had met
men whose mental powers were much more obvious, but when she tried to
contrast them with him, he came out best. After all, character took one
further than intellectual subtlety.

Agatha blushed as she admitted that had she wanted a lover she might
have been satisfied with a man of Thirlwell's type; but she did not want
a lover. She had inherited a duty and must concentrate on finding the
silver vein; the task in a manner set her apart from other women, who
could follow their bent. Sometimes she envied them their freedom and
gave way to bitterness, but her austere sense of duty returned. It was
strong just now, but the picture of Thirlwell sitting opposite by the
fire had a happy domestic touch that made her dissatisfied.

Then she remembered that if she found the vein she would be rich. So
far, she had not dwelt much on this, because it was not a longing for
money that animated her. All the same, she saw that success in the
search would give her power and freedom to choose the life she would
lead. Not long since, she had thought to find happiness in the pursuit
of science; and with wealth at her command she could make costly
experiments and build laboratories. The thought still pleased her, but
it had lost something of its charm. Besides, it was too soon for such
speculations and she must be practical.

Suppose she did find the ore? The claim must be recorded and developed
as the mining laws required, and she would need a man who understood
such matters to help her; but it must be a man she could trust. She
could trust Thirlwell and admitted that she had half-consciously
allotted him the supposititious post; for one thing, if he were manager,
they would not be separated by her success. But this was going too far,
and she resolutely pulled herself up. She had not found the vein and was
perhaps thinking about Thirlwell oftener than she ought. Feeling for the
hooks, she fastened t