Fortune favoured him, for as he made towards a tepee, without any
particular reason for doing so, except that it stood a little apart
from the rest, he saw a faint streak of light shine out beneath the
curtain, This suggested that it was occupied by the white man, and it
was now an important question whether he could reach it silently enough
to surprise him. Beckoning the Indian to fall behind, he crept forward
with his heart beating painfully and stopped a moment just outside the
entrance. It was obvious that he had not been heard, but he could not
tell whether Clarke was alone. Then the Indian, who had crept up
behind him, dragged the doorway open and Harding, hastily stepping in,
stood, ragged, unkempt, and strung up, blinking in the unaccustomed
light.

The tent had an earth floor with a layer of reeds and grass thrown down
on one side. It was frail and hinted at changing times and poverty,
for the original skin cover had been patched and eked out with the
products of civilization in the shape of cotton flour bags and old
sacking. In the later repairs sewing twine had been used instead of
sinews. A wooden case stood open near the reeds, and Harding saw that
it contained glass jars and what looked like laboratory apparatus; a
common tin kerosene lamp hung from the junction of the frame poles,
which met at the point of the cone. A curious smell, which reminded
him of the paint factory, filled the tent, though he could not
recognize it.

Harding could not tell whether he noted all this at once, or if it
afterwards impressed itself upon him by degrees, because as he entered
Clarke, who sat beside the case, looked up. It was, Harding thought, a
good test of his nerve, but his face was imperturbable and he showed no
surprise. There was silence for a moment or two while the Indian stood
motionless with his axe shining as it caught the light, and Harding's
lips grew firmly set. Then Clarke spoke--

"So you have turned back. You found the muskeg too difficult to cross,
and I suppose this fellow showed you the way here?"

Harding, who was worn out, crossed the floor to the heap of reeds and
sat down facing Clarke.

"We have come for you and must start at once. My partner is very
sick--fever he thinks--and you'll have to cure him."

"You're presuming on my consent."

"Yes," said Harding sternly; "I'm counting right on that. It wouldn't
be wise of you to refuse."

"I don't agree with you. A shout or a