if I went home at once," he said at
last. "I could come back and join you as soon as I saw how things were
going. The Colonel would be safe from any further persecution if I
were with him, but, all the same, I'm inclined to stay away."

"Why?" Harding asked.

"For one thing, if I were there, he might insist on taking some quite
unnecessary course that would only cause trouble."

"Now," said Harding curtly, "I'm going to give you my opinion. I take
it that your uncle is a man who tries to do the square thing?"

Blake's face relaxed and his eyes twinkled. "He's what you call white
and as obstinate as they're made. Convince him that a thing's right
and he'll see it done, no matter how many people it makes
uncomfortable. That's why I don't see my way to encourage him."

"Here's a man who's up against a point of honour; he has, I understand,
a long, clean record and now he's prepared to take a course that may
cost him dear. Are you going to play a low-down game on him; to twist
the truth so's to give him a chance of deceiving himself?"

"Aren't you and Benson taking what you mean by the truth too much for
granted?"

Harding gave him a searching look. "I haven't heard you deny it
squarely; you're a poor liar. It's your clear duty to go back to
England right away and see your uncle through with the thing he means
to do."

"After all, I'll go to England," Blake answered with significant
reserve. "However, we had better get on or we won't catch the others
until they've finished dinner."

Emile started the dogs, and when they had toiled up the ascent they saw
the rest of the party far ahead on the great white plain.

"We mayn't have another chance of a private talk until we reach the
settlement," said Blake. "What are you going to do about the
petroleum?"

"I'll come back and prospect the muskeg as soon as the frost goes."

"It will cost a good deal to do that thoroughly. We must hire
transport for a full supply of all the tools and stores we are likely
to need; one experience of the kind we've had this trip is enough. How
are you going to get the money?"

"I'm not going to the city men for it until our position's secure. The
thing must be kept quiet until we're ready to put it on the market."

"You were doubtful about taking me for a partner once," Benson
interposed. "I don't know that I could blame you, but now I mean to do
all I can to make the scheme successful, and I don't think you'll have