grasp of the paddle and his knees raw from the rasp of the
craft's bottom as he swung with the weary blade. Hour by hour the rain
beat on them, and the pines that crawled out of it went very slowly by,
while it was almost a relief to stand upright now and then, and with
strenuous effort drive the frail shell up against the swirl of the
slower rapids with long fir poles. At times they were swept down
sideways before the poles could find hold again, and fought, gasping
and panting, for minutes to regain what they had lost in as many
seconds.

Now and then it was also needful to drag the canoe out, flounder amidst
boulders or through tangled forest with her contents, and then, hewing
a path here and there with the axe, painfully drag her round; but
portage after portage was left behind, and they were still fighting
their way yard by yard upstream while the rain came down. Seaforth
also knew that it often rains for several weeks in that country when
the Chinook wind that melts the snow sets in.

Darkness was closing down when at last they drew the canoe out upon a
shelving bank and dragged themselves ashore. Seaforth was too chilled
and wet to sleep, and his eyes had scarcely closed when Alton shook
him, and he rose up, shivering, and stiff in every joint, to commence
the task again. It was fortunately easier that day, for the river
spread out into a narrow winding lake, and there was less current
against them. Still the rain did not abate, and the afternoon was not
quite spent when Alton pointed to a little cove.

"We haven't made much to-day, but unless you're anxious to go on that
would make a good camping-place," he said deprecatingly. "Now there
was a time when I wouldn't have thought of stopping yet, but I guess
too much good living has taken a little of the stiffening out of me."

Seaforth slowly unclenched one hand from the red-smeared paddle-haft,
and glanced at it. "If you feel diffident, don't worry about me," he
said. "Eight hours' hard labour while you're wet through is, in my
opinion, quite enough for anybody."

Alton ran the canoe in, and Seaforth staggered a little when he walked
ashore. The water was draining from him, and it was several minutes
before he could straighten himself. There were pools amidst the
boulders, and when they had splashed through these to the edge of the
forest, fallen needles and withered fern were spongy, while the dark
branches shook down water on them as they swung