nd hungry and cold and tired, and all that is
before us--besides dangers we may not suspect."

Natalie faced him with shining eyes. "Clumsy man!" she cried--but there
was tenderness in her scorn too. "Do you think this is persuading me not
to go? I'm not a doll; I won't spoil with a little rough handling! If you
only knew how I longed to experience the real; to work for my living, to
get under the surface of things!"

Garth, amazed and admiring of her bold spirit, was silenced.

As they were parting for the night, she said: "As soon as the steamboat
casts off, and it's too late to turn back, I will tell you what I have
to do up there."

* * * * *

Next morning Garth sought an interview with Captain Jack Dexter of the
_Aurora Borealis_. At once proprietor, skipper and business manager of
his boat, and serenely independent of competition, he was a type new
to Garth. His single concession to sea-faring attire was a yachting cap
several sizes too small, perched on his spreading brown curls. His face
was red; his eyes anxious, blue and bulging. He had the unwholesome,
frenetic aspect of the patent medicine enthusiast, not uncommon in the
North. Garth interrupted him in a grave discussion of the relative
merits of "Pain Killer" and "Golden Discovery."

"I may take a run up to the Warehouse," he said guardedly, in answer to
the question. "I'll let you know to-morrow."

"Aren't you sure of going?" asked Garth in some dismay.

"Never sure of nothing in this world," said Captain Jack, with a glance
around the circle, sure of applause.

Garth bit his lip. "Haven't you freight to go up?" he asked quietly.

"Plenty of freight offered me," said the skipper coolly. "Plenty to go
down-stream too."

"But it's highly important I should know what you're going to do," said
Garth with increasing heat.

Captain Jack cocked a wary eye at the sky, and spat. "No water in the
river," he said at length.

"Then you're _not_ going," said Garth.

"Didn't say so," said Captain Jack. "May rain shortly, and bring her up
an inch or so."

The sky was clear and speckless as an azure bowl. "Do you mean I've got
to wait around here indefinitely on the bare chance of its raining?"
demanded Garth.

"Told the Bishop I'd bring you up," said Captain Jack in his detached
way. "Reckon I can't break my word to the Church."

"Well, why didn't you say so in the beginning?" said Garth, wondering if
this was a joke.