envy her. She has
health and strength, and a purpose to help her to endure. Ralph, there is
always an end to our trials if one can wait for it, and you both have
something to wait for. Hold fast, and I think you will win her--and you
know who will wish you the utmost happiness."

Presently we went down together to the boulders of the river, and watched
the steelhead salmon pass on in shadowy battalions as they forced their
way inland against the green-stained current, while Alice, whose store of
general knowledge was surprising, said meditatively:

"Theirs is a weary journey inland from the sea, over shoal, against white
rapid, and over spouting fall, toward the hidden valleys among the
glaciers--and most of them die, don't they, when they get there? There's a
symbol of life for you, but I sometimes think that, whether it's men or
salmon, the fighters have the best of it."

We talked of birds and fishes, and of many other things, while once a big
blue grouse perched on a fir bough and looked down fearlessly within reach
of her, though when the wrinkles of pain had vanished Alice seemed happy
to sit still in the warm sunshine speaking of nothing at all. Still, even
in the silence, the bond of friendship between us was drawn tighter than
it ever had been, and I knew that I felt better and stronger for my
cousin's company.

It was some time after dinner, and the woods were darkening, when Martin
Lorimer and I sat together on the carved veranda. There was wine on the
table before us, and the old man raised his glass somewhat hurriedly,
though his face betokened unmistakable surprise when again I mentioned the
loan. Then he lit a very choice cigar, and when I had done the same he
leaned forward looking at me through the smoke, as changing by degrees
into the speech of the spinning country, he said:

"You'll listen and heed well, Ralph. You went out to Canada against my
will, lad, and I bided my time. 'He'll either be badly beaten or win his
footing there, and either will do him good,' I said. If you had been
beaten I should have seen to it that my only brother's son should never go
wanting. Nay, wait 'til I have finished, but it would not have been the
same. I had never a soft side for the beaten weakling, and I'm glad I
bided. Now, when you've proved yourself what Tom's son should be, this is
what I offer thee. There's the mill; I'm old and done, and while there's
one of the old stock forward I would not turn it over t