e is!"

When Benson had interpreted the Indian's answer, Harding lighted his
pipe and thought keenly for a long time. Rain had begun to fall, and
though they had built a rude shelter of earth and stones to keep off
the wind in place of the tent, which had been abandoned to save weight,
the raw damp seemed to reach their bones. It was not the place for a
fever patient; and Harding was getting anxious. He had led his comrade
into the adventure, and he felt responsible for him; moreover, he had a
strong affection for the helpless man. Blake was very ill, and
something must be done to save him; but for a while Harding could not
see how help could be obtained. Then an idea crept into his mind, and
he got Benson to ask the Indian a few more questions about the
locality. When they were answered, he began to see his way; but he
waited until supper was over before he spoke of his plan.

It was getting dark and raining hard. Blake was asleep; the Indian
sitting silent; and the fire crackled noisily, throwing up a wavering
light against the surrounding gloom.

"I suppose I needn't consider you a friend of Clarke's?" Harding began.

"There's no reason why I should feel grateful to him; though I can't
blame him for all my misfortunes," Benson replied.

"That clears the ground. Well, it must have struck you that Clarke's
account of the whereabouts of the Stony camp doesn't agree with what
the prospectors and this Indian told us. He fixed the locality farther
west and a good deal farther off from where we are now. Looks as if he
didn't want us to reach the place."

"He's a scheming brute, but I can't see his object in deceiving us."

"We'll leave that point for a minute. You must admit it's curious that
when we asked him for the easiest way he sent us through these hills
and muskegs; particularly as you have learned from the Indian that we
could have got north with much less trouble had we headed farther west."

"That has an ugly look," Benson answered thoughtfully.

"Well, I'm going to put the thing before you as I see it. Clarke has
lent you money and has a claim on your homestead, which will increase
in value as the settlement grows--and sooner or later they are bound to
bring in a railroad. Now, after what you once told me, I don't think
there's any reason why you shouldn't pay him off in a year or two, if
you keep steady and work hard; but while you were in his clutches that
looked very far from probable."