up, and they knew Owen was
somewhere around. You noticed that they just stared at him all the time,
and paid little attention to us. Well, let it go at that; we'll be apt
to know a heap more than we do now when another day comes along. One
thing I'll wager a lot on, and that is he's worth sticking to through
thick and thin, eh, Eli?" ventured the explorer, earnestly.

"You bet!" was the laconic but expressive answer he received, and
Cuthbert, who knew the logger so well, understood all that was implied.

Eli also glanced back just before they turned a bend, and as there was
quite a little stretch of clear water back of them ere the stream
twisted its way around a big bunch of birch trees that stood like
sentinels on a projecting knoll, he was able to see the two bullboats
come around the curve, and follow grimly in their wake, the occupants
evidently making no effort at speed, for had they chosen they could have
given our youngsters a warm proposition in the way of a race, their
muscles being inured to the monotonous labor of the paddle.

Cuthbert began asking questions of Owen, who allowed the other boat to
gain a position alongside, so that conversation might be the more easily
carried on. Thus he learned that, proceeding leisurely they would
readily make the Hudson Bay post ere nightfall; had there been any
reason for haste this time might have been shortened by several hours;
but it suited all of them to arrive around the sunset hour.

Having an abundance of time they went ashore at high noon, built a fire
and had quite a healthy little lunch, washing it down with a pot of
coffee, the delightful aroma of which must have reached the nostrils of
the Cree paddlers who had drawn their boats ashore just below, for the
wind lay in that quarter.

Cuthbert expected to hear from those who were playing this comical game
of tag, and, indeed, he had purposely caused the coffee to boil madly in
order that the appetizing scent might be wafted with the breeze;
consequently when Eli declared one of the Indians was advancing toward
the fire, the explorer grinned as though he might be patting himself on
the back over having accomplished a rather pretty piece of strategy.

The fellow came directly up to where they sat finishing their meal.

Cuthbert did not altogether like his looks, but then he realized that he
was hardly capable of judging a good Indian from a bad one, since he had
only a limited experience with the natives--w