s into the cedar canoe, and then Cuthbert, as
master of ceremonies, cried out:

"Yo-ho, all aboard!"

In another minute the canoes of the expedition began to cleave the
waters, headed upstream.

The Indians also tumbled into their boats, nor were they longer
satisfied to hang back one or more hundred yards as formerly--that
elixir had quite captured their hearts, and they scrambled to keep in
close proximity to the magical "floating coffin," as they denominated
the cedar canoe, as if they could scent future feasts along the line of
that which they had just enjoyed.

Cuthbert laughed over the situation more than a few times, and declared
that he need fear no evil from the copper-faced denizens of the timber
country so long as a shot remained in their locker--a grain of Java in
their caddy.

But the Indians after a while struck a faster gait and vanished around a
bend above, nor did they see them again for several days, when they
arrived at the trading post.

They paddled leisurely, with Owen leading the way as before, for being
familiar with the region he would know how to time matters so that they
should reach the vicinity of the post.

As the afternoon waned Cuthbert could see that the other was struggling
with some strong emotion, and he understood that it must be connected
with the return trip he was making to the post, which he had evidently
abandoned for good at the time of his hasty run down the river.

He fancied that Owen might take occasion to give them some inkling as to
how matters stood with him here, for he had promised to reveal the
secret of his lonely life at the first favorable opportunity; but
somehow he did not appear to be in the humor just then, being wrapped up
in his own gloomy reflections.

'Well, it could not long be delayed now, and Cuthbert, being built along
the lines of a patient and philosophical lad, felt that he could wait.

CHAPTER XI.

A BREAK IN THE CHAIN.

About the middle of the afternoon Cuthbert's eye caught a situation on
the shore that seemed to appeal particularly to him as a place where he
would like to spend a night in camp.

He was subject to these little freaks, and hated to pass an ideal
camping spot after a certain hour of the day; indeed, Eli could recall
many experiences along this order.

Nor was the Virginia lad loth to explain the reason wherefore.

It seemed that in cruising down some river in the States on a certain
winter, with a single