n ourselves with
blankets in the other. Did you air the blankets good this morning,
Frank?"

"They vos veil aired."

"You're a soft mark, Frank! One of us will have to marry Joe La France's
widow--that's what it will come to!" Brown slapped the water in violent
disgust, but Puttany blushed a dark and modest red.

Men of their class rarely have vision or any kind of foresight. They
live in the present and plan no farther than their horizon, being, like
children, overpowered by visible things. But the Irish Canadian had
lived many lives as lake sailor and lumberman, and he had a shrewd eye
and quick humor. It was he who had devised the conveniences of the camp,
and who delicately and skilfully prepared the meals so that the two
fared like epicures; while Puttany did the scullery-work, and was
superior only at deerstalking.

The perfume of coffee presently sifted abroad, and the table was brought
out and set under the evening sky. Lockers gave up their store of bread
and pastry made by the capable hands of the camp housekeeper. The woman,
their guest, sat watching him move from cook-tent to table, and Puttany
lounged on the dog-kennel, whittling a stick.

"Frank," said his partner, with sudden authority, "you take the kid down
to the water and scrub him."

"All over?" whispered Puttany, in confusion.

"No--just his hands and top. Supper is ready to put on."

The docile mother heard her child yelling and blubbering under generous
douches while nurse's duty was performed by one of her entertainers, and
she smiled in proof that her faith was grounded on their righteousness.
She was indeed a mere girl. Her short scarlet upper lip showed her teeth
with piquant innocence. As much a creature of the woods as a doe, her
lot had been that primitive struggle which knows nothing about the
amenities and proprieties of civilization. This Brown could clearly see,
and he addressed her with the same protecting patronage he would have
used with the child.

"What's your kid's name?"

"Gregoire, but he call himself Gougou. Me, I am Francoise La France."

"Yes, I know that..You have had a hard time since Joe died."

"I been anxion"--she clasped her hands and looked pleadingly at him--"I
been very anxion!"

"Well, you're all right now."

"You let me do de mend'? I can sew. I use' learn to sew when I have
t'ing to sew on."

"Jerusalem! look at them shirts on the line! We have more clothes to
sew on than any dude at the hotels