f
sealskin boots, a flannel shirt, a short jacket, and the peakless cap
of the trapper.

"That she be, Ed, an' a wonderful sight better'n th' bark canoes th'
Injuns uses," agreed the other, a powerful, broad-shouldered,
deep-chested man, who wore a light-cloth adicky, but whose dress was
otherwise similar to that of his companion.

"She have better lines than th' Injun craft," said the one addressed
as Ed, eyeing the canoe critically.

"An' she's stancher--a wonderful lot stancher," continued the other.

"She is a pretty good canoe, and a splendid white-water craft," Shad
remarked, to break the ice of reserve, and to give the two trappers
the opening for conversation for which they were evidently hedging.

"Aye, sir," said the man in the adicky, "they's no doot o' that. Her
lines be right, sir. She'd be a fine craft in th' rapids, now--a fine
un."

"Be you comin' far, an' be you goin' back wi' th' ship?" asked Ed,
unable to restrain his curiosity longer.

"I came from Boston, and if I can get a guide I shall stay for the
summer and take a canoe trip into the country," answered Shad.

"I'm thinkin' you can get un in th' shop," suggested Ed.

"Get them in the shop?" asked Shad, in astonishment, not quite certain
whether he was misunderstood, or whether the trapper was making game
of him. Ed's respectful manner, however, quickly satisfied him that
the former was the case.

"Aye," said Ed. "They keeps a wonderful stock o' things in the shop."

"I refer to a man," explained Shad. "I wish to employ a man to go into
the country with me to show me about and to assist me."

"'Tis a pilot you wants!" exclaimed Ed, light breaking upon him.

"O' course 'tis a pilot!" broke in the other, with an intonation that
suggested scorn of Ed's ignorance. "A pilot an' a guide be th' same
thing. A pilot be a guide, an' a guide be a pilot."

"I'd like wonderful well t' pilot you myself, sir, but I couldn't do
it nohow," volunteered Ed, in a tone of apology. "You see, I has my
nets out, an' I has t' get in firewood for th' wife, t' last she
through th' winter whilst I be on th' trail trappin'. An Dick here's
fixed th' same. Dick an' me's partners fishin', an' he gives me a hand
gettin' out wood, an' I helps he. This be Dick Blake, sir," continued
Ed, suddenly remembering that there had been no introduction, "an' I
be Ed Matheson."

"I'm glad to make your acquaintance, gentlemen," Shad acknowledged.
"My name is Trowbridge. Perh