n th' tilt, thinkin' we'd get back t' th' next tilt an' use
th' grub that's there, an' I just leaves th' bit o' tea in th' bag."

"No grub!" exclaimed Shad. "Then we've got to try to make a landing
down on that wall. We can't stay here and starve!"

"An' we can't make th' landin'. 'Twould be sure drownin' t' try."

"Then it is just a choice between drowning and starving? For my part,
I'd rather drown and have it over with, than starve to death!"

"Th' Lard weren't showin' us here just t' have us die right off," said
Bob quietly. "He were savin' us because He's wantin us t' live, an'
He'll be thinkin' if we tries t' make th' landin' knowin' we can't
make un, that we're not wantin' t' live. If we takes time now t' plan
un out, th' Lard'll show us how."

"I wish I had your faith, Bob, but I haven't, and I'm still in favour
of making a try for the shore," insisted Shad. "However, let us make
some tea and argue the matter out later."

"Aye, we'll boil th' kettle an' talk un over, whatever," agreed Bob,
rising from the rock upon which they had seated themselves, and
turning into the scant growth to collect dry sticks for a fire.

But instead of collecting the sticks he returned to the canoe, secured
Shad's doublebarrelled shotgun, and a moment later Shad, who was
dipping a kettle of water for their tea and had not noticed the
movement, was startled by the report of the gun. Looking up, he saw
Bob stoop, reach into a clump of bushes, and bring forth a rabbit.

"Well, I'll be jiggered!" exclaimed Shad, as Bob held his game aloft
for inspection. "I didn't suppose there was hide or hair or feather on
this wind-blasted, forsaken island of desolation!"

"I sees th' signs," said Bob, "an' then I looks about an' sees th'
rabbit. Where they's one they's like t' be quite a passel of un. They
likely crosses over last winter on th' ice an' th' break-up catches un
here an' they can't get off."

"That's some relief to the situation. But we've only about a dozen
shells in the canoe," announced Shad, "and when they are gone we'll be
as badly off as ever."

"We'll not be wastin' shells, now, on rabbits," said Bob. "They's
other ways t' catch un. I uses that shell t' get our dinner. I'll get
th' rabbit ready now whilst you puts a fire on."

"Very well," agreed Shad, collecting wood for a fire, "and when we've
eaten I hope we can think of some way of escape."

IX

THE INDIAN MAIDEN AT THE RIVER TILT

"Well," said Ed Mathes