that."

"Then I see no objection to leaving the post secretly, provided you are
willing to tell one reliable person in advance--say Pringle or his
sister, of our intention. You see we must leave someone behind us to
still the storm of gossip that will be let loose."

"You think of everything!"

CHAPTER V

THE FIRST STAGE

For two days Stonor went about his preparations with an air of dogged
determination. It seemed to him that all the light had gone out of his
life, and hope was dead. He told himself that the proposed trip could
not be otherwise than the stiffest kind of an ordeal to a man in his
position, an ordeal calling for well-nigh superhuman self-control. How
gladly would he have given it up, had he not given his word.

And then on the third day his spirits unaccountably began to rise. As a
matter of fact youthful spirits must seek their natural level no less
surely than water, but Stonor was angry with himself, accusing himself
of lightheadedness, inconstancy and what not. His spirits continued to
rise just the same. There was a delight in providing everything possible
for her comfort. The mere thought of going away with her, under any
circumstances whatsoever, made his heart sing.

John Gaviller was astonished by the size and variety of his requisition
for supplies. Besides the customary rations Stonor included all the
luxuries the store afforded: viz., tinned fish, vegetables and fruit;
condensed milk, marmalade and cocoa. And in quantities double what he
would ordinarily have taken.

"Getting luxurious in your old age, aren't you?" said the trader.

"Oh, I'm tired of an unrelieved diet of bannock and beans," said Stonor,
with a carelessness so apparent, they ought to have been warned; but of
course they never dreamed of anything so preposterous as the truth.

Stonor had two horses of his own. He engaged three more from Simon
Grampierre, horses that he knew, and from Tole Grampierre purchased a
fine rabbit-skin robe for Clare's bed on the trail. Tole, who had
secretly hoped to be taken on this expedition, was much disappointed
when no invitation was forthcoming. Stonor arranged with Tole to ride to
meet him with additional supplies on the date when he might expect to be
returning. Tole was to leave Enterprise on July 12th.

From Father Goussard Stonor borrowed a mosquito tent on the plea that
his own was torn. He smuggled a folding camp-cot into his outfit. Clare
fortunately had brought s