YES AND SQUARED-OUT TOES.

Far up ahead went forward the canoe of the dead chief, with Edmonton
Ridgar sitting in silence among the blackened warriors.

Never once did he glance backward, never once at the night camps did he
come near his factor.

Throughout the long days McElroy pondered this in his heart and turned
it over and over without satisfaction. Unable to form any conclusion
he fell to thinking of their friendship and of the gentle nature of the
man, the unbending faith of him.

It was all a sorry riddle.

"Brace up, M'sieu," De Courtenay would laugh, even in the midst of
exhaustion; "sing,--smile,--perhaps it will be only the stake, not
something worse. Console yourself, as do I, with--memories."

And McElroy would say nothing, trying in his heart to hold back his
wrath against this man for whose death he was to be responsible.

So went the uneven chase. Day's march of the savages and night's rest on
the green shores, mummying fires in the big tepee and the captives
lying in the sleep of exhaustion with one guard pacing the lodge
opening,--day's pursuit of the lone canoe, brief landings for tea
made at a micmac fire, scanning of lake and river and forest, night's
unceasing forging ahead with Maren asleep in the prow, her head on
Dupre's blanket.

When the last hard portage was made which carried them into Deer River,
the girl looked to the west with a sudden fire of the old passion in her
eyes.

"So, M'sieu?" she said to Dupre, "it lies yonder, the Land of the
Whispering Hills? Would God our course lay there!"

And Dupre, wondering, answered, "Aye, at the Athabasca," for it was
to McElroy alone that she had uncovered her soul concerning the great
quest.

In Deer River the signs began to be plainer and fresher, showing the
passing of the Indians,--here a camp but two days deserted, there scraps
of refuse not yet cleared away by forest scavengers, and the pursuers
knew they drew close to danger and excitement.

All day the men of Mowbray's brigade bent to the paddles in growing
eagerness, and at the evening's stop Maren spoke to them, gathered
around with cold rations in their hands, for no fire was lighted now.

"To-morrow we will overtake the Nakonkirhirinons," she said simply, as
if that meant no more than speaking a brother brigade of Hudson's Bays,
"and then will come the time of action. At night-camp we will make our
effort of deliverance. You, Alloybeau, and you, McDonald, will keep
with