with a mechanical precision,
forcing herself to this task and to that, yet feeling no zest or
pleasure in anything.

Although the days were so warm and sunny, the nights and early
mornings showed already a touch of frostiness, a chilly reminder of
the winter that was coming; and Katherine was glad to wear a coat
even while she was rowing, until the second portage had been
reached. Astor M'Kree met her himself this morning, his first
question being the one she most dreaded to hear.

"Any news of the _Mary_ yet, Miss Radford?"

"No," she answered sadly. "Mr. Selincourt's little flag was
hanging at half-mast when we started this morning."

"If she has gone down, it is the first boat I've built that has
cost a human life, that I know of," he said, "and it makes me feel
as if I should never have the courage to build another. I've got
one on the stocks, but I haven't touched her since this news came
up river."

"But disasters at sea will come, do what you will, and the best
boat ever built would go to pieces on those Akimiski rocks,"
Katherine said, trying to cheer him because he seemed so sad.

"It isn't clear to me why they were on Akimiski at all, when it was
the Twins they were making for," he replied, in a gloomy tone.
"Mr. Selincourt told me the other day that he believed it would be
better if I did my boatbuilding down below the portages; but I said
no. There is no difficulty in taking the boats down when the river
is in flood, though of course it would not be possible now; and
I've got the feeling that I like to take the first risk in them
myself. It is a queer sensation, I can tell you, to feel a boat
coming to life under your feet, and when I took the _Mary_ over the
falls it was just as if she jumped forward in sheer glee, when she
felt the swing and the rush of the water swirling round her sides."

Katherine nodded, but did not speak. There was a rugged eloquence
about the boatbuilder which always appealed to her, but this
morning it was almost more than she could bear.

"Perhaps I will come in and see Mrs. M'Kree as I come back, but I
must hurry now, for I am anxious to get my business done and turn
my face homeward as soon as I can," she said, after a little pause.
"Father did not seem quite so well yesterday, and Nellie thinks it
is the gloom of other people which has upset him."

"Very likely: poor man, he'd be bound to be sensitive in unexpected
places; afflicted people mostly are. I will