of color crept into Nasmyth's face.

"I suppose I deserve that, though it wasn't quite the only thing I meant.
I've an idea that you are somehow going to lay up trouble for yourself by
persevering in this search."

"I don't want to be offensive; but can't you see that by urging me to let
the thing drop you are casting grave doubts upon the honor of a man of
your own caste and kind, one with whom you are closely acquainted? Are
you afraid to investigate, to look for proofs of Clarence Gladwyne's
story?"

Nasmyth looked him steadily in the eyes.

"For the sake of one or two others, I think I am. Your belief in the
guide, Vernon, has had its effect on me."

"Then," said Lisle, "I have no fear of putting my belief to the test; I
came up here for that purpose, and I mean to call upon you as my witness.
As you said of George Gladwyne, the man I owe so much to never did a
shabby thing. That he should have deserted a starving comrade is clean
impossible!"

"I suppose there's no help for it," responded Nasmyth, with a gesture of
acquiescence. "We have said enough. Since you insist, I'll stand by my
promise."

The thudding of the ax ceased, and they heard Jake returning with the
wood. Lisle set out the simple breakfast, and when they had eaten they
launched the canoe and floated swiftly down the smooth green river all
that day. They had accomplished the worst half of the journey;
henceforward their way lay down-stream, and with moderate good fortune
they need have no apprehension about safely reaching the settlements, but
they were both silent and ill at ease. Lisle was consumed with fierce
impatience; and Nasmyth shrank from what might shortly be revealed to
him. Scarcely a word was spoken when they lay in camp that night.

The next day they came to the head of a long and furiously-running rapid.
Rocks encumbered its channel; the stream boiled fiercely over sunken
ledges, dropping several feet here and there in angry falls; and in one
place, where the banks narrowed in, a white stretch of foaming waves ran
straight down the middle. Here they unloaded and spent the day
laboriously relaying their stores and camp-gear over the boulders and
ragged ledges between a wall of rock and the water. It was a remarkably
difficult traverse. In places they had to hoist the leader up to some
slippery shelf he could not reach unassisted and to which he dragged his
companions up in turn; in others deep pools barred their way, and in
sk