and
determination in his breast.

Clark, from the office window, was looking down at his broad back in a
moment of abstraction. At Fisette's departure he had suddenly plunged
into one of those moods so peculiar to his temperament. Beside the
halfbreed he seemed to perceive Stoughton, and with Baudette he
discerned the figure of Riggs, and so on till there were marshalled
before him the whole battalion of those who were caught up in the
onward march. He realized, without any hesitation, that should
Baudette fail in his work, the magnificent bulk of the great pulp mill
would be but a futile shell. And should the prospecting pick of the
half-breed not uncover that which he sought, the entire enterprise
would lack its basic security. But it was characteristic of the man
that this vision brought with it no depression, but seemed rather to
point to ultimate success in the very blending of diverse elements that
strove together towards the same end.

Two weeks later, Baudette returned and looked questioningly at his
chief. In very few words he explained that the fortnight had been
spent in the woods and that what he had said was correct.

Clark listened silently. Here was a man to his liking. When the
lumberman finished he again unrolled the big map, but this time instead
of the wavering red pencil line, there was the bold demarcation of a
much greater area, which Belding's draughtsman had plotted in
professional style. In the middle of it was the territory Baudette had
previously indicated.

"I thought we'd better be safe, and got this--from the Government. Go
to the chief accountant in the outside office. Give him an estimate of
what money you need for the next six months--and get to work--Good
morning."

Baudette merely nodded and disappeared. There was too much in his mind
to admit of expressing it, but, even had he felt conversational, there
was a finality about his dismissal that left no opening. He went away
charged with a grim determination. Here was the chance he had been
waiting for all his life.

And Clark had, by this time, labelled Baudette as a valuable and
dependable man. He forthwith forgot all about him, and went back to
the memory of Baudette's forefinger as it pushed its way up to the
Magwa River. It flashed upon him that, in the course of a vehemently
active life, he had built practically all things save one. At that he
fell into a reverie which ended with the pressing of a button th