's voice had an ironical
note and his look did not indicate much sympathy. In the North, a demand
for food is seldom refused, but Scott obviously meant to be satisfied
with supplying the party's urgent needs. With this Thirlwell agreed.

Then Scott said to Driscoll, "You had better take your friends to the
bunk-house and tell the cook to make you supper. You know where to get
blankets."

Stormont got up with an effort, and when he went out with the others
Scott smiled.

"I'm not going back on my duty, but I don't want that outfit in my
shack," he said.

Next morning after breakfast Stormont came in. He had to some extent
recovered from his fatigue, but looked worn and dispirited.

"I guess I owe you some thanks," he said.

"I don't know if you do or not," Scott answered coolly. "In the bush, a
starving man is, so to speak, entitled to ask for food and shelter. I
couldn't refuse."

Stormont gave him a keen glance. "Well, there's another thing. It's a
long trail to the railroad and I want to buy stores enough to see us
out."

"Then I suppose I must let you have supplies; but you can't expect to
get them as cheap as at the settlements. In fact, you'll have to pay my
price."

"That needn't break the deal," Stormont replied. "I know when there's no
use in kicking."

"An unsuccessful prospecting trip is an expensive undertaking," Scott
said meaningly. "Then there's the disappointment. You would have got a
big lift if you'd been lucky enough to find Miss Strange's silver."

"The silver is not Miss Strange's. The law gives a mineral vein to the
person who stakes it off and records it first."

"That is so," Scott agreed. "Well, you don't look as if you had staked a
valuable claim! I suppose you stopped too long trying to find the vein,
and the ice was unsafe when you left. However, you want supplies to
carry you down to the settlement, and if you'll come along to the store,
we'll see what I've got."

They went out, and in the afternoon Stormont's party took the trail to
the South.

CHAPTER XIV

STORMONT DISOWNS A DEBT

The general store was empty, and Drummond, leaning on the counter,
frowned as he glanced at the clock. It was a few minutes after the time
for closing and he had been busily occupied all day. Besides, he had an
engagement at the pool-room and thought he would be late. If so, a man
whom he knew he could beat would probably begin a game with somebody
else, and he would miss an opportun