mond went back up the
avenue, and presenting the card at a big store, was engaged for a week
and promised a post afterwards if the department boss was satisfied.

CHAPTER XV

THE GRAND RAPID

Bright moonlight touched the river, streaking the angry water with a
silver track, when Scott and Thirlwell poled against the stream in the
gloom of the wooded bank. The Shadow, swollen by melted snow, rolled by
in flood, swirling along the stony beach in lines of foam, and tossing
about battered trunks brought down by winter storms. Farther down
stream, a shimmering haze of spray indicated the Grand Rapid, and
Thirlwell meant to stem the current until they were far enough from the
foaming turmoil to paddle across. The gray trout were shy that evening
and they had let the canoe drift farther than they thought. Presently
somebody hailed them from the bank, and as they let the canoe swing
round in an eddy a dark figure moved out from the gloom of the pines.

"Driscoll's voice, I think," said Scott. "Head her inshore; we'll see
what he wants."

It transpired that Driscoll wanted them to take him across. He had left
his small canoe some distance down stream, because he thought he might
be drawn into the rapid before he could reach the other bank. Scott's
canoe was larger, and with three men on board they could easily make
head against the current.

"I guess we've got to take him," Scott remarked. "Give her a push and
run her in behind the rock."

When the canoe grounded Driscoll got on board and picked up a pole. As
there was not another, Thirlwell paddled in the stern while they pushed
the craft through the slack. It was hard work and he noted how slowly
the pines rolled past. By and by they reached an angry-white rush of
current between an island and the bank, and as they could scarcely make
progress Scott suggested putting down the poles and paddling across.
Driscoll, however, grumbled that they were not far enough up stream, and
getting out when they ran the canoe close to the driftwood that washed
about the shingle, tracked her for some distance through the shallow
water. While the fellow stumbled among the dead branches, Scott gave
Thirlwell a meaning look that the latter thought he understood.

It was obvious that Driscoll was anxious to avoid being swept into the
rapid and Thirlwell admitted the prudence of this, but did not think the
danger great enough to account for his rather excessive caution. The
Indians