hotograph. "You will
see that by the picture I promised to bring."

Agatha took the photograph. It showed a broad stretch of sullen water
with a strip of forest on the other side. The pines were ragged and
stunted and some leaned across each other, while the gloomy sky was
smeared by the smoke of a forest-fire. In the foreground, angry waves
broke in foaming turmoil among half-covered rocks. No soft beauty marked
the river of the North, and the land it flowed through looked forbidding
and desolate.

"The Shadow River," said Thirlwell. "You can see the Grand Rapid. I
have marked a cross where the canoe upset."

Agatha said nothing for a few moments, and Thirlwell was relieved. He
saw she felt keenly, but she was calm. In the meantime he waited; one
learns to wait in the North.

"Thank you; I would like to keep the picture," she said by and by, and
gave him a level glance. "I suppose you knew my father well?"

"I knew him in a way," Thirlwell answered cautiously, because he did not
want to talk about Strange's habits. Perhaps the girl knew her father's
weakness, and if not, it was better that she should think well of him.
Yet Thirlwell imagined she understood something of his reserve.

"Ah!" she said, "you knew him in the bush, but not when he lived at home
with us. I should like to tell you his story."

"Not if it is painful."

"It is painful, but I would sooner you heard it," she replied. "For one
thing, you have been kind--" She paused, and when she resumed there was
a faint sparkle in her eyes. "I want you to understand my father. He was
my hero."

Thirlwell made a vague gesture. He had seen Strange, half drunk, reeling
along the trail to the mine, but this did not lessen his sympathy for
the girl. He hoped she had taken his sign to imply that he was willing
to listen.

"To begin with, do you believe in the silver lode?" she asked.

"One disbelieves in nothing up yonder," Thirlwell tactfully replied.
"It's a country of surprises; you don't know what you may find.
Besides, there is some silver--I'm now sinking a shaft--"

Agatha smiled and he saw she had the gift of humor. The smile softened
her firm lips and lighted her eyes.

"I imagine you are cautious. In fact, you are rather like the picture I
made of you after reading your letters."

Thirlwell felt embarrassed and said nothing, as was his prudent rule
when his thoughts were not clear.

"My father found the ore many years since, when he was empl