an emergency, and she felt that she could not have chosen a
better guide and companion. He was resourceful and overcame
difficulties; he seemed to know when she would sooner be quiet and when
she liked to talk. They had talked much beside the camp-fires, and
although he was not clever, she remembered what he said.

But she had something else to think about that gave her a sense of loss
and a poignant melancholy. Indeed, she had forced her mind to dwell upon
the other matters in order to find relief, and she was glad when
Thirlwell broke the silence.

"We ought to make the Shadow by to-morrow noon, and the mine in the
evening."

"I think we go down the Grand Rapid before we reach the mine?"

Thirlwell made a sign of agreement, and after a moment's hesitation she
gave him a quick glance.

"I wonder if you know what day to-morrow is? I mean the associations it
has for me?"

"Yes," he said in a sympathetic voice. "I thought you would sooner not
talk about it; but I remember. In a way, it's curious you should be here
now."

"Ah," she said, "I wanted to be in the North when the day came round,
but I did not imagine I should go down the rapid in the evening. It was
in the evening the canoe capsized!"

"Dusk was falling; the smoke of a bush fire blew across the river, and
there was a moon."

"The moon will be out to-morrow," Agatha said quietly. "It is strange; I
couldn't have arranged that things should happen like this!"

She paused for some moments and then resumed: "Perhaps it is ridiculous,
but I imagine now I am going to find the lode. The doubts I started with
have gone; I feel calmly confident."

Thirlwell noted the emotional tremble in her voice and thought he had
better use some tact.

"I must see the load that got wet is properly put up," he said, and
moved back into the shadow; but Agatha sat still, watching the smoke
curl among the dark trunks.

She had not exaggerated, for a feeling of quiet confidence had been
getting stronger all day. There was no obvious reason for it and the
difficulties she must overcome were greater than she had thought; but
she felt that she would succeed. After all, her father had loved her
best, she was making the search for his sake, and when she reached the
scene of his efforts she would find some help. The hope was, of course,
illogical and she was a teacher of science; but it was unshakable and
comforted her. Then she mused about her father's life in the wilds.
Some