ld-berry canes. They were green and did not rustle much, but he knew
that after this it would be useless to go on with the search. Besides,
he was not certain that a man had disturbed the stone. The camp-fire had
gone out and an animal might have come down to drink. He grumbled at his
awkwardness and going back to camp, went to sleep again.

In the morning he returned to the bank, but found no tracks. He could
account for the stone falling in two or three natural ways, but the
splash of the paddle was a different thing. Still he had not actually
heard the noise, but, so to speak, wakened with its echo in his ears,
and sitting down, he pondered the matter. Supposing that somebody from
Stormont's gang had prowled about the camp, it was difficult to see the
fellow's object. Thirlwell did not doubt that Stormont knew he was the
leader of Agatha's party and she could do nothing without his help. If
Driscoll had been with his former confederate, one could have understood
the thing. Black Steve had an Indian's cunning and the instincts of a
savage animal, but he was dead and Stormont was a rascal of another
kind. Steve's primitive methods would not appeal to him. Thirlwell gave
up the puzzle and got about his work.

CHAPTER XXVIII

STORMONT TRIES A BRIBE

When the light began to fade Thirlwell put W down his tools and went off
to try to catch a trout. He had noted that Drummond was not about the
camp and when he got near the mouth of a creek where he meant to fish
thought he saw an indistinct figure some distance in front. It vanished,
but he felt he had not been deceived and stopped for a minute or two.

Although he had no grounds for distrusting Drummond, he had marked
certain weaknesses in his character. The lad might have gone to fish,
but Thirlwell had not seen him make a rod, and remembering the falling
stone resolved to find out. The wood was thin, but the light was dim,
and the turmoil of the creek would drown any noise he made. After
walking obliquely inland for some distance he stopped to listen. He
heard nothing, but Drummond was now between him and the lake, and
Thirlwell thought he could not get across the creek. He came down to the
mouth of the latter cautiously, and when he was close to the lake
stopped behind a trunk. The water glimmered between the trees, and he
saw two dark figures outlined against the pale reflection.

There was some risk of his being seen, but he thought if Drummond was
afraid