wed away, and rocks one seldom saw
lifted their black tops above the racing foam. Inshore of the main rush,
smooth-worn ledges ran in and out among shallow pools. A short distance
ahead, the bush rolled down to the water's edge in a dark mass that
threw back in confused echoes the din the river made.

By and by the mosquitoes that had followed Thirlwell got more numerous
and when, in spite of the smoke, they settled upon his face and neck he
reeled up his line ready to start. As he did so he thought he saw
something move where the forest ran down to the river. The object was
indistinct, but it looked like a man walking cautiously upon a ledge
between the pools, and Thirlwell wondered what the fellow was doing
there. The big gray trout had stopped rising, there were no Indians
about, and the miners had not left the camp.

Thirlwell waited until the man moved out from the gloom of the trees.
His figure was now distinct against the foam of the rapid, and he
stooped as if he were looking down into a pool. Then he moved on, and
Thirlwell, noting that he would soon pass in front of a dark rock,
resolved to change his place in order to watch him better. Getting up,
he went down to the water's edge, but came to a tangle of white branches
that the river had thrown up. As he stopped he saw the man plainly, but
when he looked up after scrambling over the driftwood there was nobody
about.

This was strange and excited his curiosity. The other's figure would
probably be invisible against the rock, but he must have moved rapidly
to get in front of it. Then Thirlwell saw that where he stood the bush
was no longer behind him. He had the inshore eddies for a background and
the water reflected a faint light. There was no obvious reason why the
other should be alarmed and try to steal away, but it looked as if he
had done so.

Thirlwell sat down among the driftwood and waited, but saw no more of
the man; and then going back quietly, turned into a trail that led to
the mine. The trail was rough and narrow; in places, short brush had
sprung up, and there were patches of outcropping rock. It would be
difficult for anybody to follow it without making some noise, but
although he stopped and listened no sound came out of the gloom.

He went on, pondering the matter with some curiosity. Since the miners
were in camp, he imagined the man he had seen was Driscoll, who lived
alone in a log shack near the bank. But, if this were so, what was
D