riscoll's object for wading among the reefs, and why had he stolen away
when he thought he was watched? Thirlwell could not solve the puzzle,
but he could find out if the fellow were Driscoll or not, because the
trail passed his shack.

He walked faster, making as little noise as possible, and by and by
reached a belt of thinner forest. He passed a fallen pine, from which he
knew the shack was visible in daylight, and resolved to see if Driscoll
was at home. If not, Thirlwell thought it would be safe to conclude that
he had seen him among the reefs. A few moments later a light flashed
among the trees, flickered once or twice, and then burned steadily.
Thirlwell knew it came from the window of the shack, but it was curious
that Driscoll had lighted his lamp. In summer, miners and prospectors
went to bed at sunset, and Driscoll read no books or newspapers.
Besides, if he wanted a light, why had he not got it before? It,
however, looked as if the man had not been at the rapid and when
Thirlwell passed the shack he saw his dark figure at the door.

"Who's that?" he asked, and when Thirlwell answered, added: "Watch out
as you go down the gulch. There's a rampike across the trail."

When Thirlwell came to the burned pine he stopped abruptly as a thought
struck him. Driscoll's voice had sounded breathless; perhaps the fellow
had overdone his part. It might have been wiser for him to be silent.
Driscoll often went fishing and knew the river well; now the water was
low he could have saved some distance by crossing the uncovered reefs
instead of scrambling along the curved bank. Besides, he had had a few
minutes' start. After all, he might have been at the rapid and have
hurried back in order to deceive the man who had disturbed him.
Moreover, he had learned who the man was.

This, however, did not take Thirlwell far and he resumed his walk,
wondering what Driscoll had been doing and why he feared to be
disturbed. It was plain that he had taken some trouble to put Thirlwell
off the track and might have succeeded had not the hoarseness of his
voice given the latter a hint. Thirlwell felt puzzled, but could find no
clue, and deciding that the matter was not important presently dismissed
it. For all that, he resolved to watch Driscoll, but saw nothing to
excite his suspicions for the next week or two. Then the man bought all
the provisions Scott would let him have and loading his canoe started
for the North.

CHAPTER V