by
another door.

CHAPTER IX

CLARKE MAKES A SUGGESTION

At breakfast next morning Blake and Harding found the farmer, who had
spent the night at the hotel, at their table and afterwards sat for a
time on the verandah talking to him. When they mentioned their first
objective point and asked if he could give them any directions for
reaching it he looked thoughtful.

"I only know that it's remarkably rough country; thick pine bush on
rolling ground, with some bad muskegs and small lakes," he said. "You
would find things easier if you could hire an Indian or two and a canoe
when you strike the river. The boys here seldom go up so far, but
Clarke could help you if he liked. He's been north and knows the
Indians."

"We're willing to pay him for any useful help," Harding replied.

"Be careful," said the farmer. "If you're on a prospecting trip, keep
your secret close. There's another thing I might mention." He turned
to Blake. "If you're a friend of Benson's, take him along with you."

"I suppose I am, in a way, though it's a long time since I met him.
But why do you recommend our taking him?"

"I hate to see a man go to pieces as Benson's doing, and Clarke's
ruining the fellow. He must have got two or three thousand dollars out
of him one way or another and isn't satisfied with that. Lent him
money on mortgage to start a foolish stock-raising speculation and
keeps him well supplied with drink. The fellow's weak, but he has his
good points."

"But what's Clarke's object?"

"It isn't very clear, but a man who's seldom sober is easily robbed and
Benson's place is worth something; Clarke sees it's properly farmed.
However, you must use your judgment about anything he tells you; I've
given you warning."

He went away and Blake sat silent for a time. Though they had not been
intimate friends, he had known Benson when the latter was a wild young
subaltern, and it did not seem fitting to leave him in the clutches of
a man who was ruining him in health and fortune. He would sooner not
have met the man at all, but since they had met, there was, so far as
he could see, only one thing to be done.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to take Benson with us," he said to
Harding.

The American looked doubtful. "We could do with another white man, but
I guess your friend isn't the kind we want. He may give us trouble,
and you can't count on much help from a whisky-tank. However, if you
wish it, you can brin