after the sailing time, and as
the lady stepped on board a rope fell with a splash. There was a shout
of warning as the bows, caught by the current, began to swing out into
the stream, and the end of the gangway slipped along the edge of the
wharf. It threatened to fall into the river, the girl was not on board
yet, and Blake leaped upon the plank. Seizing her shoulder, he drove
her forward until a seaman, reaching out, drew her safe on deck. Then
the paddles splashed and as the boat forged out into the stream, the
girl turned and thanked Blake. He could not see her clearly, because
an over-arching deck cast a shadow upon her face.

"Glad to have been of assistance, but I don't think you could have
fallen in," he said. "The guy-rope they had on the gangway might have
held it up."

Turning away, he entered the smoke-room, where he spent a while over an
English newspaper that devoted some space to social functions and the
doings of people of importance, noticing once or twice, with a curious
smile, mention of names he knew. He had the gift of making friends,
and before he went to India had met a number of men and women of note
who had been disposed to like him. Then he had won the good opinion of
responsible officers on the turbulent frontier and made acquaintances
that might have been valuable. Now, however, he had done with all
that; he was banished from the world they moved in, and if they ever
remembered him it was, no doubt, as one who had gone under.

Shaking off these thoughts, he joined some Americans in a game of
cards, and it was late at night when he went out into the moonlight as
the boat steamed up Lake St. Peter. A long plume of smoke trailed
across the cloudless sky, the water glistened with silvery radiance,
and, looking over the wide expanse, he could see dark trees etched
faintly on the blue horizon. Ahead the lights of Three Rivers twinkled
among square, black blocks of houses and tall sawmill stacks.

A few passengers were strolling about, but the English newspaper had
made him restless and to wish to be alone, so, descending to a quieter
deck, he was surprised to see the girl he had assisted sitting in a
canvas chair near the rail. Close by stood several large baskets from
which there rose an angry snarling.

"What is this?" he asked with the careless abruptness which usually
characterized him. "With your permission." He raised a lid, while the
girl watched him with amusement.

"L