common river-boss.
Presently he drew himself up with an air. The heavy board was still in
his arms. Brydon came over and took the board, looking him squarely in
the eyes.

"Mr. Rupert," he said, "I want to ask something." The old man nodded.

"I helped you out of a bad scrape on the river?" Again the old man
nodded.

"Well, mebbe, I saved your life. For that I'm going to ask you to draw
no more driftwood from the Madawaska--not a stick, now or ever."

"It is the only way we can keep from freezing in winter." Mr. Rupert
scarcely knew what he said. Brydon looked at Judith, who turned away,
then answered: "I'll keep you from freezing, if you'll let me, you--and
Judith."

"Oh, please let us go into the house," Judith said hastily.

She saw the young doctor driving towards them out of the covered bridge!

When Brydon went to join his men far down the river he left a wife
behind him at the Bridge House, where she and her grandfather were to
stay until the next summer. Then there would be a journey from Bamber's
Boom to a new home.

In the late autumn he came, before he went away to the shanties in the
backwoods, and again in the winter just before the babe was born. Then
he went far up the river to Rice Lake and beyond, to bring down the
drives of logs for his Company. June came, and then there was a sudden
sorrow at the Bridge House. How great it was, Pierre's words as he stood
at the door one evening will testify. He said to the young doctor: "Save
the child, and you shall have back the I O U on your house." Which
was also evidence that the young doctor had fallen into the habit of
gambling.

The young doctor looked hard at him. He had a selfish nature. "You can
only do what you can do," he said.

Pierre's eyes were sinister. "If you do not save it, one would guess
why."

The other started, flushed, was silent, and then said: "You think I'm a
coward. We shall see. There is a way, but it may fail."

And though he sucked the diphtheria poison from the child's throat, it
died the next night.

Still, the cottage that Pierre and Company had won was handed back with
such good advice as only a worldwise adventurer can give.

Of the child's death its father did not know. They were not certain
where he was. But when the mother took to her bed again, the young
doctor said it was best that Brydon should come. Pierre had time and
inclination to go for him. But before he went he was taken to Judith's
bedside. Pierre h