er to
extricate himself from the tangle of snapped-off branches between the
log and the bottom of the river. Still, the clinging foot and arm
were visible above the rush of frothing water. Then more of the man
came into sight again, there was a half-smothered shout, and she loosed
the reel, while in another moment or two Alton swung himself up
dripping with part of one hand apparently thrust into a great flapping
fish's head. With the back of it pressed gainst his knee he drew the
head towards him, and the long silvery body became still, while the man
stood up smiling.

"Fingers were made before nets, but I wasn't quite sure of him all the
time," he said.

Miss Deringham, who was flushed and breathless, felt very gracious
towards her companion just then. It was, she realized, a somewhat
perilous thing he had done to please her, and this was gratifying in
itself, while the knowledge that he had postponed several affairs which
demanded his attention was more flattering still. He was also, in such
surroundings, almost admirable as he stood before her bareheaded and
dripping, the river frothing at his feet and the sliding mists behind
him. Deerskin jacket and stained and faded jean, lean, sinewy figure,
and bronzed face were all in keeping with the spirit of the scene.
Then a voice came out of the bush.

"Hallo, Harry! Are you anywhere around?" it said.

Alton answered, and Miss Deringham felt distinctly displeased. She had
been about to say something delicately apposite, and now Seaforth,
whose company she could have dispensed with, stood on the bank above
them, apparently quietly amused.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself, Harry," he said.

"Well," said Alton a trifle curtly, "you didn't come keeyowling through
the bush like a prairie coyote to tell me that?"

"No," said Seaforth, with a sudden change in his voice which Miss
Deringham noticed. "There's a man in from the settlement, and Hallam's
selling Townshead up to-day according to his tale."

Alton scrambled swiftly along the log. "Just one question, Charley.
Quite sure nobody came here with any message for me about it that you
forgot?" he said.

Seaforth made a little gesture of impatience, and there was a trace of
anger in his tone. "It is scarcely likely I should have forgotten
that," he said.

Then he glanced at Miss Deringham, and was slightly bewildered by what
he saw in her face. Seaforth had once or twice admired the girl's
serenity