.

"I was needing a yarn. Nothing amiss at the post? You wanted
me--particular?"

The smile in Steve's eyes deepened.

"No. I was needing a--yarn."

The doctor's twinkling eyes searched the clearing. A fallen tree was
sprawling near by, with its upper boughs helping to cascade the waters
of the stream. He pointed at it.

"Guess we don't need to wear our legs out."

Steve laughed shortly.

"That's where the neches beat us every time. You need to sit at a
pow-wow."

"Sure. Their wise men sit most all the time."

They moved over to the tree trunk, and Ross accepted the extreme base of
it and sat with his back against the up-torn roots. Steve sat astride
the trunk facing him. Then by a common impulse the men produced their
pipes. Steve's was alight first and he held a match for the other.

"You were chasing me up?" he said. "Nothing on the Reserve?"

"No." The doctor's pipe was glowing under the efforts of his powerful
lungs. "Most of the neches are sleeping off the dope. It's queer how
they're crazy for physic. How's Nita and the kiddie? I haven't seen
Nita since the dance."

Steve's smile died out quite suddenly. The doctor's observant eyes lost
nothing of the change, although the sunshine on the dancing waters
seemed to absorb his whole attention.

"Guess little Coqueline absorbs more bottles to the twenty-four hours
than you'd ever guess she was made to fit," Steve replied with a half
laugh. "She kind of reminds you of one of those African sand rivers in
the rainy season. Nita's the same as usual. She had a good time at the
dance."

"Yes." The doctor bestirred himself and withdrew his gaze from the
tumbling waters. "You had something to say to me," he demanded abruptly,
his blue eyes squarely challenging.

Steve nodded. A half smile lit his steady eyes.

"Sure. And--it isn't easy."

The Scotsman returned the half smile with interest.

"I haven't noticed it hard for folks to talk, unless it is to tell of
their own shortcomings. Guess you aren't figgering that way. Maybe I can
help you. I'd hate to be setting out on a two years' trip and leaving
Millie to scratch around without me."

Steve's eyes lit.

"That's it, Doc," he said with a nod which told the other of the
emotions stirring under his calm exterior. "Two years!" He laughed
without any amusement. "It may be more, a hell of a sight. Maybe even I
won't get back. You see, you never can figger what this north country's
got waiting on you. I