ry and met that English girl!"

She went off and Jim sat by the fire with his brows knit. Perhaps he
had talked too much and bored Carrie, but he suspected that she had led
him on. By and by he roused himself and went to chop some wood.
Martin did not start in the morning, as his hosts had expected. He
said his packers needed a rest and loafed about the camp, sometimes
talking to Carrie and sometimes watching Jake and Jim at work. Next
morning, however, he said he must go, and while they were at breakfast
turned to Jim.

"In the bush, one often runs up against obstacles one did not expect.
If you find you can't put your contract over, I'd like you to send me
word."

"I don't see why we should bother you," Jim replied with some surprise.

Martin smiled. "For one thing, you had a notion the Cartner people and
I were playing a crooked game. Then you're making a good job, and I
wouldn't like to see you beat."

"We imagined you wouldn't like our butting in on jobs you thought were
yours," Jake observed.

"That is so," said Martin. "If I help, I'll make a proposition, to
which I guess you'll be able to agree. In the meantime, we can let it
go. Looks as if you'd make good anyhow."

He began to talk about something else and when he set off Jake and Jim
went with him down the line. After a time, he stopped them.

"I must hit the trail and not keep you from your job," he said. "I
reckon you'll put it over, but if you want some backing, remember my
offer stands."

He paused and gave Jake a steady glance. "I like the way you have
treated me; your sister is a queen."

Then he went on with his packers and Jake and Jim returned quietly to
camp.

CHAPTER XII

FIRE

The light had got dim, and Carrie put down her sewing and looked about.
A belt of yellow sky glimmered above the distant snow, but the valley
was dark and the pines rolled in blurred masses up the hill. Thin mist
crept out of the deep hollow and Carrie shivered when a cold wind shook
the trees. She was beginning to know the wilds, and now and then their
austerity daunted her. By and by a red twinkle in the distance drew
her glance and she turned to Jim.

"What is that?"

Jim looked and frowned. "Ah," he said, "I'd begun to think our luck
was too good!"

"But what is the light?"

"A bush fire."

Jake indicated the drift of the smoke from their cooking fire. As a
rule, the valleys of British Columbia that open to the west form