in Montreal."

He leaned farther back against the tree, with a little whimsical
smile. It was pleasant to appear as a modern Ulysses in the eyes of a
very pretty girl, but he had, as she was quick to recognize, taken up
the role unconsciously.

"Where are you going next?" she asked.

"I shall probably go off prospecting if I can raise the money. That is
partly why I hope that Major Kinnaird will keep me as long as he camps
out in the bush."

Ida laughed.

"I think you may count on that. He is rather pleased with you. In
fact, I heard him say that if he'd had you in India he would have made
a capable sergeant of you."

She saw a shadow creep into his face, and wondered what had brought it
there, for she did not know that in his younger days he had thought of
Sandhurst. Then, seeing that he did not answer, she rose.

"Well," she said, "Arabella is probably wanting me."

He watched her move away among the great fir trunks, and then took out
his pipe with a little sigh. Still he had, or so he fancied, sense
enough to refrain from allowing his thoughts to wander in her
direction too frequently, and, soothed by the murmur of the river, he
presently went to sleep. When he awakened it was time to see that the
Indians got supper ready.

During the evening, Stirling reached the camp; and when the Siwash who
had poled his canoe up the river had drawn it out, they sat down
somewhat limply on the shingle, for he had as usual traveled with
feverish haste. He stayed until the next day, which was rather longer
than any of them expected; and it was not by accident that he came
upon Weston alone before he went away. The latter was then engaged in
lighting a fire, and his employer sat down on a fir branch and quietly
looked him over.

"Foot getting better?" he asked.

"I think it is," said Weston.

Stirling nodded.

"I understand that you have been of some service to these people; and
they're my daughter's friends," he said. "Is there anything I can do
for you?"

"No," replied Weston, "I don't think there is."

The contractor looked at him steadily for a moment or two.

"Well," he said, "if anything strikes you, there's no reason why you
shouldn't let me know. Feeling anxious to get back to the track?"

Weston's eyes twinkled.

"I don't think I am."

"Then you may stay right where you are, and take care of my daughter.
If she wants to climb mountains or shoot rapids, it's to be done; but
you'll fix things so it