ng hands with her.

Then they must needs come in and sit down, while their host made a
remark on the weather, and informed them, with an air, that he was
a very good reader. He wrapped his Bible in an end of comforter, and
pulling a doll's trunk from under the bed, put it away. Natalie had a
glimpse of the contents of the trunk; she said afterward, it was like
the inside of his head; beside the Bible, there were sundry pieces
of dried moose meat, a gaudy silk handkerchief, tobacco and a brass
watch-chain of the size of a small cable. He took out the latter
and put it on.

Finally he appeared to hear Garth's question. "Bishop gone up little
river. Four days," he said.

"Some one was to meet me here," said Garth confidently.

An expression of genuine concern appeared under Ancose Mackey's solemn
mugging. "You Garth Pevensey?" he asked.

Garth nodded.

Ancose's English was not equal to the situation. He turned quickly to
Pake, squatting in the doorway, and exploded in Cree. Pake answered in
kind. It takes a roundabout course to say anything of an abstract nature
in Cree. Finally Garth heard the ominous name of Mary Co-que-wasa enter
into their discourse.

"What is it?" he demanded impatiently.

Ancose turned a long face to him. "Bad medicine here," he said. "Bishop
send ol' Pierre Toma down from head of rapids with him team to get you,"
he went on, struggling manfully with his English. "Ol' Pierre stay to me
three days of waiting. Las' night come boy up big river in canoe. Boy
say to ol' Pierre, Cap'n Jack stuck at Caliper Island. Boy say, Cap'n
Jack want tell to Bishop, Garth Pevensey no can come. Garth Pevensey him
gone back outside."

Garth and Natalie looked at each other in dismay.

"Mary Co-que-wasa do this," added Ancose. "Him no speak never true."

"Of course!" said Natalie. "She knew they wouldn't believe her, so she
sent the boy up, while she waited below."

"Where's the boy?" Garth demanded.

Ancose shrugged. "Gone down," he said. "No can catch now."

"When did Pierre Toma go back?"

"Early," said Ancose. "Five hours. Him horses fresh."

"Maybe we can catch them yet!" cried Garth. "How much to the head of the
rapids, Pake?"

Pake had ample English to make a good bargain. However, it was finally
struck; and cutting Ancose Mackey's elaborate adieus very short, they
took to the road again.

They had twenty-five miles to cover. This part of the trail is
considerably used in freighting goods a