l it needed," he burst out. "What
reason does he give?"

"No reason," said Charley coolly. "Just talks foolish."

Hooliam added something with a great show of plausibility.

"Says he hasn't got room," said Charley with a laugh.

"Rubbish!" said Garth. "You tell him he takes the three of us or none!
Give it to him strong!"

Upon receipt of this ultimatum, Hooliam, shrugging, turned away; and the
three of them boarded the _Loseis_.

Running out two pairs of clumsy sweeps, which were no more than
good-sized trees a little flattened at one end, they laboriously pulled
out of the river. Before them the lake stretched to the horizon as
smooth and colourless as a lightly frosted pane. Loons, herons and
a little kind of gull; ducks in pairs and squadrons; flocks of brown
geese and shining white swans, wheeled, sailed and swam about them
in countless numbers.

When they had rowed upward of a mile into the lake a mighty discussion
suddenly arose amongst the crew. The oarsmen ceased their labours to
take part in it. Eight wetted brown forefingers were held aloft.

"They're scrapping about whether there is any wind," Charley explained.

To a white man's senses there was no sign of wind; nevertheless the
oars were run in, the cargo shifted, and the heavy mast, with infinite
labour, stepped amidships and guyed. Hooliam looked on indifferently
from the stern, idly swinging his great sweep back and forth. Finally
a dirty square sail was raised. It declined to belly or flap in the
slightest degree; but the breeds, satisfied with what they had done, lay
around the boat, preparing to enjoy themselves in luxurious ease. They
amused themselves by tempting the water-fowl close with imitations of
their cries; and popping at them ineffectively with their twenty-two
"trade-guns."

Garth stood it as long as he could.

"Look here!" he said at length to Charley. "Ask him how long this is
going to last."

Charley translated. Hooliam looked sagely astern, spat, and answered in
Cree.

"He says there'll be a breeze by and by," said Charley.

The scarcely veiled insolence of this reply caused Garth inwardly to
fume. However, reflecting that, after all, Hooliam ought to know more
about navigation than he, he possessed his soul in patience for another
half-hour. There was still no sign of wind; and it was growing very hot
in the sun. Garth, setting his jaw, drew out his watch.

"Tell him I'll give him just fifteen minutes longer," he s