"When will you be starting?"

"Oh, to-morrow, maybe," said the skipper without suspecting the least
humour in the situation; "or Thursday--or Friday; whenever I can get the
boys together. You just stay around and I'll let you know."

With this Garth was forced to be content.

Next there was the business of laying in supplies from the "Company."
Garth tasted to the full the sweets of partnership, as he and Natalie
gauged each other's appetite, and made their calculations. Paul Smiley
accompanied them in the capacity of expert adviser; but the old man was
inclined to be scandalized at the extravagant luxuries Garth insisted on
adding to the five great staples of Northern travel; viz., bacon, flour,
baking-powder, tea and sugar. Garth must have besides, canned vegetables
and milk for Natalie; also cocoa, jam and fresh butter. The whole was
contained in four goodly boxes.

"Mercy!" exclaimed Natalie. "Fancy our two little selves getting outside
all that! Picture us waddling back to civilization."

Garth also made the necessary rougher additions to her wardrobe; and
bought her a rifle of small calibre.

In the afternoon, with strict injunctions to Natalie to remain indoors
during his absence, he set off to a half-breed cabin a mile up the
river, to obtain a supply of moccasins for both. Mademoiselle Trudeau
undertook to bear Natalie company at home.

He had not been gone long before the Convent-bred child with her precise
phrases began to get on the nerves of the irrepressible Natalie. At the
same time the exquisite clarity of the Northern summer air, the delicate
mantling blue overhead, and the liquid sunshine on the foliage all began
to tempt her sorely. Across the road a field of squirrel-tail, dimpling
silkily in the breeze, stretched to the river bank, and she saw she
could cross it without passing any house. Natalie was never the one to
resist such a lure; she sent the child away on an imaginary errand, and
slipping out by the side door, crossed the field, and gained the bank
without, as she fondly hoped, having been seen by the row of gossipers
with their chairs tipped back against the front of the building.
Rejoicing in her freedom, she followed the path Garth had taken along
the edge of the bank, thinking how pleasant it would be to surprise him
coming home, and planning how she would cajole him into forgiving her
disobedience. The thought of Garth's being angry with her caused a
strange, vague little thrill,