ned that both the menfolk of
his adopted house should play the fool that night. Whatever Beorn and
Eyelids might do or say, and however intoxicated they might become, he
had planned for himself that he would keep quite sober, with his wits
about him, that he might recall next day what they had done and said
when thus taken off their guard. There were two problems which he was
anxious to solve; the first, the reason for his brother-in-law's long
delay; the second, what it was that they watched for with such
eagerness, and waved to at the bend.

The latter problem had become still more perplexing since Eyelids'
return that morning, for in the afternoon, when they were sitting
together outside the shack, he also had seen something down-river,
and, following his father's and sister's example, had risen to his
feet, commenced to wave, and, when it had disappeared, had inquired,
"Who was that fellow?" Straightway Beorn had scowled him into silence,
and Peggy, leaning over, had whispered some words in a Cree-dialect,
which Granger did not understand; whereupon an expression of fear and
wonder had come into Eyelids' face. When Granger, having taken him
apart, had asked him for an explanation, he had only shaken his head
stupidly, saying that he must have been mistaken, and that there was
nothing there. This was manifestly false, for during all the remaining
portion of the daylight his eyes had kept continually furtively
returning down-river towards the bend.

The fact that he also had seen something, did away with Granger's
supposition that it was to her brother, lurking in the vicinity, that
Peggy had signalled with her hand--and made him the more curious to
know the real cause. Could it be Spurling, he wondered, who had made
a compact with them and lay in hiding there? If that was so, then what
had been the reason of Eyelids' delay,--for he had not stayed to
collect any caches of furs, but had come back empty-handed, walking by
the river-bank. He had watched to see whether anyone had put out from
the store to leave provisions at the bend; but no one had been there,
unless at a time when he slept. His passion to share the secret had
become all-consuming, as curiosity must when it works in the mind of a
lonely man. To this end he had shadowed Eyelids all that day, giving
him no opportunity for private talk with his family, and, finally, had
prepared this trap of a drinking-bout, hoping that someone might
commit himself. As ye