ut I feel sure I'm causing you and Mrs. Gray
no end of inconvenience, coming at this time of night."

"Oh, no, sir! 'Tis no inconvenience in th' least. We're proud t' have
you," assured Mrs. Gray, taking his hand. "Why, you'm wet, sir!" she
exclaimed, noticing Shad's clinging garments, and her motherly
instinct at once asserted itself. "You must have a change. Bob, lad,
hold th' candle, now, whilst I get some dry clothes."

"Please don't trouble yourself. I'm very comfortable by the fire;
indeed, I am," Shad protested.

But Bob nevertheless held the candle while his mother selected a suit
of warm underwear, a pair of woollen socks, a flannel outer shirt, and
a pair of freshly washed white moleskin trousers from the chest of
drawers.

"These be Bob's clothes, but they'll be a handy fit for you, I'm
thinkin', for Bob an' you be as like in size as two duck's eggs," she
commented, looking the two over for comparison. "Now, Bob, light a
candle an' show Mr. Trowbridge above stairs. When you're changed, sir,
bring your wet things down, an' we'll hang un by th' stove t' dry."

"You're very kind, Mrs. Gray," said Shad gratefully, turning to follow
Bob.

In the attic were three bunks spread with downy Hudson's Bay Company
blankets, two stools, and a small table. It contained no other
furniture, but was beautifully clean. There was an open window at
either end, one looking toward the water, the other toward the spruce
forest, and the atmosphere, bearing the perfume of balsam and fir, was
fresh and wholesome.

"I sleeps here," informed Bob, placing the candle on the table and
indicating one of the bunks, "an' you may have either o' th' other
beds you wants. Now whilst you changes, sir, I'll bring up th' things
from th' boat. Here's a pair o' deerskin moccasins. Put un on," he
added, selecting a new pair from several hanging on a peg.

Shad made his toilet leisurely, and as he turned to descend the stairs
with his wet garments on his arm he met the appetising odour of frying
fish, which reminded him that he had eaten nothing since mid-day and
was ravenously hungry.

In the room below he found the table spread with a white cloth. A
plate of bread and a jar of jam were upon it, and at the stove Mrs.
Gray was transferring from frying-pan to platter some deliciously
browned brook trout. Bob, with his father's assistance, had brought up
Shad's belongings from the boat, and Richard was critically examining
Shad's repeating rif