wet slope. This, however, would save a
toilsome climb, and Charnock, jerking the bag higher on his shoulders,
went on.

A few minutes later he saw Wilkinson come round a corner. One of them
would have to go back to let the other pass, and it would be difficult
to turn if they met at the gully. Charnock did not mean to give way, and
with his arms crooked to support his load, he required some room.
There was no way up the torn bank, and on the other side a nearly
perpendicular slope of wet soil and gravel ran down to the river. In
places, the surface was broken by small, half-buried firs.

When both were near the gully Wilkinson stopped, and Charnock, whose
head was bent, thought he had not known who he was. He certainly looked
surprised, and Charnock was conscious of rather grim amusement as he
guessed the reason. Wilkinson had, no doubt, not expected him to be
capable of carrying a heavy bag along the dangerous ledge.

"Hallo!" he said. "The boys told me you were crippled by your pains."

"I was. The pain's gone."

"Rest's a good cure," said Wilkinson. "You got laid off on Saturday,
didn't you?"

The curiosity that had made Charnock stop was satisfied. Since
Wilkinson's work kept him at some distance from the gravel gang, it
looked as if he had made inquiries about Charnock, and had probably been
surprised to learn he had started with the others. There was, however,
no use in taxing the fellow with trying to make him drunk, because he
would deny that he knew anything about the whisky or declare that he had
sent it with a friendly object.

"Yes," he said, "but I didn't need the cure as badly as you think.
However, I'm not in a talkative mood and this bag is heavy. I'll trouble
you to get out of the way."

Wilkinson looked hard at him. Charnock knew why he had sent the whisky
and meant to quarrel, but was shrewd enough to choose his ground.

"You can dump your bag and wait until I get past."

"Not at all," said Charnock. "I don't see why I should pick up the load
again to convenience you. Anyhow, I'm going on, and the thing takes up
some room."

Wilkinson measured the distance across the gap. He imagined he could
reach the other side first and squeeze against the bank, when Charnock
must take the outside and would probably fall. He did not mean to be
forced back, particularly as there were men at work not far off who had,
no doubt, noted Charnock's aggressive attitude. The latter, however, was
quicker than