can," I said; and the words recalled our river at home, and the green
bank off which I used to plunge.

"I learned in Lambeth Baths," said Esau.

"Then if I were you I'd go and have a dip; freshen you both up for the
day. There's a place under the trees about a hundred yards from the
wharf. I've had a swim there this morning."

"Already?" I said.

"Yes, and done some business beside. But look here; keep to the
shallows there, and don't venture into the stream, for the current is
exceedingly swift."

A swim in the bright morning sunshine sounded so delightful that I made
for the door at once.

"Remember about the current, my lads," said Gunson; "and you, Dean, if
you keep your eyes open you'll see plenty of salmon."

"That's his way of making fun of me," said Esau, as soon as we were
outside. "Somehow he don't like me."

"And you don't like him, Esau?"

"That's about true, Mr Gordon," cried Esau. "But oh my!--only look!"

I needed no telling, for as we stood on the banks of that swift river,
with the forest rising behind us, and the sun glorifying everything
around, all thoughts of the last night's low spirits, and the trouble we
had gone through, were forgotten, and I felt ready to shout for joy.

The axe of the woodman had been at work, but so little that it was
hardly noticeable, and, look which way we would, all was lovely,
glorious, more beautiful than words can paint.

"Here, I want to shout. I want to lie down and roll. Here, lay hold of
my ankles and hold me," cried Esau, "Why? What are you going to do?"

"I feel as if I must stand on my head, or I shall go mad. I do indeed."

"Don't be so stupid."

"But it ain't stupid. It's all so--so--Oh! I can't tell you how
beautiful it is."

"Never mind now. We are here, and can go on liking it."

"Yes, I know; but--I say, lookye here. What a tree to climb, with all
its branches standing out like steps, and--Why, it must be a hundred
feet high."

"It's more than two," I said as I gazed up at the grand green spire of a
Douglas pine, tapering gradually up, as if it intended to pierce the
bright blue sky.

"Can't be so high as that," said Esau. "But I don't know," he cried.
"Look at this stump; why, it must be twenty or thirty feet round. And
look at 'em, hundreds and thousands of 'em, all standing as close
together as they can. Oh, look! look! look! Can't help it, I must
shout. I don't care about the trouble or the work, or the long