seldom failing in ready speech, whose careless tongue rasped
me with quick retort.

"Ah, so you have really come to your senses, Benteen," he cried
eagerly. "I thought it would not be much longer after you were able to
get grip upon an oar. Our red-headed friend has slow tongue of late,
yet I warrant he has little love for such man-killing work; so a
turn-about will be the vote of us all. Saint Anne! 'tis the happiest
word to ring in my ears since this cursed trip began."

Nothing tests the innate quality of a man like the wilderness. However
bold of heart, if every utterance is a complaint he will prove a
constant hardship. I doubted not both De Noyan and the Puritan would
show themselves true men if emergency confronted us; but in the daily
plodding routine of travel the Chevalier gave way to little worries,
jerking along in the harness of necessity like an ill-broken colt;
while Cairnes, who pulled steadily in sullen discontent, was much the
better comrade of the two.

"Call it what you please," I answered shortly, never removing my gaze
from the pleased face of Madame, thus keeping better control over my
tongue. "I have become convinced the map of the Jesuit priest lied,
and this stream runs not northward. It is useless pushing any farther."

"Where, then?"

"Back, of course. To drift down-stream will be easy now we know
something of the current. We return to the junction of the rivers,
where we left the Spaniards--'tis hardly probable they are still there;
but if they are, then we must trust to our stout arms, and have faith
in the right.------ By heavens! Cairnes, what mean you? Damme, man,
would you overturn the boat?"

This hasty word of expostulation had hardly left my lips before the
Puritan scuttled clumsily overboard, his red hair cropping out of the
seething water like a rare growth of fungus. Another instant, and the
full shock of that racing current struck our bow, hurling it about as
if the trembling boat were an eggshell. Over him we went, his pudgy
fingers digging vainly for some holding-place along the slippery
planks, his eyes staring up in terror.

"For God's sake, cling tight, Eloise!"

I heard this shout of warning from De Noyan as he fell backward into
the water, which, luckily, was scarcely above his waist. Helpless to
prevent the plunge, I joined company at the bow, going down well over
my head without finding footing, and coming to the surface face to face
with the Pur