Part 24 (1/2)

”I think that's what I meant,” he said. ”You are in charge of our transport and I expect he'll need a quant.i.ty of food and prospecting tools sent up into the bush. I can leave you to work out details.”

Mappin's eyes flashed.

”I guess I can fix it; let it go at that. Now there's another matter I want to mention.”

Leonard acquiesced in the change of subject, feeling that he had done all that was possible to counteract Andrew's projects. He left with the Montreal express the next morning.

Two days later Mappin was summoned to Andrew's room at the hotel and found him studying a list of provisions.

”We shall get off in the next few days,” he said. ”I want you to send these supplies up to the mine, where we'll call for them.”

”What about the rest of your truck?” Mappin inquired.

”Carnally has sent it off already.”

Mappin saw that he could not do as much as he had expected to delay the party.

”Is there anything else?” he asked.

”Yes,” said Andrew. ”As we can't transport stores enough for the whole march, provisions will have to be cached for use on our return. Do you know where Whitefish Creek is?”

”It's a very long way up and said not to be indicated very correctly on the map. Two forks, aren't there?”

Andrew nodded.

”A lake lies about two days' march up the east branch, and there's an island in it with a sandy tongue at one end. Take this list of provisions and have a cache made there. Get them up in a month from now. You can do that?”

”Oh, yes; I've some smart packers.”

”Then here's another list. To get to the Whitefish you cross the height of land and there's a low neck in the middle of the long ridge.

I want another cache made at the bottom of the gap. You understand that? It's important.”

”I'll make a careful note of it,” Mappin promised. ”Your idea is to travel with light loads, and replenish your stores at the caches as you come back?”

”Precisely. Carnally and Graham have been calculating our supplies closely and we shall not have much left when we reach the first cache.

You had better put a barked fir-pole on the top of it; there are trees about.”

”The boys I'll send up will see to it,” said Mappin, and after a few questions took his leave.

A day or two later Andrew walked across the ice in the evening to see the Frobishers before he started on his journey, and when he had spent some time with them Geraldine went down with him to the hall. They were alone, for her father was searching for a compa.s.s he wished to give Andrew. Geraldine stopped when she reached the foot of the stairs and stood with her hand on the bal.u.s.trade. Her unstudied pose was graceful, she made a very attractive picture, and though she saw Andrew's admiration she was not displeased. It was different from that which Mappin had bestowed on her.

”I think you are doing a very fine thing,” she said diffidently. ”You see, I know something, besides what you have told me, about the mine and Allinson's. Ethel Hillyard wrote to me not long ago--I knew her in England--and she said several nice things about you.”

”Did she?” said Andrew, with some embarra.s.sment. ”Ethel's a good friend. But it's rather trying to have things said about you.”

”Now you're curious,” Geraldine replied, ”and I'll be indiscreet enough to mention one. She said you were always sincere, and to be relied on.” She paused a moment and added: ”I think that's true; your going to search for the lode proves it.”

Andrew looked at her steadily, his heart throbbing.