Part 30 (1/2)

Agatha gave him a quiet ironical smile. ”Then you really came with me because you meant to stake a claim? That's curious, Mr. Thirlwell, because I think you never believed my father found the lode at all.”

He colored and hesitated. ”We'll let it go; there's something else. If you turn back now, can you reach Toronto before the school reopens?”

”No,” said Agatha, with a soft, excited laugh. ”I did not mean to turn back until I was forced. When I reached Toronto I should find somebody else had got my post.”

Thirlwell noted her courage, although he thought she was rash. ”Wouldn't it be awkward? But I suppose your brother--”

”I should not go to George. He is kind, but believes I have inherited my father's illusion. He always hated to hear him talk about the lode, and would think I was properly punished for my folly. But I needn't go on.

You must understand--”

”I don't understand. The only thing I see is that you're not logical.

It's obvious now that you must, if possible, find the ore; and yet you object to letting me help. If you give up the search and return to Toronto, it may be a very long time before you can make another trip.”

”No, I suppose I'm not logical,” Agatha admitted, with a mocking smile.

”Logic is perhaps a useful guide for a _man_, but it doesn't always take him far. However, I oughtn't to have expected you to understand, and you're getting impatient--”

”Let's try to be practical,” Thirlwell rejoined. ”If we turn back at once, some of the truck we haven't used might be sold, and we would save the wages I promised the boys, but all we have spent would be thrown away. Well, I'd hate to feel that either of us must bear a loss like that.”

”I have heard George say that a good business man cuts his losses.”

”It's sometimes a better plan to hold on and get your money back.”

”But how can we get our money back if we can't find the lode? You don't think we'll do so.”

Thirlwell frowned. ”There's a chance of finding it; a fighting chance.

Now we're near the spot and have the truck, let's play the chance for all it's worth. You can pay me when you get your patent, or make any plan you like. Then Scott really supplied the stores and made some suggestions that I didn't mean to talk about unless our search succeeded.”

He related what Scott had said, and added: ”Anyhow, let's go on for a fortnight. Then if you insist, we'll take the back trail.”

Agatha gave him a quick glance and he thought her eyes had softened, but she got up.

”Very well,” she said, and went to her tent.

CHAPTER XXV

THE BROKEN RANGE

The fortnight Agatha agreed to had nearly gone when, early one morning, Thirlwell and Drummond climbed a hill behind the camp and stood on the summit, looking about. Thin mist drifted across the low ground in front, but some miles off a forest-covered ridge rose against the sky. It was hardly a range of hills, but rather what prospectors call a height of land; a moderately elevated watershed marking off two river basins.

Running roughly east and west as far as he could see, it limited Thirlwell's view and had puzzled him for some days.

Since the rivers that drained the country flowed northeast to Hudson Bay, it was obvious that there must be an opening in the ridge, but he had been unable to find one. Moreover, as Strange's creek ran south before it turned east, he imagined it was on his side of the heighth of land, but he had seen no stream flowing in either direction. Strange's notes were incomplete; and although Thirlwell calculated that he was about thirty miles from the spot where the ore outcropped, he had found none of the landmarks. The creek was not behind him, but a radius of thirty miles would cover a wide belt of country, and he doubted if he could persuade Agatha to extend the fortnight. Her obstinacy was ridiculous, but must be reckoned on.

By and by a faint breeze sprang up and the mist rolled back. Here and there a lake sparkled in the light of the rising sun and dark pines rose out of the streaming vapor. But there was no glistening thread to indicate a creek, and Thirlwell turned to Drummond with an impatient frown.

”Do you see anything that you think you ought to recognize?”

”No,” said Drummond, rather sulkily, ”I don't.”