Part 40 (1/2)
To the girl crouching at the stern of Runnion's boat it seeht would never end It seemed as if the procession of natural events er any ti steadily for hours and hours without end, and began to wonder drea between the time when she first heard of the strike on her claim and this present irl now in her own right, and she s she had longed for without hope of attain swiftness, and had left her unhappier than ever
Would the day never co chillmechanical count with the sound of the sweeps--they ht, and the camp must be miles behind now Had it been earlier in the season, when the river ran full of drift, they never could have gone thus in the dark, but the water was low and the chances of collision so remote as to render blind travel safe Even yet she could not distinguish her oarsht and the approaching dawn failed to break through the blanket of cloud that hung above the great valley He was a good boatularity of his strokes He was a silent led down into her blanket and tried to sleep, but she only dozed for a ain So, restless and tired of her lonely vigil, she gave a preh, and said to her co so steadily?”
”Oh, I don't mind it,” he replied
At the sound of his voice she sat bolt upright It couldn't be--if this were Runnion he would have spoken before! She ventured again, tremulously:
”Have you any idea what time it is?”
”About three o'clock I fancy”
”Who are you?” The question came like a shot
”Don't you know?”
”What are YOU doing here, Mr Runnion?”
”I',” he answered, carelessly
”Why didn't you speak?” A vague feeling of uneasiness caht, so she waited for him to explain, and when he did not, she repeated her question ”What ? You kneho _I_ was?”
”Well, it's the first tiht row, and I wanted to enjoy it”
The mockery in his voice quickened her apprehension Of a sudden the fear of being ht that had beco to face the people at the post rather than continue her journey with this ed o down to the Mission I want you to take me back”
”Can't do it,” he said; ”the current is too swift”
”Then set me ashore and I'll walk back It can't be far to town”
”Twenty-fivesteadily, and although the distance they had gone frightened her, she sue to say:
”We can h Co and let the boat drift with dragging sweeps, filled his pipe and lighted it, then took up his oars again and resumed his labors
”Please do as I ask you, Mr Runnion I've decided I don't want to go any farther” He laughed, and the sound aroused her ”Put nantly ”What do you ot a fierce temper, haven't you?”
”Will you do it or not?”
When hemonotony of his movements, she was seized with a rash resolve to wrench the oars out of his hands, and made a quick motion towards him, at which he shouted:
”Sit down! Do you want to upset us?”