Part 5 (1/2)

Jake went back to the hotel, disturbed about Probyn, but satisfied with his ers, but two of the rest had been with hiraph line One could trust them For all that, he was quiet when they set off on the ed into the bush A cold wind blew the rain in their faces, the horses sturuh the mud They knew the wilderness and felt themselves a small coined they onism of rich and unscrupulous rivals

”You don't say much,” he re one pulls out to start a big job

Anyhow, I'll own it's not ainst,” Jim replied Then he saw Jake's twinkle, and smiled ”My notion is you have been quieter than ht, but this trip's a picnic after soain; the last tiood or freeze”

”You hadn't your sister with you then”

”That's so,” Jake agreed ”I reckon it o ahead and talk to her Carrie's rather fed up, but she ed the pack-horse he was leading and came up with Carrie, as a short distance in front He wondered what he had better talk about, but found it easier to aht Carrie did not look tired now; she had a touch of color and her eyes were bright She laughed at his reh he admitted that his humor was clumsy, and did not seem to mind when the horse splashed her with ined her cheerfulness was forced By and by a knot on the pack-rope slipped and soan to pick them up Carrie stopped a yard or two in front

”You needn't hurry; I'll go on,” she said ”It's cleaner away froave her a quick glance Although she smiled, her voice had a note of strain It had not been easy for her to pretend and he had forced her to the effort

”I'etically

”Of course, youabouthis ehed

”You don't deserve that; I get 's h to keep it up

However, hadn't you better pick those pans out of the mud?”

Jim replaced the articles and when he had refastened the load waited for Jake

”It looks as if Carrie had turned you down,” the latter remarked

”I' like a drummer when she wanted to be alone”

”Oh, well,” said Jake, ”you haven't a very light touch, but I expect she saw your intention was good”

”She did not; she saw you had sent rinned and pulled his horse round a hole ”They're all cleverer than we think Soe and soain Carrie will ood if we leave her alone----”

He turned, for the horse behind them pushed forward and bit the animal he led

”Watch out!” he shouted ”Drive your beast on!”

Jim did so and then stopped a few yards off, while the anied round each other and a ed about; his horse's load struck against a tree and a flour-bag burst While he tried to stop the white strea froely Its driver joined in the struggle with a thick branch, and the men and animals floundered about the trail while the flour ran into the mud

”Let up with the club!” Jake shouted ”The dried apples have gone now

You have hit the bag”

”Hold your beast, then,” gasped the other ”This trouble's not going to stop until ets in front”

Jake with an effort pulled the kicking animal between two trees and there was quietness when the other passed It looked round for a moment, and then plodded forward steadily while the desiccated apples ran down on the trail