Part 15 (2/2)
After breakfast he broke up the party and, sending the Indians off, started again with the thite men The canoe would not carry all, but this did not matter, since, for the most part, she must be tracked from the bank, and when they poled her one h the bush and overtake them at the next rapid It was a strenuous journey and Jiraph ca and the ot up with a cry of welcome when he caloomy face
”What's the matter, Jim?” she asked ”Are you hurt or ill?”
He dropped the heavy bag of flour he carried and forced a smile ”Does it look as if I were ill? I've lost two canoes and their loads”
”Oh, Jim!” said Carrie, and added: ”After all, it isn't so very important”
”Not important?” Jim exclaimed
Carrie hesitated ”Oh, well; never mind Where are the boys? You haven't lost _the, feeling embarrassed
He was dull Carrie had been disturbed about hiht, and her obvious relief when she saas not injured was soothing He needed soothing, since the loss of the canoes and stores weighed heavily, but Carrie hadas he was safe Although he could not agree, it was a comfort to know her satisfaction was sincere Carrie alas sincere
She was quiet and he resu back like this; losing the truck is going to ht soh a row of pans and I thought they'd save you work There was a piece of stuff at the dry goods store the girl told me would make a dress; but it went down the rapid with the cookers”
Carrie gave hiht them: the rest was an accident”
”It was not an accident, but we'll talk about that again I'h I didn't bother about it much e camped in the bush before”
Carrie took off the lid of a cooking-pot and while she was occupied the packers arrived with their loads Soon afterwards Jake and the other ot supper When the htful
”The obvious explanation is, the freighter tried to stop you by turning loose the log,” he said ”I don't knoe ought to count on this; but we'll take it first”
”I'm doubtful,” Ji; he wanted to scare h I reckon he h when I ca down I haven't round for the conclusion, but there it is”
”In some ways, you're not a fool,” Jake reround for turn out sound Very well; we co contractors Did they hire soine Martin's playing straight and he declared the Cartner people wouldn't use a crooked plan”
”Then who did try to stop you?”
Jiot hard ”I don't know yet We must wait”
”Very well,” said Jake ”We'll trust our luck and hold on while we can, although I expect it won't be very long”
Jim did not answer He was tired and now the reaction froe his bodily and y branches on which he lay were co on the trunks and Carrie sitting by the hearth-logs, had a curious charave her rude surroundings a homelike touch On other expeditions, when Carrie was not there, Jiht about his ca else; a place froth and cheerfulness There was soet back
CHAPTER XI
A CONFIDENTIAL TALK
Shortly after Ji at the camp
”There was so your line to get into the bush I brought the packet along,” he said