Part 45 (2/2)

”Well?” said Ji and my ould be kind to my friends when she kne much I owe them”

”The plan wouldn't work When you marry, your ill have first claim on you I reckon she'll have all the claim there is and won't want to share it with anybody else”

Jim frowned Perhaps Mrs Winter was justified Now he caot a hint that Evelyn did not altogether understand his friendshi+p for Carrie

”I hate to think of your going,” he declared ”Anyhow, you must stay for so scheot up and was silent for a few ement to Evelyn must be broken off This was obvious, but if he had, for example, meant to marry Carrie, his embarrassments would not, in one sense, matter much Carrie would ood Still he hts like this

”I think I'll take the punt and paddle up the big creek,” he said

”You can tell Carrie she ought to have coive me tea Since she hasn't come, I'll wait for dinner”

He went off and Mrs Winter enerally knehat he wanted, but his attitude was puzzling now Although he ined he loved her, Mrs Winter doubted She wondered whether Evelyn had, so to speak, dazzled hirace and beauty Jihed and i, but she could not see her way Jim would not be o before the as finished Mrs Winter ado

In the -punt in a muddy creek The punt would carry two people andand nearly three feet wide She was decked, except for a short well, and when loaded floated a few inches above the water A bundle of reeds was fastened across the head-ledge of the well to hide the occupant when he lay down and used the short paddle

Jim stood on the after-deck and drove the punt down the creek with a pole He could see across the bank, and the wet ht, ran back into thin ot wider until it melted into the expanse of sands Here and there a belt of sht a silvery reflection, but for the ht was cal surf ruht for shooting and Jim wondered whether anybody else was about Mordaunt and dick now and then went after the geese, and Shanks, in his shooting punt, generally haunted the channels when the gaggles came down to feed

It was some time after loater when Jiht the surf was unusually loud, but he could not hear the geese The wild cry of a curlew ca in the distance The water, so far as he could see, was still, and this ht he ought to have an hour before it did so, but the current would run fast then Tides rise high when high-water comes at twelve o'clock with a full ain There was no need for hi the pole It sank about a foot, but presently the water shoaled and when the punt touched bottoed her by a line He wore a yellow oilskin, long waders, and thin canvas shoes At length, the punt would float no farther, and putting her on rollers, he pulled her a short distance up the bank and afterwards carried a small anchor as far as the line would allow He was a mile and a half froeese were about, he un, he set off up the nearly dry channel There was a salt-water lake, bordered by a weedy scar, not far off, and he eese or ducks

In the , and was received by Mrs Winter

”Are you all alone?” he asked

Mrs Winter told hi dick inquired when Jake had started and looked thoughtful when Mrs Winter replied

”They ought to have been back some time since,” he remarked ”The road is very bad where it runs across the head of the bay and high tides cover the causeway for an hour or two I don't think Jake would wait until dark; the car has probably broken down”

”Then they would have to stop all night?”

”I doubt if anybody could take theatherers and farine Jake would walk across the sands----”

He stopped and looked at the tall clock, and then crossing the floor, pulled back the -curtains and opened a light Mrs Winter noted that his ht hiined Carrie attracted hiirl had not meant to use her charm

”It's nearly full-moon,” he remarked when he cauns I knohere they are

Don't bother to ring”

”Are you going to shoot?” Mrs Winter asked

”I et a shot,” dick replied carelessly ”Anyhow, I'll walk across the sands Iback”

He went to the gun-room and took down a heavy ten-bore, that wouldhe had seen froes in his pocket, and finding a pair of waders, went back and slance