Part 31 (1/2)

”What are you staring at?” she asked lightly

”Someone in oilskins has just rowed up and stopped over the river at Mr Selincourt's It looked like Oily Dave, but Phil said last night that he ay at the fishi+ng,” Miles answered, as he turned back into the store

”So he was,” said Katherine ”There was the usual legend in his dirty s that all drinks must wait until he came back, which is a fearful temptation to temperance people to wish that he would never come back at all”

”His sort is sure to turn up safe and sound, no er; it is the best and worthiest that never coloomily that Katherine took instant alarm

”What do you h deal counter for support, and wondering how she would be able to bear it if he said yes

”Mr Selincourt went down to Seal Cove thisand looked in here on his way back,” said Miles ”He wanted to see you, but we told hiood bit of worry about the boats One was blown clean into the swaht, and will have to stick there until the weather is fine enough for her to be towed off, and another caed, at the fish sheds; and he is afraid that some of the other boats ht out in the bay would be safe, wouldn't they?”

Katherine asked, with fear in her eyes

”You never can say ill be safe in weather such as we had last night,” Miles answered; then he ain, and stood looking out, eager to catch the man whose boat was moored under the alders on the opposite bank of the river, and to learn from him if there was news from the sea

Katherine sat down suddenly It was as if someone had already been in to say that a boat recked Disasters which were expected always caainst a box of soap, the sested shi+pwreck to her

Ten minutes went past, then twenty one before Miles cried out excitedly: ”Here he comes down the path; Mr Selincourt is there too, without any hat, and it is raining hard! Yes, it is Oily Dave, and there goes his hand up to his !”

Katherine was at work by this tis, and bundles, which would have to be carried over the long portage next day; but she left her task now and came round to the door, where she stood behind Miles and looked over his shoulder

”If Mr Selincourt were not there I would go down and call to the fellow to come over,” said Miles impatiently

”No need,” rejoined Katherine quietly, ”he is co his boat across the river?”

Neither spoke after that until the boat grounded, and Oily Dave stepped out on to the bank

”Miles, youto be busy,” Katherine said hastily, then beat a rapid retreat froay-coloured rugs were hanging, and stood there waiting to hear what Oily Dave ht have to tell

Holy he walked up fro through thenoise which always acco!” said Miles curtly, as the squelching boots crossed the threshold

”I don't call it a good ,” snarled Oily Dave

Katherine drew yet closer into the shadow of the rugs, and clenched her hands tightly to keep froot to be told, she was sure, and she doubted her ability to bear it

”What is wrong?” asked Miles

”A good deal ht in this world, or the next either, perhaps,” replied Oily Dave ”We are afraid the Mary has gone down”

”Ah!” The involuntary ht, but Oily Dave did not hear, or at any rate he did not heed, and, after a brief pause, he went on:

”We was off Akimiski yesterday after walrus, but when it cae to run to there in dirty weather, but plenty of rocks to fall foul of, which are not quite so pleasant But we couldn't get ho the east coast of the island, with a lively chance of being wrecked at anyunder the lee of the islanda boat drifting bottom up, and e hooked her we found she was the Mary's boat”