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 )LD BINULOS 

 
 LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 RIVERSIDE
 
 THE LONG PORTAGE
 
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 ■-«„ 
 
 '-^LL DAY LONG THEY PA.DDI.ED UP THE GI.KAMING LAKE"— /'o^^ 290
 
 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 By 
 
 HAROLD BINDLOSS 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 A PRAIRIE COURTSHIP. 
 
 WINSTON OF THE PRAIRIE. ETC- 
 
 WITH A FRONTISPIECE IN COLORS BY 
 
 ARTHUR HUTCHINS 
 
 4- 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 GROSSET & DUNLAP 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
 U '^ > i J
 
 lk(dOOB 
 
 Copyright, igi2, by 
 Frederick A. Stokes Company 
 
 All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign 
 languages, including the Scandinavian 
 
 Published in England under the title, " The Pioneer ' 
 
 
 
 September, IQ12
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. 
 
 The Gladwyne Expkditiok 
 
 1 
 
 II. 
 
 The Divide 
 
 12 
 
 III. 
 
 The Cache 
 
 . 23 
 
 IV. 
 
 A Painful Decision .... 
 
 35 
 
 V. 
 
 MiLLiCENT Gladwyne 
 
 47 
 
 VI. 
 
 Nasmyth Tells his Story . 
 
 . 58 
 
 VII. 
 
 On the Moors 
 
 . 68 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Gladwyne Receives a Shock . 
 
 81 
 
 IX. 
 
 Lisle Gathers Information 
 
 92 
 
 X. 
 
 Bella's Champion .... 
 
 102 
 
 XI. 
 
 Crestwick Gives Trouble . 
 
 118 
 
 XII. 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne's Appeal . 
 
 129 
 
 XIII. 
 
 A Futile Protest .... 
 
 14f2 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Lisle Comes to the Rescue . 
 
 153 
 
 XV. 
 
 Bella's Defeat 
 
 165 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Glad^^ttne Surrenders . 
 
 177 
 
 xvn. 
 
 A Bad Fall 
 
 189 
 
 xvin. 
 
 A Prudent Decision 
 
 200 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Gladwyne Gains a Point . 
 
 211 
 
 XX. 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne's Temptation . 
 
 223 
 
 XXI. 
 
 The Last Afternoon . . . . 
 
 233 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Startling News 
 
 24»3 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 A Forced March .... 
 
 254.
 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 MiLLicENT Summons Her T-uide . 265 
 
 XXV. 
 
 A Reliable Man .... 
 
 . . 276 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Lisle Turns Autocrat . 
 
 . . 28T 
 
 xxvn. 
 
 An Unpleasant Surprise . 
 
 . . 298 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Clarence Reaches Camp 
 
 . . 309 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 A Bold Scheme . , . . 
 
 . . 321 
 
 XXX. 
 
 The End of the Pursuit . 
 
 . . 332 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Lisle Goes to England . >: 
 
 :.; . 343
 
 THE LONG PORTAGE
 
 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE GLADWYNE EXPEDITION 
 
 VERNON LISLE was fishing with a determina- 
 tion that did not spring altogether from love 
 of the sport. The water of the British Co- 
 lumbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold ; 
 his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he 
 was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely 
 valley. It was difficult to reach the slack behind a 
 boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained 
 at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor ; 
 but there was another ache in his left side which was 
 the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were 
 shy he persevered. 
 
 A few hundred 3'ards away the stream came roaring 
 down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then 
 shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below 
 in a raised-up wedge of foam. Wet boulders and 
 outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and 
 among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed 
 masses of whitened branches. Farther back, ragged 
 cypresses and cedars, half obscured by the drifting 
 haze of spra}-^, climbed the sides of the gorge, and 
 beyond rose the dim, rounded summits of treeless hills. 
 
 1
 
 2 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 There were streaks of snow on some of them, for win- 
 ter threatened to close in unusually early. 
 
 With a lowering sky overhead and the daylight 
 beginning to fade, it was a desolate picture ; one into 
 which the lonely figure of the man in tattered deerskin 
 jacket and shapeless hat somehow fitted. His attire 
 matched the gray-white coloring of rock and boulder; 
 his spare form and agile movements, together ^\dth the 
 intentness of his bronzed face and the steadiness of his 
 eyes, hinted at the quickness of observation, the stub- 
 born endurance, and the tireless activity, by which 
 alone life can be maintained in the savage North. He 
 had the alertness of the wild creatures of the waste; 
 and it was needed. 
 
 All round him stretched a forbidding wilderness, 
 part of the great desolation which runs north from the 
 warmer and more hospitable thick-forest belt of Brit- 
 ish Columbia. Indeed, this wilderness, broken by the 
 more level spaces between the Rockies and Lake Win- 
 nipeg, runs right across Canada from Labrador to the 
 Pacific on the northern edge of the heavy-timber line. 
 It contains little human life — a few Hudson Bay fur- 
 traders and the half-breed trappers who deal with 
 them — and it is frozen for eight months in the year. 
 There are only two practicable means of traversing it 
 — with dog sledges on the snow, or by canoe on the 
 lakes and rivers in the brief summer. 
 
 The water routes are difficult in British Columbia, 
 but Lisle and his two companions had chosen to go by 
 canoe, partly because the question of food is vitally 
 important to men cut off from all source of supply 
 except game, and even that is scarce in places. To 
 transport upon one's back any weight of provisions
 
 THE GLADWYNE EXPEDITION 3 
 
 besides tents, blankets, and other necessaries, through 
 a nigged country is an almost impossible task. The 
 men, accordingly, after relaying part of their stores, 
 had secured an Indian craft and had paddled and poled 
 her laboriousl}^ across lakes and up rivers. Now 
 when their provisions were running short, they were 
 confronted with a difficult portage round a thunder- 
 ing rapid. 
 
 At length Lisle, securing another trout, waded 
 ashore and glanced with a rueful smile at the dozen 
 this one made. They scarcely averaged half a pound, 
 and he had spent most of a da}^ that could badly be 
 spared in catching them. Plodding back along the 
 shingle with his load, he reached a little level strip 
 beneath a scarp of rock, where a fire blazed among 
 the boulders. A tent stood beneath two or three small, 
 wind-stunted spruces, and a ragged man in long river- 
 boots lay resting on one elbow near the blaze, regard- 
 less of the drizzle. He was a few years over thirty, 
 Lisle's age, and he differed from Lisle in that some- 
 thing in his appearance suggested that he was not at 
 home in the wilds. As a matter of fact, Nasmyth was 
 an adventurous English sportsman — which describes 
 him fairly in person and character. 
 
 " Not many," he commented, glancing at the trout 
 Lisle laid down. " They'll hardly carry us over to- 
 morrow, and I only got a couple from the canoe with 
 the troll. We've gained nothing by stopping here, 
 and time's precious." 
 
 *' A sure thing," Lisle agreed, beginning to clean 
 the trout. " We'll tackle the portage as soon as it's 
 light to-morrow. Where's Jake? " 
 
 " Gone off to look for a deer," was the answer.
 
 4 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Said he wouldn't come back without one if he camped 
 on the range all night." 
 
 Lisle made no comment, but went on dexterously 
 with his work, while Nasmyth watched him with half- 
 amused admiration. 
 
 " You're handy at that and at everything else you 
 do," Nasmyth remarked at length. " In fact, you 
 easily beat Jake, though he's a professional packer 
 and, so to speak, to the manner bom." 
 
 " So am I," said Lisle. 
 
 It was growing dark, but the coppery glow of the 
 fire fell upon his face, emphasizing the strong color- 
 ing of his weather-darkened skin. On the whole, it 
 was a prepossessing face, clearly cut — indeed, it was 
 a trifle thin — with a hint of quiet determination in 
 the clear gray eyes and finii mouth. He looked capa- 
 ble of resolute action and, when it was needed, of 
 Spartan self-denial. There was no suggestion of any- 
 thing sensual, or even of much regard for bodily com- 
 fort. 
 
 " If you don't mind my being a little personal, 
 I'd better own that I suspected the fact you men- 
 tion, and it puzzled me," Nasmyth replied. " You 
 see, when I first met you at the Empress Hotel, in Vic- 
 toria, you were dressed and talked like the usual pros- 
 perous business man. Traff^ord, who introduced us, 
 said that you had a good deal of money in some of the 
 Yukon mines." 
 
 " TrafFord was quite right. The point is that I 
 took a part in locating two of the claims. Before 
 that I followed a good many rough occupations, 
 mostly in the bush. My prosperity's recent." 
 
 Nasmyth still looked curious, and Lisle smiled.
 
 THE GLADWYNE EXPEDITION 6 
 
 " I can guess your thoughts — I don't speak alto- 
 gether like a bushnian? Well, oiy father was an Eng- 
 lishman, and my mother a lady of education from 
 Montreal ; that was why, at the cost of some self-denial 
 on their part, I was sent East to school." 
 
 It was an incomplete explanation. He had inher- 
 ited the Englishman's reticence, which forbade hini to 
 point out that his father sprang from an old family 
 of standing and had, for some reason wliich his son 
 had never learned, quarreled bitterly with his English 
 relatives. Coming to Canada, he had married and 
 taken up the bush life on a small and unremunerative 
 ranch, where he had died and left his widow and his son 
 badly provided for. 
 
 " Thank you," responded Nasmyth ; and Lisle sup- 
 posed it was in recognition of the fact that he would 
 hardly have furnished even those few particulars to 
 one whom he regarded as a stranger. " To recipro- 
 cate, a few words will make clear all there is to know 
 about me. English public school, Oxford aftenvard 
 — didn't take a degree. Spend most of my time in 
 the country, though I make a few sporting trips 
 abroad when I can afford it and have nothing better 
 to do. That partly explains this journey. But I 
 haven't tried to foi-ce your confidence, nor offered you 
 mine, altogether casuall}"." 
 
 " So I supposed," returned Lisle. " It strikes me 
 that since we got near the Gladwyne expedition's line 
 of march we have both felt that some explanation is 
 needed. To go back a little, when I met you in Vic- 
 toria and you offered to join me in the trip, I agreed 
 partly because I wanted an intelligent companion, but 
 I had another reason. At first I supposed you wished
 
 6 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 to go because a journey through a rough and httle- 
 known country seems to appeal to one kind of Eng- 
 lishman, but I changed my mind when you showed 
 your anxiety to get upon the Gladwyne party's trail." 
 
 " You were right. I knew the Gladwynes in Eng- 
 land; the one who died was an old and valued friend 
 of mine. I could give you the history of their march, 
 though I hardly think that's needful. You seem re- 
 markably well acquainted with it." 
 
 Lisle's face hardened. With the exception of one 
 man, he knew more than anybody else about the fatal 
 journey a party of four had made a year earlier 
 through the region he and Nasmyth were approach- 
 ing. 
 
 " I am," he said. " There's a cause for it ; but I'll 
 ask you to tell me what you know." 
 
 He threw more branches on the fire and a crackling 
 blaze sprang aloft, forcing up the ragged spruce 
 boughs out of the surrounding gloom. 
 
 " This is the survivor's narrative. I heard it from 
 his own lips more than once," began Nasmyth. " I 
 dare say most of it's a kind of story that's not un- 
 usual in the North." 
 
 " It's one that has been repeated with local varia- 
 tions over and over again. But go on." 
 
 " There were two Gladwynes — cousins. George, 
 the elder of the two, was a man of means and position ; 
 Clarence, the younger, had practically nothing — two 
 or three hundred pounds a year. They were both 
 sportsmen — George was a bit of a naturalist — and 
 they made the expedition with the idea of studying 
 the scarcer game. Well, their provisions were insuf- 
 ficient; an Indian packer deserted them; they were de-
 
 THE GLADVVYNE EXPEDITION 7 
 
 layed here and there ; and when they reached the river 
 that we are making for they were badly worn out and 
 winter was closing in. Knowing it was dangerous to 
 go any farther, they started down-stream to strike 
 their outgoing trail, but not long afterward they 
 wrecked their canoe in a rapid and lost ever^'thing ex- 
 cept a few pounds of provisions. To make things 
 worse, George had fallen from a slippery rock at the 
 last portage and badly hurt his leg. After making 
 a few leagues with difficult^', he found he could go no 
 farther, and they held a council. They were already 
 suffering from want of food, but their guide estimated 
 that by a forced march overland they might reach a 
 place where some skin-hunters were supposed to be 
 camped. There was a Hudson Bay post farther away. 
 On coming up they had cached some provisions in 
 two places on opposite sides of the river — they kept 
 crossing to pole through the easiest slack. George 
 accordingly insisted that the others go on ; each was 
 to follow a different bank and the first to find the pro- 
 visions was to try to communicate with the other and 
 hurry back with food. If they were unable to locate 
 the caches they were to leave the river and push on in 
 search of help. They agreed ; but deep snow had 
 fallen and Clarence Gladwyne failed to find the cache. 
 He reached the hunters' camp famishing, and they 
 went back with him. He found his cousin dead." 
 
 "And the guide?" 
 
 " It's rather an ugly story. You nmst have heard 
 it." 
 
 " I haven't heard the one Gladwyne told in Eng- 
 land." 
 
 " The guide reached the Hudson Bay post — a
 
 8 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 longer jounicy than the one Gladwyne made — in the 
 last stage of exhaustion. He had taken very little 
 food with liiin — Gladwyne knew exactly how much — 
 and the Hudson Bay agent decided that it was impos- 
 sible he could have covered the distance on the minute 
 quantity. There was only one inference." 
 
 "■ Tliat he had found the cache .'* " Lisle's face 
 grew very stem. 
 
 Nasmyth nodded. 
 
 *' In a way, there was some slight excuse for him. 
 Think of it — a worn-out, famishing man, without 
 blankets or means of making a fire, who had struggled 
 over icy rocks and through leagues of snow, finding 
 a few cans of provisions and a little moldy flour! 
 Even when he had satisfied his hunger, he was, no 
 doubt, unequal to making the return journey to rejoin 
 a man who was probably already dead." 
 
 " If that man had found a scrap of food, he would 
 have tried ! " 
 
 Lisle's voice had a curious ring in it, and Nasmyth 
 looked at him hard. 
 
 " You seem convinced." 
 
 *' I am ; I knew him well." 
 
 Nasmyth was startled and he showed it, but after- 
 ward he looked thoughtful. 
 
 " I believe I understand," he said. 
 
 For a minute or two there was silence which was 
 broken only by the snapping of the branches on the 
 fire and the hollow roar of the rapid. The latter had 
 a curious, irritating effect on Nasmyth, who hitherto 
 had scarcely noticed the insistent pulsatory clamor. 
 At length Lisle spoke again, laying a strong restraint 
 upon himself.
 
 THE GLADWYNE EXPEDITION 9 
 
 *' Our mutual friend called me Lisle at the Empress 
 Hotel. I don't think he mentioned my first name, 
 Vernon ; and as that was the name of Gladwyne's guide 
 I kept it in the background. I was anxious to take 
 you with me; I wanted an Englishman of some stand- 
 ing in the old country whose word would be believed. 
 What was more, I wanted an honest man who would 
 form an unbiased opinion. I didn't know then that you 
 were a friend of Gladwyne's." 
 
 Nasmyth made a slight gesture which suggested the 
 acknowledgment of a compliment. 
 
 "I'll try to be just — it's sometimes hard." His 
 voice had a throb of pain in it as he went on : "I 
 was the friend of George Gladwyne — the one who 
 perished. I had a strong regard for him." 
 
 Something in his expression hinted that this regard 
 had not been shared by the Gladwyne who survived. 
 
 " When my father first came out to British Co- 
 lumbia, new to the bush ways," Lisle resumed, " a 
 neighbor, Vernon, was of great help to him — lent 
 him teams, taught him how to chop, and what cattle 
 to raise. He died before my father, and I was named 
 for him; but he left a son, older than I, who grew 
 up like him — I believe he was the finest chopper and 
 trailer I have ever come across. He died, as you have 
 heard, fron) exposure and exhaustion, a few days 
 after he reached the Hudson Bay post — before he 
 could clear himself." 
 
 Lisle broke off for a moment and seemed to have 
 some difficulty in continuing. 
 
 " When my father died, Vernon took charge of the 
 ranch, at my mother's request — I was rather young 
 and she meant to launch me in some profession. Ver-
 
 10 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 non had no ambition — he loved the bush — and he 
 tried to give me enough to finish my education while he 
 ran both ranches with a hired man. I think my 
 mother never suspected that he handed her over more 
 than she was entitled to, but I found it out and I've 
 been glad ever since that I firmly prevented his contin- 
 uing the sacrifice. For all that, I owe him in many 
 ways more than I could ever have repaid." He 
 clenched one hand tight as he concluded : " I can at 
 least clear his memory." 
 
 Nasmyth nodded in sympathy. 
 
 " You called me an honest man ; you have my word 
 — I'll see the right done." 
 
 Quietly as it was spoken, Lisle recognized that it 
 was no light thing his companion promised him. In 
 the Dominion, caste stands by caste, and Lisle, having 
 seen and studied other Englishmen of his friend's de- 
 scription, knew that the feeling was stronger in the 
 older country. To expose a man of one's own circle 
 to the contempt and condemnation of outsiders is, in 
 any walk of life, a strangely repugnant thing. 
 
 " Well," he said, " to-morrow we'll pull out and 
 portage across the divide to strike the Gladwynes' 
 trail. And now I'll fry the trout and we'll have sup- 
 per." 
 
 They let the subject drop by tacit agreement dur- 
 ing the meal, and soon after it was over a shout from 
 the crest of the ridge above, followed by a smashing 
 of underbrush, announced that their packer was mak- 
 ing for the camp. Lisle answered, and a cry came 
 down: 
 
 " Got a deer, and there are duck on the lake ahead ! 
 We'll try for some as we go up ! "
 
 THE GLADWYNE EXPEDITION 11 
 
 Nasmyth's smile betokened deep satisfaction. 
 
 " Tliat's a weight off my mind," he declared. " I'll 
 smoke one pipe, and then I think I'll go to sleep. 
 We'll make a start with the first loads as soon as it's 
 light enough."
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 THE DIVIDE 
 
 DAWN was late the next morning; the light 
 crept slowly through bitter rain, and when 
 Lisle and his companions had breakfasted 
 sumptuously for the first time during several days it 
 was with reluctance that they broke camp. Indeed, 
 Nasmyth would have suggested remaining under shel- 
 ter only that he had come to accept Lisle's decision 
 as final and the latter was eager to push on. The 
 blacktail deer would not last them long ; the trout 
 were getting shyer every day with the increasing cold ; 
 they were a long distance from the nearest settlement ; 
 while winter was rapidly coming on. 
 
 Nasmyth shouldered his load with the others, and 
 they set out across a strip of gravel strewn with 
 boulders. Plere and there networks of stranded 
 branches had to be floundered through, and the ragged 
 ends rasped their dilapidated boots and bruised their 
 legs. Then, where the bluff rose almost precipitously 
 from the water, they crept along slippery ledges, or 
 waded through the shallower pools, with the white 
 rapid roaring down a few yards outshore of them. 
 There were places where a slip would have meant de- 
 struction, but that was nothing unusual and time was 
 too precious to spend in an attempt to cKmb the ridge 
 which hemmed them in.
 
 THE DIVIDE 13 
 
 The pack-straps hurt Nasmyth's shoulders — one 
 of them had been rubbed raw by previous loads and it 
 smarted painfully until he grew warm with exertion. 
 He was soon wet through ; in places the spray drove 
 into his face so that he could hardly see; but he held 
 on with dogged determination, trying to keep up with 
 the others. With the exception of a few hunting 
 trips, his life had been smooth, and now, dressed mostly 
 in rags and aching in every limb, he smiled grimly as 
 he remembered how he had hitherto taken his pleasure. 
 When he had shot partridges, he had, as a rule, been 
 driven to such stubble or turnip fields as lay at any 
 distance from his residence, and he had usually been 
 provided with a pony when he ascended the high moors 
 in search of grouse. Money smoothed out many small 
 difficulties in the older land, but it was powerless in 
 the wilds of the new one, where one must depend on 
 such things as native courage, brute strength, and the 
 capacity for dogged endurance, which are common to 
 all ranks of men. It was fortunate for Nasmyth that 
 he possessed them, but that, as he was discovering, is 
 not quite enough. They are great gifts in the raw, 
 but, like most others, they need exercise and assiduous 
 cultivation for their full development. 
 
 On reaching the head of the rapid, they went back 
 for another load, and afterward Jake got into the 
 canoe, while Lisle fixed the end of the tracking-line 
 about his shoulders. Aided by the line, the packer 
 swung; the canoe across madlv whirling eddies and in 
 and out among foam-lapped rocks, and now and then 
 drove her, half hidden by the leaping froth, up some 
 tumultuous rush. At times Lisle, wading waist-deep 
 and dragged almost off his feet, barely held her sta-
 
 14 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 tionarj — Nasmyth could see his chest heave and his 
 face grow darkly flushed — but in another instant 
 they were going on again. That a craft could be 
 propelled up any part of the rapid would, Nasmyth 
 thought, have appeared absolutely incredible to any 
 one who had not seen it done. 
 
 At last, however, the task became too hard for them 
 and after dragging her out they carried her, upside 
 down, in turn. It was difficult for them to see where 
 they were going, and the craft, made from a hollowed 
 log, was by no means so well fitted for the work as the 
 bark or canvas canoe of the more eastern wilds. She 
 was comparatively heavy, and their heads and shoul- 
 ders were inside of her. Once or twice the portager 
 fell ; and the fall is an awkward one, as it is impossible 
 to break it with one's hands, which are occupied in 
 holding the canoe. Still, they made progress, and, 
 launching again above the rapid, they reached a lake 
 at noon, by hard paddling. Here they landed, and 
 Nasmyth dropped down upon a boulder to look about 
 him. 
 
 It was a cheerless prospect he saw through the haze 
 of rain. Back into the distance ran a stretch of slate- 
 gray water, flecked and seamed by the white tops of 
 little splashing waves, for a nipping wind blew down 
 the lake. On either side rose low hills, dotted here 
 and there Avith somber and curiously rigid trees. They 
 were not large, and though from a distance they 
 looked much the same, Nasmyth recognized some as 
 spruce and supposed the other ragged spires to be 
 cedars. In one spot there were some that resembled 
 English larch, and these were almost bare. 
 
 Then his companions began to discuss the best
 
 THE DIVIDE 15 
 
 means of further progress. With a fresh breeze 
 ahead, Jake advocated poHng through tlie shallows 
 near the beach ; and Lisle, with a courtesy which Nas- 
 nijth liad already noticed, turned toward him when 
 he answered, as if his opinion might be valuable. 
 
 " The trouble is that the beach sweeps back off the 
 straight. We'd drive her right up the middle to head- 
 water with the paddle before we'd make two-thirds of 
 the way poling alongshore." 
 
 " It would be a good deal harder work, wouldn't 
 it.'* " Nasmyth ventured, and laughed when he saw 
 Lisle's faint amusement. " I suppose that doesn't 
 count. It's not worth mentioning," he added. 
 " Since you're anxious to get on, what's the use of 
 stopping for dinner.'' After the breakfast I had, I 
 can hold out some time." 
 
 " I want to get through as quickly as I can ; that's 
 why I'm not going to rush you unless it's necessary," 
 Lisle answered. " Try to get hold of the fact that a 
 man needs food regularly to keep him in efficient going 
 order." 
 
 " Indisputable," Nasmyth agreed. " But he can 
 do witliout it and work for a while. We've proved 
 it." 
 
 " Not without paying," Lisle pointed out. " You 
 can draw upon your reserves, but it takes time and rest 
 to make them good. We may need all ours badly be- 
 fore we're through." 
 
 There was a grim hint In his last words which Nas- 
 m^'th found convincing, and when he had rested he 
 helped to prepare the meal. It was a simple one — 
 cold doughy cakes baked in a fr\'ing-pan, extraor- 
 dinarily tough and stringy venison, with a pint-can
 
 16 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 each of strong green tea. Their sugar had long ago 
 melted and the condensed milk was exhausted. 
 
 Afterward, they shoved the canoe out and paddled 
 doggedly into the driving rain and the strong head- 
 wind. The spray from the splashing bows blew into 
 their faces, and the broken water checked them badly. 
 Nasmyth's hands began to blister. To make it worse, 
 there was a raw wound on one of them, the result of a 
 similar day's toil; and his knees chafed sore against 
 the branches in the craft's bottom. There was, how- 
 ever, no respite — the moment they slackened their 
 exertions they would drift to lee — and he held on, 
 keeping awkward stroke with Jake, while Lisle swung 
 the balancing paddle astern. 
 
 They kept it up for several hours, and then, toward 
 evening, the rain ceased and the clouds rolled aside. 
 A wonderful yellow light shone behind the bordering 
 hills, and the twisted, wind-battered cedars on their 
 crests stood out against it in hard, fretted tracery. 
 The wind dropped ; the short, white waves smoothed 
 down ; the water, heaving gently, gleamed with a cop- 
 pery glare, and the paddle blades seemed to splash up 
 liquid fire. Then the shores closed in ahead, and, 
 landing on a shingle beach, they made camp in the 
 mouth of a gap among the hills. Supper was pre- 
 pared and eaten, and afterward Jake took up his 
 rifle. 
 
 " I saw some ducks in the next bay," he explained. 
 
 He strolled out of camp, and Nasmyth smiled at 
 Lisle. 
 
 " Except when he advised you to pole, that's about 
 all he has said to-day." 
 
 This was correct. The packer was a taciturn in-
 
 THE DIVIDE 17 
 
 habitant of the wilds who seldom indulged in an un- 
 necessary remark. There was, however, no morose- 
 ness about him ; the man was good-humored in his 
 quiet way, and his usual ruminative calm was no de- 
 terrent from apparently tireless action. For the most 
 part, he lived alone in the impressive stillness of the 
 bush, where he had a few acres of partly cleared land 
 which failed to provide him with a living. For that 
 reason, he periodically left his tiny log house and 
 packed for some survey expedition, or went down to 
 work for a few months at a sawmill. Capable of most 
 determined labor, wonderfully proficient with his 
 hands, he asked no more from life than a little plain 
 food and indifferent shelter. No luxury that civiliza- 
 tion could offer would have tempted him to desert the 
 wilds. 
 
 Lisle filled his pipe with leisurel}^ content. He shared 
 Jake's love for the wilderness, and he found it 
 strangely pleasant to rest in camp after a day's per- 
 sistent toil. Besides, he usually enjoyed his evening 
 chat with Nasrayth, for, widely different as their train- 
 ing and mode of life had been, they had much in com- 
 mon. Then, too, there was something in the prospect 
 spread out before them that impelled tranquillity. 
 The clump of wet cedars among which they had 
 camped distilled a clean, aromatic smell ; and there Avas 
 a freshness in the cool evening air that reinvigorated 
 their tired bodies. Above the low hilltops the sky 
 glimmered Ayith saffron and transcendental green, and 
 half the lake shone in ethereal splendor; the other half 
 was dim and bordered with the sharply-cut shadows 
 of the trees. Except for the lap of water upon the 
 pebbles and the wild cry of a loon that rang like a
 
 18 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 peal of unearthly laughter out of a darkening bay, 
 there was nothing to break the deep stillness of the 
 waste. 
 
 Lisle pointed to the gap in the hills, which was fill- 
 ing with thin white mist. 
 
 " That's the last big portage the Gladwynes made," 
 he remarked. " They came in by a creek to the west, 
 and they were badly played out when they struck this 
 divide ; the struggle to get through broke them up." 
 He paused before he added : " What kind of men 
 were they? " 
 
 " George wasn't effusive ; he was the kind of man 
 you like better the longer you know him. If I were 
 told that he ever did a mean thing, I wouldn't believe 
 it. His last action — sending the others on — was 
 characteristic." 
 
 " They didn't want to go," Lisle interposed quietly. 
 
 His companion nodded. 
 
 " I believe that's true. I like to think so." 
 
 There was something curious in his tone, which Lisle 
 noticed. 
 
 " From the beginning," Nasmyth went on, 
 " George behaved very generously to Clarence." 
 
 " It was Clarence that I meant to ask about more 
 particularly." 
 
 Nasmyth looked thoughtful, and when he answered, 
 it struck Lisle that he was making an effort to give an 
 unbiased opinion. 
 
 " Clarence," he said, " is more likable when you first 
 meet him than George used to be ; a handsome man 
 who knows how to say the right thing. Makes friends 
 readily, but somehow he never keeps the best of them. 
 He's one of the people who seem able to get whatever
 
 THE DIVIDE 19 
 
 they want without having to struggle for it and who 
 rarely land in any difficulty." 
 
 Again a ginidging note became apparent, as tliough 
 the speaker were trying to subdue faint suspicion or 
 disapproval, and Lisle changed the subject. 
 
 " Had George Gladwyne any immediate relatives? " 
 
 " One sister, as like him as it's possible for a woman 
 to be. He wasn't greatly given to society; I don't 
 think he'd ever have married. His death was a crush- 
 ing blow to the girl — they were wonderfully attached 
 to each other — but I've never seen a finer display of 
 courage than hers when Clarence cabled the news.'' 
 
 He broke off, as if he felt that he had been talking 
 with too much freedom, and just then the report of 
 a rifle came ringing across the water. 
 
 "That's a duck's head shot off. Jake doesn't 
 miss," he said. 
 
 Lisle nodded. He could take a hint ; and he had no 
 doubt that Nasmyth was right regarding the shot, 
 though it is not easy to decapitate a swimming duck 
 with a rifle. He began to talk about the portage ; 
 and soon after Jake returned with a single duck they 
 went to sleep. 
 
 It was clear and bright the next morning and they 
 spent the day carrying their loads a few miles up 
 the hollow which pierced the height of the divide. 
 Part of it was a morass, fissured with little creeks 
 running down from the hills whose tops rose at no 
 great elevation above the opening. This was bad to 
 traverse, but it was worse when they came to a muskeg 
 where dwarf forest had once covered what was tiow 
 a swamp. Most of the trees had fallen as the soil, 
 from some change in the lake's level, had grown too
 
 20 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 wet. Thej had partly rotted in the slough, and wil- 
 lows had afterward grown up among them. 
 
 Now and then the men laid down their loads and 
 hewed a few of the still standing trunks, letting them 
 fall to serve as rude bridges where the morass was 
 almost impassable, but the real struggle began when 
 they went back for the canoe. At first they man- 
 aged to carry her on their shoulders, wading in the 
 bog, but afterward she must be dragged through or 
 over innumerable tangles of small fallen trunks and 
 networks of rotten branches that had to be laboriously 
 smashed. It was heroic labor — sometimes they spent 
 an hour making sixty yards — and Lisle's face grew 
 anxious as well as determined. Game had been very 
 scarce ; the deer would not last them long ; and dis- 
 astrous results might follow a continuance of their 
 present slow progress. When, utterly worn out, they 
 made camp on slightly firmer ground toward four 
 o'clock in the afternoon, Lisle strode ofi^ heavily to- 
 ward the bordering hills, while Jake pushed on to 
 prospect ahead. Nasm.^'th, who was quite unable to 
 accompany either, prepared the supper and awaited 
 their reports with some anxiety. 
 
 Lisle came back first and shook his head when Nas- 
 myth asked if he had found a better route on higher 
 ground. 
 
 " Not a slope we could haul along," he reported. 
 " That way's impracticable." 
 
 It was nearly dark when Jake came in. 
 
 " It's not too bad ahead," he informed them. 
 
 They were not greatly reassured, because Jake's 
 idea of what was really bad was alarming. Nasmyth 
 glanced at his companion with a smile.
 
 THE DIVIDE 21 
 
 " Is it any better than this? " lie asked. 
 
 " A little," answered Jake. " An old trail runs 
 
 in." 
 
 " Gladwyne's trail ? " exclaimed Nasinyth. " The 
 one we're looking for.'' " 
 
 " Why, yes," drawled Jake, as if it were scarcely 
 worth mentioning. " I guess it is." 
 
 Nasmyth turned to Lisle. 
 
 *' I was lucky when I lighted on you as a companion 
 for this trip. You have been right in your predic- 
 tions all along, and now you're only out in striking 
 the trail a day before you expected." 
 
 " I know the bush," returned Lisle. " It's been 
 pretty cas}'^ so far — but, for several reasons, I wish 
 the next week or two were over." 
 
 Nasmyth looked troubled. One could have imag- 
 ined that misgivings which did not concern his per- 
 sonal safety were creeping into his mind. 
 
 *' So do I," he confessed, and turning toward the 
 fire he busied himself with Jake's supper. 
 
 There was no change in the work the next morning, 
 but in the afternoon it became evident that another 
 party had made that portage ahead of them. The 
 soil was a little drier and where the small trees grew 
 more thickly they could see that a passage had been 
 laboriously cleared. In the swampy hollows, which 
 still occurred, trunks had here and there been flung into 
 the ooze. This saved them some trouble and they made 
 better progress, but both Lisle and Nasmyth became 
 silent and grave as the signs of their predecessors' 
 march grew pkxincr. By nightfall the}' had reached 
 the second camping-place, which told an eloquent stor}' 
 of struggle with fatigue and exhaustion. Lisle, stop-
 
 22 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 ping in the gathering dusk, glanced around the old 
 camp site. 
 
 " A good place to pitch the tent, but I think I'd 
 rather move on a little," he said. 
 
 Nasmyth made a sign of comprehension. 
 
 *' Yes," he agreed. " I couldn't sleep soundly here. 
 Ever3^thing about us is too plain a reminder; I've no 
 doubt you feel it as I do. A firm and trusted friend 
 lay, famishing, beside that fire, in what extremity of 
 weakness and suffering I dare not let myself think. 
 It's possible he cut those branches yonder." 
 
 Lisle's face expressed emotion sternly held in check. 
 
 " That was Vernon's work — no Englishman new 
 to the country could have slashed them off so cleanly. 
 But look at this small spruce stump. He was the bet- 
 ter chopper, but it's significant that he used three or 
 four strokes where I would have taken one." 
 
 Even the laconic Jake appeared relieved when they 
 forced their way a little farther through the tangled 
 undergrowth, until finding a clear space they set up the 
 tent.
 
 CHArTER III 
 
 THE CACHE 
 
 T 
 
 IIIEY spent the greater part of a week on the 
 portage, crossing here and there a little lake ; 
 and then came out one evening on a river that 
 flowed, green and tranquil, beneath a ridge of hills. 
 Here thej camped; and on rising with a shiver in the 
 raw and nipping dawn the next morning, Nasmyth 
 found Lisle busy at the fire. Jake was cutting wood 
 some distance off, for the thud of his ax rang sharply 
 through the stillness. 
 
 " I was awake — thinking — a good deal last night ; 
 in fact, I've been restless ever since we struck the 
 Gladwynes' trail," Nasmyth began. " Now, I under- 
 stand that an uninterrupted journey of about sixteen 
 days would take us well on our way toward civilization. 
 You say you apprehend no difficulty after that? " 
 
 *' No." Lisle waited, watching his companion in an 
 intent fashion. 
 
 Nasmyth hesitated. 
 
 " Then, considering everything, mightn't it be bet- 
 ter to waste no time, and push straight on ? " 
 
 " And leave the work that brought me here — I be- 
 lieve that brought us both here — undone? " 
 
 *' You'll forgive me if I don't express myself very 
 fortunately. What I feel is this — Gladwyne's story 
 is a tragic one, but it's twelve months old. In a way, 
 it's forgotten ; the wounds it made have healed." 
 
 23
 
 24. THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Is such a man as the one you have described for- 
 gotten in a year? " Lisle asked with a hardening ex- 
 pression. 
 
 Nasmyth, being a man of simple and, for the most 
 part, wholesome ideas, was in a quandary. His feelings 
 were generous, but he shrank from putting them into 
 words. INIoreover he was just and was not wholly con- 
 vinced that the course he wished to recommend was 
 right. 
 
 " Well," he contended, " there are faithful hearts 
 that never quite forget — with them the scar remains ; 
 but it's fortunate that the first keen pain does not last. 
 Is it decent — I almost think that's the right word — 
 to reopen the wound.'* " 
 
 He paused and spread out one hand as if in ex- 
 postulation. 
 
 " Your late comrade has gone beyond 3'our help ; you 
 told me he had left no relatives ; and you have only 
 yourself to consider. Can you do any good by bring- 
 ing this sorrowful tale of disaster up again.'' " 
 
 " Are you pleading for your English friends, anx- 
 ious to save them pain at my expense? Can't you 
 understand my longing to clear my dead partner's 
 name ? " 
 
 A trace of color crept into Nasmyth's face. 
 
 " I suppose I deserve that, though it wasn't quite 
 the only thing I meant. I've an idea that you are 
 somehow going to lay up trouble for yourself by per- 
 severing in this search." 
 
 " I don't want to be offensive ; but can't you see that 
 by urging me to let the thing drop you are casting 
 grave doubts upon the honor of a man of your own 
 caste and kind, one with whom you are closely ac-
 
 THE CACHE 25 
 
 qualnted? Are you afraid to investigate, to look for 
 proofs of Clarence Gladwyne's story ? " 
 
 Nasmyth looked him steadily in the eyes. 
 
 " For the sake of one or two others, I think I am. 
 Your belief in the guide, Vernon, has had its effect 
 on me." 
 
 " Tlien," said Lisle, " I have no fear of putting my 
 belief to the test ; I came up here for that purpose, and 
 I mean to call upon you as my witness. As you said 
 of George Gladwyne, the man I owe so much to never 
 did a shabby thing. That he should have deserted a 
 star' i ig comrade is clean impossible ! " 
 
 " I suppose there's no help for it," responded Nas- 
 myth, with a gesture of acquiescence. " We have said 
 enough. Since you insist, I'll stand by my promise." 
 
 The thudding of the ax ceased, and they heard Jake 
 returning with the wood. Lisle set out the simple 
 breakfast, and when they had eaten they launched the 
 canoe and floated swiftly down the smooth green river 
 all that day. They had accomplished the worst half 
 of the journey; hencefonvard their way lay down- 
 stream, and with moderate good fortune they need 
 have no apprehension about safely reaching the settle- 
 ments, but they were both silent and ill at ease. Lisle 
 was consumed with fierce impatience; and Nasmyth 
 shrank from what might shortly be revealed to him. 
 Scarcely a word was spoken when they lay in camp 
 that night. 
 
 The next day they came to the head of a long and 
 furiously-running rapid. Rocks encumbered its chan- 
 nel ; the stream boiled fiercely over sunken ledges, drop- 
 ping several feet here and there in angry falls ; and 
 in one place, where the banks narrowed in, a white
 
 26 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 stretch of foaming waves ran straight down the mid- 
 dle. Here they unloaded and spent the day labori- 
 ously relaying their stores and camp-gear over the 
 boulders and ragged ledges between a wall of rock and 
 the water. It was a remarkably difficult traverse. In 
 places they had to hoist the leader up to some slip- 
 pery shelf he could not reach unassisted and to which 
 he dragged his companions up in turn ; in others deep 
 pools barred their way, and in skirting them they 
 were forced to cling to any indifferent handhold on the 
 rock's fissured side. As they toiled on, badly ham- 
 pered by their loads, the same thought was in the 
 minds of two of the men — a wonder as to how Glad- 
 wyne's exhausted party had crossed that portage, un- 
 less the water had been lower. It was not difficult to 
 understand how the famishing leader had fallen and 
 lamed himself. 
 
 When at last, toward the end of the afternoon, the 
 stores had been deposited on the banks of the pool 
 below, Lisle sat down and filled his pipe. 
 
 " It would take us most of two days to portage the 
 canoe, and we might damage her badly i.i doing so," 
 he said. " The head of the rapid's impossible, but 
 with luck we might run her down the rest in about ten 
 minutes. The thing seems worth trying, though I 
 wouldn't have risked it with the stores on board." 
 
 " Suppose you swamped or upset hev? " Nasmyth 
 suggested. 
 
 " It's less likely, since she'd go light, with only two 
 of us paddling." 
 
 Nasmyth considered. The sight of the rapid was 
 not encouraging, but he shrank from the intense effort 
 that would be needed to transport the craft by the way
 
 THE CACHE 27 
 
 they had come. Eventually it was decided to leave 
 Jake below, ready to swim out with the trackin^T-line 
 and seize the canoe if any mishap befell, and Lisle 
 and Nasmyth went back to the head of the rapid. 
 They dragged the canoe round the worst rush with 
 infinite difficulty ; and then Nasmyth set his lips and 
 braced himself for the mad descent when his compan- 
 ion thrust her off. 
 
 A few strokes of the paddle drove them out into the 
 stream, and then their task consisted in holding her 
 straight and swinging her clear of the rocks that 
 showed up through the leaping foam, which was dif- 
 ficult enough. Seen from the water, the prospect was 
 almost appalling, though it was blurred and momen- 
 tarily changing. Nasmyth's eyes could hardly grasp 
 salient details — he had only a confused impression 
 of flying spray, rushing green water that piled itself 
 here and there in frothy ridges, flitting rocks, and 
 trees that came furiously speeding up toward him. 
 He had an idea that Lisle once or twice shouted sharp 
 instruction" and that he clumsily obeyed, but he could 
 not have told exactly what he did. He only knew 
 that now and then he paddled desperately, but more 
 often he knelt still, gazing fascinated at the mad tur- 
 moil in front of him. 
 
 At last there was an urgent cry from Lisle and he 
 backed his paddle. The canoe swerved, a foaming 
 wave broke into her, and in another moment Nasmyth 
 was in the water. He was dragged down by the 
 swirling stream, and when he rose he dimly saw the 
 canoe a few yards in front of him. He failed to 
 reach her — she was traveling faster than he was — 
 and, though he could swim well, he grew horribly
 
 28 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 afraid. It struck him that there was a strong proba- 
 bility of his being driven against a boulder with force 
 enough to break his bones or of being drawn down 
 and battered against the stony bottom. Still, he 
 struck out for a line of leaping froth between him 
 and the bank and was nearing it when Lisle grasped 
 his shoulder and thrust him straight down-stream. 
 Scarcely able to see amid the turmoil, confused and 
 bewildered, he nevertheless realized that it was not 
 desirable to attempt a landing where he had intended. 
 Yielding to the guiding impulse, he floundered down- 
 stream, until Lisle again seized him and drove him 
 shoreward, and a few moments later he stood up, 
 breathless, in a few feet of slacker water. He waded 
 to the bank, and then turned to Lisle, who was close 
 behind. 
 
 " Thanks," he gasped. " I owe you something for 
 that." 
 
 " Pshaw ! " disclaimed the other. " I only pulled 
 you back. You'd have got badly hammered if you'd 
 tried to cross that ledge. I'd noticed the inshore swirl 
 close below it when we were packing along the bank, 
 and remembered that we could land in it." 
 
 " But you had hold of the canoe. I saw you close 
 beside her." 
 
 " I only wanted her to take me past the ledge," Lisle 
 explained. " I'd no notion of going right through 
 with her. Now we'll make for camp." 
 
 On arriving there as darkness closed down, they 
 found that Jake had recovered the craft. The pad- 
 dles had gone, but he could make another pair in an 
 hour or two. They had a few dry things to put on, 
 and as they lay beside the fire after supper they
 
 THE CACHE 29 
 
 were sensible that the slight constraint both had felt 
 for the last two days had vanished. Neither would 
 have alluded to the feeling which had replaced it, 
 nor, indeed, could have clearly expressed his thoughts, 
 but mutual liking, respect and confidence had suddenly 
 changed to something stronger. During the few min- 
 utes they spent in the water a bond, indefinite, inde- 
 scribable, but not to be broken, had been forged be- 
 tween the two. 
 
 The next morning it was clear and cold, and they 
 made good progress until they landed late in the after- 
 noon. Then, after scrambling some distance over 
 loose gravel. Lisle and Nasmyth stopped beside a 
 slight hollow in a wall of rock. A few large stones 
 had been rudely placed on one another to fonn a shel- 
 ter ; there were still some small spruce branches, which 
 had evidently been used for a roof, scattered about ; 
 and the remains of a torn and moldering blanket lay 
 near b}'. In another place was a holed frying-pan 
 and a battered kettle. 
 
 Nasmyth gravely took off his shapeless hat, and 
 stood glancing about him with a fixed expression. 
 
 " This," he said quietly, " is where my friend died 
 — as you have heard, they afterward took his body 
 out. There are few men who could compare Avith 
 that one ; I can't forget him." 
 
 There was nothing to be done, and little that could 
 be said; and they turned away from the scene of the 
 traged}', where a man, who to the last had thought 
 first of his companions, had met his lonely end. 
 Launching the canoe, they sped on down-river, mak- 
 ing a few easier portages, and four days later they 
 landed on the bank of a turbulent reach shut in
 
 so THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 by steep, stony slopes. There was a little brush- 
 wood here and there, but not a tree of any kind. 
 
 " It was on this beach that Gladvv} ne made one 
 cache," said Lisle. " If there had been a cypress or 
 a cedar near, he'd have blazed a mark on it. As it 
 is, we'd better look for a heap of stones." 
 
 They searched for some time without finding any- 
 thing, for straight beach and straight river presented 
 no prominent feature which any one making a cache 
 would fix upon as guide. Lisle directed Nasmyth's 
 attention to this. 
 
 " There was deep snow when Vernon came down the 
 gorge, on this side," he pointed out. "It doesn't 
 follow that he was with the others when they 
 buried the stores — he might have been carrying up 
 a load — and it's possible they couldn't give him a 
 very exact description. If I'm right in this, he'd 
 have a long stretch of beach to search, and a man's 
 senses aren't as keen as usual when he's badly played 
 out." 
 
 Nasmyth made no comment, but his expression sug- 
 gested that he would not be disappointed if they failed 
 to strike the cache. Shortly afterward, however, Jake 
 called out, and on joining him they saw a cross 
 scratched on a slab of slightly projecting rock. Even 
 with that to guide them, it was some time before they 
 came upon a few stones roughly piled together and 
 almost hidden in a bank of shingle. 
 
 " First of all, I want you to notice that this gravel 
 has slipped down from the bluff after the cache was 
 made," Lisle said to Nasmyth. " With snow on the 
 ground and the slab yonder covered, it would be almost 
 impossible to locate it." He turned to Jake. " How
 
 THE CACHE 31 
 
 long would you say it was since the rain or frost 
 brought that small stuff down ? " 
 
 Jake glanced at the young brushwood growing 
 higher up the slope. It was shorter than that sur- 
 rounding it, and evidently covered the spot which the 
 mass of debris had laid bare in its descent. 
 
 " Part of one summer and all the next," he an- 
 swered decidedly. 
 
 " Tell us how you figured it out." 
 
 Jake climbed the bank and returned with two or 
 three young branches which he handed to Lisle. 
 
 " The thing's plain enough to you." He turned 
 toward Nasmyth. " No growth except in the sum- 
 mer — they'd had a few warm months to start them, 
 but they don't fork until the second year. See these 
 shoots.'' " 
 
 " As winter was beginning when the Gladwyne party 
 came down, that small landslide must have taken place 
 some time before then," declared Lisle. 
 
 They set to work and carefully moved aside the 
 stones. First they uncovered three cans of preserved 
 meat, and then a small flour bag which had rotted 
 and now disclosed a hard and moldy mass inside. 
 There was also another bag wliich had evidentl}"^ con- 
 tained sugar; and a few other things. All examined 
 them in silence, and then sat down grave in face. 
 
 " It's unfortunate that nobody could positively state 
 whether this cache has been opened or not since it was 
 made, but there are a few points to guide us," said 
 Lisle. " Do you know what kind of food civilized 
 men who've been compelled to Avork to exhaustion on 
 insufficient rations, helped out by a little fish or game, 
 generally long for most.? "
 
 32 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 *' No," answered Nasmyth, with a feeble attempt at 
 levity. " I've now and then remembered with regret 
 the kind of dinner I used to get in England." 
 
 " You have scarcely felt the pinch," Lisle in- 
 formed him. " The two things are farinaceous stuff 
 and sugar. No doubt, it will occur to jou that Ver- 
 non might have taken a can or two of meat ; but that's 
 not likely." 
 
 " If you're right about the longing for flour and 
 sweet-stuff, it's a strong point," Nasmyth declared, 
 *' Where did you learn the fact ? " 
 
 Lisle looked at Jake, and the packer smiled in a 
 significant manner. 
 
 " He's right," he vouched. " We know." 
 
 " Then," continued Lisle, indicating the sugar bag, 
 which had been wrapped in a waterproof sheet, " can 
 you imagine a starving man, in desperate haste, mak- 
 ing up this package as it was when we found it.'' " 
 
 " No," admitted Nasmyth ; " it's most improbable." 
 
 Somewhat to his astonishment, the usually taciturn 
 Jake broke in. 
 
 " You're wasting time ! Vernon never struck this 
 cache — he told the folks at the post so. Worked 
 with him once trail-cutting — what that man said 
 goes ! " 
 
 " You never told me you knew Vernon ! " exclaimed 
 Lisle. 
 
 " Quite likely," Jake drawled. " It didn't seem 
 any use till now." 
 
 For the first time since they landed, Nasmyth 
 laughed — he felt that something was needed to re- 
 lieve the tension. 
 
 " If people never talked unless they had something
 
 THE CACHE 33 
 
 useful to say, there would be a mar\Tlous change," he 
 declared. 
 
 Lisle disregarded this, but he was a little less grave 
 when he resumed: 
 
 " There's another point to bear in mind. Two of 
 Gladwjne's party left him ; and of those two which 
 would be the more likely to succumb to extreme ex- 
 ertion, exposure, and insufficient food? " 
 
 *' Against the answer you expect, there's the fact 
 that Vernon made the longer journey," Nasmyth ob- 
 jected. 
 
 " It doesn't count for much. Was Clarence Glad- 
 wyne accustomed to roughing it and going without 
 his dinner? Would you expect him to survive where 
 you would perish, even if you had a little more to 
 bear? " 
 
 " No," confessed Nasmyth ; " he's rather a self- 
 indulgent person." 
 
 " Then, for example, could you march through a 
 rough, snow-covered country on as little food as I 
 could?" 
 
 " No, again," answered Nasmyth. " You would 
 probably hold out two or three days longer than I 
 could." 
 
 " Vernon was a stronger and tougher man than I 
 am," Lisle went on. *' Now, without finding definite 
 proof, which I hardly expected, there is, I think, 
 strong presumptive evidence that Vernon's story is 
 correct." 
 
 " Yes," agreed Nasmyth, and added gravely : 
 " Will you ever find the proof? " 
 
 *' I think there's a way — it may be difficult ; but 
 I'm going right through with this."
 
 34 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " What's your next move? " 
 
 " I've willingly laid my partner's story open to the 
 only tests we can impose. Now I'm going to do the 
 same with Clarence Gladwyne's." 
 
 Nothing more was said, and turning away from the 
 cache, they went back to the canoe.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 A PAINFUL DECISION 
 
 TWO daj's passed uneventfully, though Nasmyth 
 was conscious of a growing uneasiness during 
 them ; and then one evening they landed to 
 search another beach. They had less difficulty here, 
 for small cedars and birches crept down to the water- 
 side and Jake found an ax-blaze on one. After that, 
 it was easy to locate the cache, and there were signs 
 that it had been either very roughly made, or after- 
 ward opened and reclosed in careless haste. Lisle 
 had no hesitation in deciding upon the latter, and 
 Jake was emphatic in his brief assurance on the point. 
 On removing the covering stones, they found very 
 little beneath them, but every object was taken out 
 and Lisle, measuring quantities and guessing weights, 
 carefully enumerated each in his notebook. Neither 
 he nor Nasrnyth said anything of import then ; both 
 felt that the subject was too grave to be lightly dis- 
 cussed; and walking back silently along the shingle, 
 they pitched the tent and prepared supper. After the 
 meal, Jake, prompted by an innate tact, sauntered 
 away down the beach, and the other two, lounging be- 
 side the fire, took out their pipes. A full moon hung 
 above the lonely gorge, which was filled with the roar 
 of the river, and the shadows of the cedars lay black 
 upon the stones. 
 
 35
 
 36 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 Some minutes passed before a word was spoken ; 
 and then Nasmyth looked up. 
 
 " Well? " he said briefly. 
 
 Lisle moved a little, so that he could see his com- 
 panion's face. 
 
 " In the first place," he explained, " Clarence Glad- 
 wyne came down this bank. One could locate the 
 cache by the blazed tree, even with snow upon 
 the ground — and it has been opened. Apart from the 
 signs of this, no party of three men would have 
 thought it worth while to make a cache of the few 
 things we found." 
 
 " ^Mightn't it have been opened by some Indian? " 
 
 " It's most unhkely, because he would have cleaned 
 it out. A white prospector would certainly have taken 
 the tobacco." 
 
 Nasmyth knit his brows. He was deeply troubled, 
 because there were respects in which the matter would 
 hardly bear discussion, though he recognized that it 
 must now be thrashed out. 
 
 "Well," he admitted reluctantly, " what we have 
 discovered has its significance; but it isn't conclu- 
 sive." 
 
 His companion took out from a pocket the palm 
 and wrist portion of a fur glove. It Avas badly rotted, 
 and the rest had either fallen away or been gnawed 
 by some animal, but a button with a stamp on it re- 
 mained. 
 
 " Jake found that and gave it to me," he said. 
 *' There's enough left to show that it had finger-stalls, 
 and there are none on the mittens we use in cold 
 weather. The thing's English, and with a little rub- 
 bing I expect you'll find the maker's name on that but-
 
 A PAINFUL DECISION 37 
 
 ton. When the party went up it was warm weather, 
 but we know there was sharp frost when Gladwyne 
 came back. A buttoned glove doesn't drop off one's 
 hand, and even if it had done so Gladwyne would have 
 noticed and picked it up. It seems to me he took it 
 off to open one of the provision bags and couldn't 
 find it afterward because he'd trodden it into tlie 
 snow." 
 
 Nasmyth could doubt no longer, and his face grew 
 red. 
 
 "The hound!" he broke out. "He had a hand 
 frost-bitten — one finger is different from the others 
 
 yet." 
 
 Lisle said nothing; he could understand and sym- 
 pathize with what was going on in his companion's 
 mind and the latter was filled with bitterness and 
 humiliation. A man of his own kind and station in 
 life, one with whom he fished and shot, had broken 
 faith with his starving comrade and with incredible 
 cowardice had left him to perish. Even this was not 
 the worst ; though Nasmytli had always taken the per- 
 sonal courage of his friends for granted. He was 
 not a clever man and he had his faults, but he shaped 
 his life in accordance with a few simple but inflexible 
 rules. It was difficult for him to understand how 
 one could yield to a fit of craven fear; but there was 
 a fact which made Gladwyne's transgression still 
 blacker. 
 
 " This thing hits hard," he said at length. " The 
 man should have gone back, if he had known it meant 
 certain death." 
 
 Lisle filled his pipe and smoked in silence for several 
 minutes during which the eery cry of a loon rang
 
 38 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 about the camp. It roused Nasm3rth to an outbreak 
 of anger. 
 
 " I hate that unearthly noise ! " he exclaimed vehe- 
 mently. " The thing seems to be gloating ; it's inde- 
 cent ! When I think of that call it will bring back 
 the long portage and this ghostly river! I wish I'd 
 never made the journey, or that I could blot the whole 
 thing out ! " 
 
 " It can't be done," Lisle replied. " It's too late. 
 You have learned the truth of what has been done 
 here — but the results will work themselves out. 
 Neither you nor I can stop them ; they have to be 
 faced." 
 
 "The pity of it is that the innocent must suffer; 
 they've borne enough already." 
 
 " There's a point I don't quite understand," de- 
 clared Lisle. " Whatever the Hudson Bay agent 
 thought, he'd have kept it to himself if he'd been al- 
 lowed — I've met him. It was Gladwyne who laid the 
 whole blame on Vernon ; he forced the agent to bear 
 him out. Why should he have taken so much trouble? 
 His own tale would have cleared him." 
 
 Nasmyth looked irresolute; and then he answered 
 reluctantly : 
 
 " There's a fact I haven't told you yet — Clarence 
 came into the family property on George's death; 
 a fine old place, a fairly large estate. The sister 
 doesn't count, though she got her brother's personal 
 property — the land goes down in the male line." 
 
 Lisle dropped his pipe. 
 
 " Now I understand ! Gladwyne profits, my dead 
 partner bore the shame. But do you believe the man 
 meant to let his cousin die.'* "
 
 A PAINFUL DECISION 39 
 
 " No," Nasmyth answered sharply, " that's un- 
 thinkable ! But I blame him almost as much as if he 
 had done so. Besides his duty to George, he had a 
 duty to himself and to the family — the honorable 
 men and women who had kept the name clean before 
 him. Knowing he would inherit, on George's death, 
 there was only one way open — he should have gone 
 back, at any cost. Instead, to clear himself of the 
 faintest trace of ugly suspicion, he lays the blame 
 upon an innocent man." 
 
 Lisle did not reply to this. He felt that had the 
 grim choice been imposed upon his companion, the 
 man would have taken the course he had indicated. 
 
 " You said that George Gladwyne was a naturalist," 
 he remarked. " Was he a methodical man ? " 
 
 " Eminently so," replied Nasmyth, wondering where 
 the question led. He had already been astonished at 
 Lisle's close reasoning and the correctness of his de- 
 ductions. 
 
 "Then he would have made notes on his journey 
 and no doubt have kept some kind of diary. Did the 
 rescue party recover it.'' " 
 
 " They did. It was given to George's sister." 
 
 " Damaged by snow or water, badly tattered.'' " 
 
 " It was," assented Nasmyth. " I've had the book 
 in my hands. I suppose it's natural that you should 
 guess its condition, but I don't see what it points to." 
 
 Lisle smiled grimly. 
 
 *' One wouldn't be astonished to find some leaves 
 missing from a tattered book." 
 
 " You're right again." Nasmyth started. " Sev- 
 eral had gone." 
 
 " I think I can tell which part of the journey they
 
 40 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 related to. A methodical man would malce a note of 
 the stores cached, and the lists would be conclusive 
 evidence if anybody'' afterward opened the caches and 
 enumerated their contents, as we have done. If 
 everything put into the one on the bank Vernon fol- 
 lowed remained there, it would prove that he couldn't 
 have found it. On the other hand, if the one on 
 Gladwyne's side of the river ■ — " 
 
 " Of course ! " Nasmyth broke in. " You needn't 
 labor the point ; it's plain enough." He stopped for 
 a few moments before he went on again. " I'm con- 
 vinced; but without that list of Gladwyne's you still 
 haven't proof enough to place your account of the 
 affair beyond dispute. What are you going to do ? " 
 
 " I'm going to England — it's my father's country, 
 and I meant to visit it some day. Whether I shall find 
 out anything more there or not I don't know." 
 
 " Then you must stay with me. That's a point I 
 insist upon. But I must make my situation clear — 
 though I've been drawn into this matter against my 
 will, you have my promise, and if ever the time for 
 action comes, I'll stand by you. But I'll take no part 
 in trapping Clarence Gladwyne into any admission, 
 nor will I countenance any charge against him unless 
 some chance supplies you with indisputable evidence." 
 
 " Thanks," said Lisle ; " I'm agreeable. You stand 
 neutral until I call on you." 
 
 " There are two more questions, and then we'll let 
 the subject drop. Why didn't you make this search 
 earlier.'' Why didn't Gladwyne rearrange the caches 
 afterward? He went back, you know." 
 
 " They're easily answered. It was some time before 
 I heard of Vernon's death and met the Hudson Bay
 
 A PAINFUL DECISION 41 
 
 man in Victoria — I'd been away in the North. Glad- 
 wjne had the rescue party with him when he went back ; 
 he couldn't replace the provisions in the cache on this 
 side without their knowing it, and I don't suppose he 
 could have crossed the river to the other cache. Now 
 we'll talk of somethino; else." 
 
 They started again the next morning, and instead 
 of leaving the river for the Hudson Bay post, which 
 stood farther back into the wilderness, they held on 
 down-stream, though they afterward regretted this 
 when their provisions once more grew scanty. There 
 was now sharp frost at nights ; fangs of ice stretched 
 out behind the boulders and crackling sheets of it 
 gathered in the slacker eddies along the bank. What 
 mattered more was that the portages were frequent, 
 and carrying the canoe over rock coated with frozen 
 spray became dangerous as well as difficult, and Nas- 
 myth working on short rations began to feel the 
 strain. It was only since he had entered that inhos- 
 pitable region that he had ever been compelled to go 
 without his dinner; and now breakfast and supper 
 were sternly curtailed. "WTien they were stopped for 
 two days by a blinding snowstonn he grew anxious, 
 and his uneasiness had increased when some time after- 
 ward they made their evening meal of a single flap- 
 jack each. He could readily have eaten a dozen of 
 the thin, flat cakes. The duck they had shot every 
 now and then since crossing the divide had gone ; they 
 had not seen a trout since the cold set in ; and there 
 did not appear to be any salmon in the river. 
 
 After breakfast the next morning. Lisle concluded 
 that it would be wise to risk a day looking for a deer, 
 so he invited Nasmyth to take his rifle and the two
 
 42 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 set out. It cost them some trouble to climb the low 
 bluff above the river through a horrible tangle of 
 fallen trunks. The trees were getting larger and the 
 branches of those the wind had brought down lay 
 spread about them or were resting on the standing 
 growth in networks which Nasmyth would have 
 thought it impossible to traverse had he been alone. 
 Lisle scrambled through, however, and he had no 
 choice except to follow. Where the timber was thin- 
 ner, the slope was covered with sharp-edged stones 
 which further damaged his already dilapidated boots ; 
 and when at last they came out upon a comparatively 
 bare, rocky tableland, a bitter wind met them in the 
 teeth. It drove a little fine snow before it, but Lisle 
 plodded steadily on, explaining that any deer which 
 might be in the neighborhood would have gone down 
 into the sheltered valleys. He had no doubt they 
 would find one of the valleys, for they were generally 
 numerous. 
 
 It was an hour before they reached one, and Nas- 
 myth was conscious of an unpleasant pain in his side 
 and a headache which he supposed resulted from want 
 of food. For all that, he scrambled after his com- 
 panion down an almost impossible descent, where 
 trees of increasing size grew up among outcropping 
 rock and banks of stones. When he reached the bot- 
 tom he found himself in a deep rift filled with densely- 
 matted underbrush, through which a swift stream 
 flowed. Its banks promised a slightly easier road, 
 though now and then they had to wade through the 
 water, which was icy cold. Noon came and they had 
 seen no sign of life, except two or three willow-grouse 
 which they failed to dislodge from cover; but Lisle
 
 A PAINFUL DECISION 4S 
 
 held on, his course runnhig roughly in a line with the 
 river. 
 
 It was toward three o'clock, and a little snow was 
 sifting down between the somber branches overhead, 
 when Lisle, stopping, raised a warning hand and 
 pointed to an opening in the trees. The light was 
 dim among the rows of trunks, and for a few seconds 
 Nasniyth gazed down the long colonnade, seeing 
 nothing. Then Lisle pointed again, impatienth', and 
 he made out something between a gray trunk and a 
 thicket. Sportsman as he was, he had not the bush- 
 man's eye, and he would never have supposed that 
 formless object to be a deer. It moved, however; a 
 prong of horn appeared ; and waiting for nothing 
 further he pitched up his rifle. 
 
 It was a long shot, standing; he guessed the range 
 In a deceptive light ; but he found himself strangely 
 steady as he squeezed the trigger. He was desper- 
 ately hungry and weak from want of food ; the deer 
 must not escape. Yet he was in no rash haste ; for 
 two or three seconds the tiny foresight trembled 
 slightly upon the mark, while the pressure on the 
 trigger increased. Then there was a flash ; he heard 
 no report but the smoke blew into his eyes. Almost 
 simultaneously, a train of red sparks leaped out from 
 somewhere close at his side and there was a sharp 
 snapping in the bush ahead. 
 
 " You got your shot in ! " cried Lisle. " I think I 
 missed him on the jump. Come on; we must pick up 
 the trail ! " 
 
 It was easy to find ; the deer had been too badly 
 hit to bound across each obstacle as cleanly as usual, 
 and broken twigs and scattering withered leaves
 
 44 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 showed which way it had gone. Besides, there were 
 red splashes here and there. It was, however, a dif- 
 ficult matter to follow the trail. Fallen trees and 
 dense thickets barred the way, and they had to cross 
 the creek every now and then. Nasmyth rapidly got 
 breathless and before long he was badly distressed, 
 but he held on behind his companion. Once or twice he 
 was held fast for a moment or tv.o, and breaking free, 
 found he had badly ripped his garments on the ragged 
 branches. Still, it was unthinkable that they should 
 let the deer escape. 
 
 As he struggled forward, he remembered that the 
 days were rapidly shortening, and he shrank from the 
 prospect of retracing his way to camp in the dark. 
 It occurred to him that it was a compliment and a 
 mark of very fine courtesy that Lisle had left the 
 first shot to him. In return for this, he must en- 
 deavor to be present to assist when he was wanted. 
 
 The deer was still invisible, but it was not very far 
 ahead, for at times the snapping of a stick or a rustle 
 of disturbed underbrush came sharply out of the 
 woods. The light was getting dimmer and the snow 
 was falling more thickly. 
 
 At last the hunted creature left the valley and after 
 a desperate scramble the men reached the summit of 
 the ridge above. Here the tableland between them 
 and the river was covered with straggling bush, and 
 though the undergrowth was thin they could see 
 nothing but the long rows of shadowy trunks. Lisle, 
 however, picked up the trail, and they followed it as 
 rapidly as possible until, when Nasmyth was lagging 
 some distance behind, there was a shout in front of 
 him and his companion's rifle flashed. Making a last
 
 A PAINFUL DECISION 45 
 
 effort, he broke Into a run and presently came to the 
 brink of a steep descent covered with thick brush and 
 scattered trees, with a wide reach of palely gleaming 
 water at the foot of it. It was the kind of place 
 one would have preferred to climb down cautiously, 
 but there was a sharp snapping and crackling below 
 and Nasmyth knew that a hard-pressed deer will 
 frequently take to the water. If it crossed the 
 river, it would escape; and that could not be contem- 
 plated. 
 
 Holding his rifle up, he plunged madl}"^ down the 
 descent, smashing through matted bushes, stumbling 
 over slippery stones. Once or twice he collided with 
 a slender tree and struck his lea; afjainst some ridse 
 of rock ; but he held on, gasping, and the water 
 rapidly grew nearer. He had almost reached it when 
 a dim shape broke out from a thicket at the bottom 
 of the slope. There were still some cartridges in his 
 rifle cylinder, but he was slipping and sliding down 
 an almost precipitous declivity at such a rate that it 
 was impossible to stop and shoot. Indeed, in another 
 moment he fell violently into a brake and had some 
 difficulty in smashing through It, but when he 
 struggled free he saw shingle and boulders in front of 
 him and Lisle bounding across them a few vards be- 
 hind the deer. He reached the stones, wondering why 
 Lisle did not fire; and then he saw man and deer 
 plunge into the water together. 
 
 A few seconds later he was waist-deep In the swift 
 icy current, savagely endeavoring to drag the animal 
 toward the bank, while Lisle stood near him, breathing 
 hard, with a red hunting-knife in his hand. 
 
 " Steady ! " gasped Lisle. " You can't do it that
 
 46 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 way! Help me throw the beast on his side. Now 
 heave ! " 
 
 They got the deer out, and Nasmyth sat down 
 hmply. All the power seemed to have gone out of 
 him ; he did not want to move, though he was filled 
 with exultation, for they now had food. It was a 
 minute or two before he noticed that Lisle had left 
 him ; and then he saw him coming back with his rifle. 
 
 " I dropped the thing," Lisle explained. " Couldn't 
 snap a fresh shell in ; guess I bent the slide. I took 
 the knife to finish it." 
 
 " In another moment or two you'd have been too 
 late." 
 
 Lisle laughed. 
 
 " I don't know. It wouldn't have been decided until 
 we'd reached the other side." 
 
 " You would have swum across ? " Nasmyth asked 
 in astonishment. 
 
 " Sure," said Lisle simply. " Anyway, I'd have 
 tried." 
 
 Nasmyth glanced at the river. It was broad, icy 
 cold, and running fast, and he could hardly imagine 
 a worn-out and half-fed man safely swimming it. 
 Lisle, however, called upon him to assist in an un- 
 pleasant operation which, when Nasmyth had killed a 
 deer at home, had been judiciously left to the keepers 
 or gillies. After that, he was directed to light a fire 
 on a neighboring point, from which it could be seen 
 some way up the river, and by and by Jake arrived 
 in the canoe. Then they made camp, and after a 
 feast on flesh so tough that only hungry men could 
 have eaten more than a few morsels of it they went to 
 sleep.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 MILLICENT GLADWYNE 
 
 IN a few more days they left the river, abandoning 
 the canoe and tent and a portion of their gear. 
 Ascending to higher levels, they crossed a rugged 
 waste, which, fortunately for them, was thinly tim- 
 bered ; but there was keen frost, and snow in places, 
 and Nasmyth suffered a good deal during this portion 
 of the journey. At last, however, they descended to 
 a sheltered valley in which the firs grew tall, and Jake 
 agreed with Lisle that it would form the best road 
 to the settlements. 
 
 Nasmyth was longing for civilization when he lay 
 awake late one night, wrapped in a single blanket, 
 beside the sinking fire. Dark columnar trunks rose 
 about him, touched with the uncertain red radiance 
 now and then cast upon them when little puffs of bitter 
 wind stirred the blaze, and he could see the filmy 
 wreaths of smoke eddy among the branches. He was 
 cold and overtired ; the day's march had been a long 
 one; his shoulders ached cruelly after carrying a 
 heavy load, and every joint was sore. Besides, his 
 bed was unpleasantly hard, and he envied his com- 
 panions, who had long ago sunk into heavy slumber. 
 For the last hour he had been thinking over the dis- 
 coveries he had made on the journey, which he de- 
 voutly wished he had never undertaken ; the thought 
 of them had troubled him on other bitter nights. 
 
 4T
 
 48 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 Lisle was not the man to let the matter drop ; he was 
 much more likely to follow it up with dogged per- 
 sistence to the end; and Nasmyth, who was to some 
 extent pledged to assist him, saw trouble ahead. 
 
 In spite of this, he was beginning to get drowsy 
 when a faint and yet strangely melodious chiming 
 broke through the whispering of the firs. It seemed 
 to come from above him, falling through the air, and 
 he roused himself to listen, wondering if he were quite 
 awake. The musical clash he had first heard had 
 ceased, but for a while he thought he could distin- 
 guish the tolling of a single bell; then in varying 
 notes the peal broke out again. 
 
 There was something ethereal in the clear tones. 
 The last time he had heard anything like them he was 
 sitting one Sunday morning on a shady lawn while 
 the call of the bells came softly up to him across the 
 English woods. He glanced at his comrades, but 
 they showed no sign of hearing, and raising himself 
 on one elbow he lay and listened, until the music, 
 growing fainter and fainter, died away. Then, puz- 
 zled and half convinced that his imagination had 
 played him some fantastic trick, he went to sleep. 
 
 He mentioned the occurrence diffidently at break- 
 fast the next morning, expecting incredulous laugh- 
 ter; but Lisle, without making a comment, glanced at 
 Jake questioningly. 
 
 " No," responded Jake. " Nothing to bring them 
 up so far." 
 
 "You couldn't have been mistaken?" Lisle asked 
 Nasmyth. 
 
 " I thought I must be ; but the more I listened, the 
 clearer it got."
 
 MILLICENT GLADWYNE 49 
 
 " Go and see," Lisle said, addressing Jake, and when 
 they had finished breakfast the packer strode away. 
 
 "We'll wait a bit," advised Lisle. "I'm a little 
 worried about provisions again. It's still a long 
 march to the nearest wagon trail." 
 
 Nasmyth failed to understand how the delay would 
 improve their position, but believing that his com- 
 panion was somewhat dubious about his tale he re- 
 strained his curiosity. In half an hour Jake came 
 back and nodded to Lisle. 
 
 " Quite a bunch of them," he reported. " I struck 
 the fellow's trail." 
 
 " What was it I heard ? " Nasmyth asked. 
 
 " Cow-bells," Lisle explained, laughing. " In this 
 country, they generally put them on any cattle tliat 
 run loose in the timber. Some adventurous rancher 
 has located up here, though I hadn't expected to find 
 one so far north. Anyway, it's a relief; he'll no 
 doubt be able to let us have something: to eat." 
 
 They reached the man's log house an hour later, 
 and spent the day wi^-h liim, enjoying a much needed 
 rest. The next morning he supplied them with pro- 
 visions and told them how to find a trail down to a 
 wagon road; and, setting out, they safely reached 
 a settlement in regular communication with the cities. 
 
 It was the settlement Lisle had expected to come 
 to, and he found a bundle of correspondence awaiting 
 him there. Before he opened it, however, he and 
 Nasmyth supplied themselves with such clothing as 
 they could obtain at the local store, and then demanded 
 a bath at the little wooden hotel. They had some 
 trouble in obtaining it, but Nasmyth was firm, and 
 eventually he sat down to supper, clad in a blue shirt
 
 50 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 with scarlet trimmings, extremely tight-fitting clothes 
 and daintily-pointed shoes. 
 
 " I think I'd have done better if I'd stuck to my 
 rags, or else bought a pair of what that fellow called 
 river-Jacks' boots," he commented ruefully. 
 
 Lisle was similarly attired, but he was too busy with 
 his meal to sympathize with him, and some time after 
 it was over Nasmyth, strolling into the private room 
 which they had obtained as a signal concession, found 
 him writing at a littered table. Sitting down, he 
 watched him for a while with some slight wonder. 
 For a number of weeks, he had seen his companion 
 handling heavy loads, cooking, and hauling canoes 
 round rapids with the skill of a professional packer. 
 It was hard to disassociate him from the ranges and 
 the bush ; but now, Avith the pile of letters before him, 
 he had suddenly become a business man. Nasmyth 
 saw him answer a couple in a swift, decided manner 
 which showed that he was at home in his present oc- 
 cupation. It was one of the quick character-changes 
 which, while common in the West, are apt to bewilder 
 the more stereotyped Englishman. 
 
 " Are you coming to England with me? " Nasmyth 
 asked at length. 
 
 " No ; I'm sorry I can't," answered Lisle, pausing, 
 pen in hand. " This Gladwyne matter will probably 
 take time and I have none to spare now. There have 
 been some unexpected developments in my affairs. I 
 don't know when I can get away." 
 
 Nasmyth was conscious of some relief. His com- 
 panion would have to defer the prosecution of plans 
 that threatened to cause trouble in England, which
 
 
 MILLICENT GLADWYNE 61 
 
 was something to be thankful for, though he had a 
 strong sympathy for the man, 
 
 " Has it ever struck you that you might have less 
 difficulty if you could be content with proving half of 
 what you claim? " he asked. " It's the more important 
 part — I mean that your late comrade failed to find 
 the cache." 
 
 " Half a truth is not much use — Gladwyne realized 
 that. To declare you haven't done the wrong is a 
 good deal less effective than pointing to the guilty 
 man." 
 
 I suppose that's correct," Nasmyth agreed. 
 But, after all, unless you can get hold of a list of 
 the provisions cached — and it has most likely been 
 destroyed — there's only one way of substantiating 
 your views." 
 
 " Exactly. Gladwyne's confession will place the 
 matter beyond all doubt." 
 
 " Do you think you will ever get it.'' " 
 
 Lisle's expression hardened. 
 
 " Well," he said, " I'm going to try." 
 
 Nasmyth abandoned all attempt to daunt or dis- 
 suade him. 
 
 " Anyway," he resumed, " when you come over you 
 must stay with me. I'm sorry we'll have to part com- 
 pany to-morrow. I start east by the first train." 
 
 He strolled out into the moonlight and the keen 
 frost}' air. The little wooden town was soon left 
 behind, and sauntering down the rough wagon road 
 beneath towering firs, he saw the great hill summits 
 glitter white against the sky. It was a wonderful 
 country ; the grandest he had ever traversed ; but it
 
 62 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 demanded a good deal from the man who ventured 
 into its wilds, and he was not sorry that he was turn- 
 ing his back on it. 
 
 Then, as he thought of the land he was bound for 
 and recalled the tragic story of Gladwyne's journey, 
 he once more grew troubled. He realized the immuta- 
 ble sequence of cause and effect — each action had 
 its result which must be faced however much one re- 
 pented and regretted it. The deed, once done, could 
 not be altered and, what was worse, its consequences 
 reached out to others. Then he wondered whether 
 Clarence had ever repented, and admitted, with a re- 
 currence of his indignation against the man, that it 
 was far from probable. Clarence was one who took 
 life lightly, and although his means had been small 
 until he came into his cousin's possessions, he had some- 
 how succeeded in getting what is often considered the 
 best out of it. Self-denial in any shape was unknown 
 to him. 
 
 The next morning Nasmyth took the train for Mon- 
 treal, and about a fortnight later alighted at a little 
 station in the north of England as the early dusk 
 was closing in. It was a quiet evening and the soft 
 moistness of his native air struck him as something 
 pleasantly familiar after the keener, drier atmosphere 
 of the Dominion. He was glad to be back again, but 
 when he looked around, the trap waiting in the wet 
 road outside the railings was not his own. Neither 
 did it belong to Clarence, whom he had partly ex- 
 pected; but on the whole Nasmyth was glad of that. 
 He had not looked forward to the first meeting with 
 Clarence with any pleasure. 
 
 In another moment, a girl came along the platform
 
 MILLICENT GLADWYNE 6S 
 
 through the groups of local passengers, who respect- 
 fully made way for her. She was tall, and her long 
 outer garment failed to conceal her grace of move- 
 ment and fine poise, though in the fading light her 
 face was almost invisihle beneath a large hat. The 
 sight of her sent a thrill of satisfaction through the 
 man ; it was seldom that Millicent Gladwyne's appear- 
 ance was unwelcome to her friends. She approached 
 him with outstretched hand. 
 
 " I drove over for you. Clarence couldn't come ; 
 he was suddenly called up to town," she began. " It 
 would have been rather lonely for you to spend the 
 first evening by yourself at the Lodge. You will 
 come to us.'*" 
 
 " Thoughtful as ever," smiled Nasmyth, with a lit- 
 tle bow which was respectful as well as friendly. " I 
 needn't ask how you are ; the way you walked along the 
 platform was a testimony to our Border air." 
 
 She laughed, softly and musically. 
 
 " It is more needful to inquire how you have stood 
 your adventures? " 
 
 "I believe I'm thinner; but that isn't astonishing, 
 everything considered. I suppose Clarence is getting 
 on prett}^ satisfactorily ? " 
 
 "Clarence.? Oh, yes!" There was a hint of un- 
 certainty in her voice which Nasmyth noticed. " He 
 has been in town a good deal of late. But come 
 along ; the horse — he's a new one — is rather restive. 
 They'll send on your things." 
 
 " The remnant of my outfit's contained In one small 
 bag," laughed Nasmyth ; " the rest's scattered about 
 the hillsides of British Columbia. I was a picturesque 
 scarecrow when I reached the settlements."
 
 54 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 They moved away along the platform, and on 
 reaching the trap he got up beside her and handed her 
 the reins. 
 
 " I want to look about, if you don't mind," he ex- 
 plained. 
 
 " I really think the prospect's worth it," she replied. 
 " Besides, Riever's fresh and needs humoring." 
 
 She shook the whip, and as they clattered away down 
 the steep, twisting road, Nasmyth glanced with satis- 
 faction to left and right. He had seen wilder and 
 grander lands, but none of them appealed to him like 
 this high, English waste. On one hand dim black 
 hills rose out of fleecy mist; on the other a leafless 
 birch wood, close by, stood out in curiously fragile and 
 delicate tracery against a paling saff'ron glow, though 
 overhead the sky was barred with motionless gray 
 cloud. A sharp smell of peat-smoke followed them as 
 they clattered past a low white cottage with a yellow 
 glow in one window ; and then the earthy scent of rot- 
 ting leaves replaced it as they plunged into the gloom 
 of an oak wood beneath the birches. A stream splash- 
 ing down a hollow made faint music in the midst of it. 
 When they had emerged from the shadow and climbed 
 a steep rise, wide moors stretched away in front, rising 
 and falling in long undulations, streaked with belts of 
 mist. The crying of restless plovers came out of the 
 gathering dimness. 
 
 " All this is remarkably nice ; though I don't think 
 I should have appreciated it quite so much if I'd been 
 alone," Nasmyth said at length. 
 
 Millicent laughed lightly. She had known him since 
 her childhood and was quite aware that he had not in- 
 tended to pay her a labored compliment ; they were too
 
 MILLICENT GLADWYNE 55 
 
 good friends for that. Once, indeed, he had desired 
 a closer bond, but he had quietly acquiesced when with 
 gentle firmness she had made it clear that she was not 
 for him. Submission had not been easy, but he had 
 long admitted her right to more than he could offer. 
 In this, however, he was to some extent mistaken, be- 
 cause the gifts he could bring — a staunch honesty, 
 faithfulness, and a genial nature — are not to be de- 
 spised. 
 
 " Well," she replied, " I love these moors and dales, 
 SLS of course you know, and I've become more of a stay- 
 at-home than ever during the past year." There was 
 a shght regretfulness in her voice which had its mean- 
 ing for him. " I'm never satisfied with the draw- 
 ings," she went on, "though I've made so many of 
 them." 
 
 Nasmyth made a sign of comprehension. She had 
 undertaken to finish and illustrate her brother's 
 roughed-out Avork, a book on the fauna of the Bor- 
 der, and she had brought to it a fine artistic skill and 
 patience, as well as a love of the wild creatures of the 
 waste. It was, perhaps, a curious occupation for a 
 young woman, but she had devoted herself to it with 
 characteristic thoroughness. 
 
 " He wanted it to be as complete and accurate as 
 possible," she added simply. 
 
 Her companion felt compassionate. In some re- 
 spects, it was almost a pity that jNIillicent could not 
 forget. 
 
 " You got my letter — the one in which I said 
 I meant to pick up and follow out his trail.? " he 
 asked. 
 
 Yes. I knew it would be difficult. Indeed, I was 
 
 «
 
 56 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 anxious about you ; the wilderness has claimed so much 
 from me. But did you — " 
 
 " I succeeded," Nasmyth answered quietly. 
 
 The nod she gave him was expressive. It meant 
 that she had expected him to succeed; he was a man 
 who did what he said. 
 
 " I think George should never have made that jour- 
 ney," she resumed. " Fond of the open as he was, 
 he hadn't the physical stamina. He never spared him- 
 self ; he was apt to overestimate his powers." 
 
 It was spoken with a grave regretfulness that trou- 
 bled Nasmyth and yet stirred him to strong apprecia- 
 tion of her character. With all her love for her 
 brother, she could face the truth. 
 
 " I've learned that he bore everything with the forti- 
 tude one would expect from him — doing his share 
 always with the rest," Nasmyth said. " We got 
 through a little earlier, and had better weather; but I 
 saw enough to convince me that the difficulties George 
 had to contend with would have killed any ordinary 
 
 man." 
 
 5) 
 
 " They did not kill Clarence. 
 
 Nasmyth once more burned with anger against the 
 transgressor. 
 
 " No," he replied in a strained tone ; " Clarence es- 
 caped." 
 
 She flashed a sharp glance at him, and he felt glad 
 that it was too dark for her to see his face. 
 
 " You must tell me the whole story to-night," she 
 requested. 
 
 Her companion made no answer. With the reserve 
 that must be maintained on several points, the story 
 would be difficult to relate ; and it could not fail to be
 
 MILLICENT GLADWYNE 57 
 
 painful to lier. The horror she would feel if she ever 
 learned that her brother might have been saved had his 
 cousin shown more resolution was a thing he dare not 
 contemplate, and he wondered if the shock the knowl- 
 edge must bring could be spared her. This depended 
 upon Lisle, whom he had promised to assist. Nas- 
 myth could foresee nothing but trouble, and he was 
 silent for a while as they drove on across the lonely 
 moor.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 NASMYTH TELLS HIS STORY 
 
 DINNER was over, and Millicent's elderly com* 
 panion had discreetly left them alone, when the 
 girl led Nasmyth into her drawing-room. It 
 W61S brightly lighted and was tastefully decorated in 
 delicate colors, and a wood fire was burning on the 
 hearth; but, for the first time that he could remember, 
 Nasmyth felt ill at ease in it. He was fresh from the 
 snow-covered rocks and shadowy woods and the refine- 
 ment and artistic luxury of his surroundings rather 
 jarred on him. The story he had to relate dealt with 
 elemental things — hunger, toil, and death — it would 
 sound harsher and more ugly amid the evidences of 
 civilization. 
 
 " You have a good deal to tell me," Millicent sug- 
 gested at length. 
 
 He stood still a moment, looking at her. She had 
 already seated herself, and the sweeping lines of her 
 pose suggested vigor and energy held in quiet con- 
 trol. Her face was waran in coloring, bearing signs 
 of exposure to wind and sun, but it was chastely molded 
 in a fine oval with the features firmly lined. Her hair 
 was dark, though there were bronzy gleams in it, and 
 her eyes, which were deeply brown, had a sparkle in 
 them. As a whole, her appearance indicated a san- 
 guine, optimistic temperament, but there was also an 
 
 58
 
 NASMYTH TELLS HIS STORY 59 
 
 indefinite something wliich spoke of due balance and 
 repose. Nasmyth was more convinced than ever that 
 he had not met any other woman fit to compare with 
 her. Her age, as he knew, having given her many 
 birthday presents, was twenty-four. 
 
 " Yes," he said, in answer to her remark, " but it's 
 curious that I can't fix my mind upon the subject here. 
 The niglit's mild; shall we go out on to the veranda? " 
 
 " Wait until I get a wrap. I understand." 
 
 " You always do that," Nasmj'th declared. 
 
 She joined him outside in another minute and seated 
 herself in the chair he drew out. The house was small 
 and irregularly built, and a glass roof supported on 
 light pillars stretched along part of the front. A 
 half-moon hung above a ridge of dark fir wood, a tarn 
 gleamed below, and here and there down a shadowy hol- 
 low there was a sparkle of running water. On the 
 other side of the dale the moors stretched away, waste 
 and empty, toward the half-seen hills. The loneli- 
 ness of the prospect reminded Nasmjth of Canada, 
 and the resemblance grew more marked when the cry- 
 ing of plover rose from the dim heath — it brought 
 back the call of the loon. Still, he did not wonder 
 why Millicent, an orphan with ample means, lived alone 
 except for her elderly companion on the desolate Bor- 
 der. 
 
 " You don't mind, I know," he said as he lighted a 
 cigar. 
 
 " I can make that concession willingl}'," she an- 
 swered with a smile. " I suppose I'm old-fashioned, 
 because I go no farther." 
 
 " Keep so," advised Nasmyth. " Of course, that's 
 unnecessary ; but I never could make out why women
 
 60 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 should want to smoke. From my point of view, it 
 isn't becoming." 
 
 He was putting off a task from which he shrank, and 
 she indulged him. 
 
 " One retains one's prejudices in a place like this," 
 she said. " I felt sadly left behind when I was last in 
 London ; and the few visits I made in the home coun- 
 ties a little while ago astonished me. Nobody seemed 
 to stay at home ; the motors were continually whirling 
 them up to town and back ; the guests kept combing 
 and going. There was so much restlessness and bustle 
 that I was glad to be home again." 
 
 " It has struck me," returned Nasmyth with an air 
 of sage reflection, " that we who live quietly in the 
 country are the pick of the lot. Sounds egotistical, 
 doesn't it.'' But if we don't do much good — and I'm 
 afraid I don't, anyway — neither do we do any harm." 
 
 " I'm not sure that that's a great deal to be proud 
 of." 
 
 " I didn't include you," Nasmyth assured her. 
 *' There have been wholesome changes in the village 
 since you grew up and made your influence felt. And 
 that leads to a question: How does Clarence get on 
 with his tenants and the rank and file? George under- 
 stood them, but they're difficult folks to handle." 
 
 " He's away a good deal — I'm afraid there has 
 been some friction now and then." The girl's man- 
 ner suddenly changed. " But that's beside the point. 
 Aren't you wasting time? " 
 
 " I am almost afraid to begin. You will find the 
 story trying." 
 
 She turned toward him, and the moonlight showed 
 her face was reassuringly quiet.
 
 NASMYTH TELLS HIS STORY 61 
 
 *' I expect that; but your fears are groundless. You 
 needn't hesitate on my account." 
 
 Nasniyth knew that she was right ; Milhcent was not 
 one to flinch from pain. With an effort, he began his 
 story at the portage over the divide, and, possessed by 
 vivid memories, lie made her see the desolate region 
 they had laboriously traversed. Because her imagina- 
 tion was powerful, she could picture the brother she 
 had loved toiling with desperate purpose and failing 
 strength through muskeg and morass. Then, wlien 
 she quietly insisted, he described Gladw3'ne's last camp. 
 Siie saw that, too: the hollow beneath the dark rock, 
 with the straggling cedars on the ridge above. Next 
 he outlined the journey down the first few rapids, say- 
 ing little about the caches, and at last, with consid- 
 erable relief, he came to a stop. JMillicent sat silent 
 for several minutes, during which he did not look at 
 her. 
 
 " Thank you," she said at length. " I have tried 
 often to imagine it, and failed ; but it is quite clear 
 now. Clarence would never give me more than the 
 barest details — I think he hated to speak of it." 
 
 " In a way, he was wise," replied Nasmyth. He 
 understood the man's reluctance. " Now don't you 
 think it would be better if you tried to drive the thing 
 out of your mind? It can't be altered — there's a 
 danger in dwelling too much upon one's grief." 
 
 She looked up at him, tliough her eyes were dim with 
 tears. 
 
 " It can't be driven out. There were only the two 
 of us ; we had so much in common — there was such 
 trust between us." 
 
 Nasmyth nodded in comprehension and sympathy.
 
 62 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 « 
 
 Now that I've told 3'ou," he said quietly, as he 
 rose, " I think I'll go. I am sure you'd rather be 
 
 ?j 
 
 alone. 
 
 " No," she answered, motioning to him to sit down. 
 " Please stay." She seemed to rouse herself with an 
 effort. " Of course, there was only one thing George 
 could do when he was lamed — send them on. But 
 Clarence, who was with him, never made his fortitude 
 and cheerfulness so clear as you have done. You even 
 mentioned the exact words he said now and then — 
 how did you hear of them? " 
 
 " From my companion, a young Canadian. He had 
 the whole thing by heart ; got it from the Hudson Bay 
 agent. George's guide told the agent." 
 
 " Did your companion also teach j'ou how to tell the 
 story ? " 
 
 Nasmyth smiled. He saw that she was desirous of 
 changing the subject and he was glad of it. 
 
 " Anywaj^ he made me see it at the time ; pointed 
 out the full significance of things — a broken branch, 
 a scratch on a rock. A rather striking man in several 
 ways. But you shall see him ; he's coming over to 
 stay with me by and by." He paused a moment. " I 
 understand that Clarence has been having some trou- 
 ble." 
 
 " It hardly amounts to that. But things are not the 
 same as they were " — in spite of her courage she 
 faltered — " when George held control. The tenants 
 don't take to Clarence ; I think he was not well advised 
 in increasing rents here and there. Indeed, that Avas a 
 little puzzling, because he was once so liberal." 
 
 " In small matters ; it's his own money now." 
 Nasmyth could not repress this show of bitterness.
 
 NASMYTH TELLS HIS STORY (V3 
 
 a 
 
 Whose money was it in his extravagant days? " 
 
 *' That's a question I've thought over and failed to 
 find an answer to. I've no doubt most of what he 
 gets is now being spent in town, tliough in my opinion 
 as much as possible ought to go back to the locality 
 in which it was produced. Why don't you impress 
 that on him? " 
 
 Millicent, as he knew, could judiciously offer sound 
 advice where it was needed. She was young, but, hav- 
 ing been left an orphan early, she had long enjoyed 
 her brother's close companionship and confidence, and 
 the man's wide knowledge and thoughtfulness had had 
 its effect in molding her character. Still, in this case, 
 she did not respond. 
 
 " It would be better for his tenants and the neigh- 
 borhood generally if Clarence married ; he can afford 
 it now," Nasmyth went on. 
 
 Again the girl was silent, and he wondered whether 
 he had thoughtlessly made a serious blunder. It had 
 been supposed among their friends that she would 
 marry Clarence some day, though, so far as it was 
 known, there was no definite understanding between 
 them, and for a while the man's attitude had strength- 
 ened the idea. Indeed, when he had succeeded to 
 George's possessions, every one had expected an an- 
 nouncement, which had not been made. What Millicent 
 thought, or what she had looked for all along, did not 
 appear. 
 
 *' I think you are right in one thing," she said, very 
 calmly, at length. " If he would stay here, as George 
 did and his neighbors do, it would be better for every- 
 body, including himself." 
 
 Nasmyth made a sign of agreement. Their inti-
 
 64 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 mate friends remained for the greater portion of the 
 year on their estates, understanding the needs of their 
 tenants and dependents and enjoying their good opin- 
 ion, which was naturally increased by the fact that 
 their expenses were chiefly incurred in the neighbor- 
 hood. There were others who, as the small farmer 
 recognized, returned as little as possible to the soil, 
 squandering revenues raised by the stubborn labor of 
 others in doubtful pleasures elsewhere and, when they 
 brought their friends home, on luxuries despatched 
 from town. These things made for bitterness. 
 
 An unfortunate persistence in his hobby drove Nas- 
 myth into a second blunder. 
 
 " We're in accord on that point," he assured her. 
 " It's a pity the land passed out of your hands. How- 
 ever, as there's no male succession, it might, after all, 
 come back to 30U." 
 
 She bore it very calmly. 
 
 *' You wouldn't have me speculate on such a thing? " 
 
 Then as if to find a safer topic she went on with a 
 thrill of anger in her tone : 
 
 " I'll tell you of an incident I witnessed two or three 
 days ago, which anno3^ed me seriously. I'd just met 
 old Bell — you know how lame he is — driving some 
 sheep along the road. It has been a wet, cold year; 
 Bell lost his hay, the oats are dreadfully poor, and his 
 buildings are in very bad repair." 
 
 " They were a disgrace to any estate when I last 
 saw them," Nasmyth broke in. " Besides, the sour 
 land near the river should have been tile-drained long 
 ago." 
 
 " So Bell has urged ; but he can't get Marple to 
 spend a penny — I'm glad that man's new to this part
 
 NASMYTH TELLS HIS STORY 65 
 
 of the country and doesn't belong to us. Well, just 
 after I met Bell, Marple's big motor came along. He 
 had Batley with him and the Crcstwicks, who were 
 down before. I think you met them?" 
 
 " I did," assented Nasmyth. " In Canada they'd 
 call them a mighty tough crowd; they're about the 
 limit here." 
 
 " I turned round after the car had passed," Mil- 
 licent went on. " Marple was driving, as fast as 
 usual, and he made no attempt to pull up. Bell, who 
 didn't hear, tried to jump and fell into the ditch; most 
 of the sheep \vere scattered across the moor, but two 
 or three got right in front of the car and at the last 
 moment INIarple had to stop. One of the women 
 laughed, she had a A'ery shrill voice and she explained 
 that the old man looked so funny in the ditch ; Marple 
 shouted to Bell — something about the damage to his 
 tires — and I could see the others smiling at what he 
 said. That was worse than the words he used. Then 
 they went on, leaving the old man to gather up his 
 sheep ; he hadn't a dog with him. That kind of thing 
 leaves its mark ! " 
 
 " Distinctly so," Nasmyth agreed. " Still, ]Marple 
 and his lot are exceptions. Wasn't Clarence rather 
 thick with them?" 
 
 " Yes," she answered. " Fve been rather disturbed 
 about him." 
 
 Nasmyth did not know what this meant. He 
 thought she would hardly have made such an admis- 
 sion had she contemplated marrying the man ; and, if 
 not, it was somewhat difficult to see why he should 
 cause her serious concern. He knew, however, that 
 Millicent could not look on unmoved when her friends
 
 66 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 left the right path ; lie could think of two or three 
 whom she had helped and gently checked from further 
 straying. This reflection was a relief to him, because 
 he was determined that she should not marry Clarence 
 if he could prevent it. If necessary, he would tell her 
 the part the man had played in Canada, though he 
 shrank from doing so. 
 
 " Marple and his acquaintances are not the people 
 one would have expected Clarence to associate with," 
 he continued. " Still, in my opinion, he's doing worse 
 in making a friend of that fellow Batley. I could 
 never understand the connection — the man strikes me 
 as an adventurer. Has he spent much time here since 
 I've been aweij? " 
 
 " A good deal, off and on. But it's getting chilly 
 and I half expect a reproving lecture from Miss Hume 
 when I go in. First, though, tell me a little more 
 about the young Canadian you had with you." 
 
 " I don't know much. I met him by accident — he 
 has an interest in some mines, I believe, but he struck 
 me as a remarkably fine type. Clever at woodcraft, as 
 handy with the ax and paddle as our professional 
 guide, but when he talked about other things he seemed 
 to know a good deal more than I do." He smiled. 
 " After all, that's not surprising. But what I liked 
 most was the earnestness of the fellow ; he had a down- 
 right way of grappling with things, or explaining 
 them to you. Sensible, but direct, not subtle." 
 
 " I've met men of that description, and I'm rather 
 prejudiced in their favor," declared Millicent, smiling. 
 " But what was he like in person — slightly nigged? " 
 
 " No ; that's where you and others sometimes go 
 wrong. There's nothing of the barbarian about these
 
 NASMYTH TELLS HIS STORY 67 
 
 bushmcn. I'lijsically, they're as fine a type as we are 
 — I might go farther — straight in the Hmb, clean- 
 lined every way, square in the shoulder. They'd make 
 an impression at any London gathering." 
 
 " So long as they didn't speak. ^ " 
 
 " It wouldn't matter. Allowing for a few collo- 
 quialisms, they're worth listening to ; which is more 
 than I'd care to say for a number of the people one 
 meets in this country." 
 
 Milliccnt laughed. 
 
 " Well, I'll be glad to see him when he comes." Her 
 voice grew graver. " I feel grateful to him already 
 for what he told you about George." 
 
 They went in together and half an hour later Nas- 
 myth walked home across the moor. He had never 
 thought more highly of Millicent, but somehow he now 
 felt sorry for her. It scarcely seemed fitting that she 
 should live in that lonely spot with only the company 
 of an elderly and staid companion, though he hardly 
 thought she would be happier if she plunged into a 
 round of purposeless amusements in the cities. Still, 
 she was young and very attractive; he felt that she 
 should have more than the thinly-peopled countryside 
 had to offer.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 ON THE MOOES 
 
 NEARLY a year had passed since Nasmyth's re- 
 turn when Lisle at length reached England. 
 Soon after his arrival, he was, as Nasmyth's 
 guest, invited to join a shooting partj'^, and one bright 
 afternoon lie stood behind a bank of sods high on a 
 grouse-moor overlooking the wastes of the Border. 
 The heath was stained with the bell-heather's regal 
 purple, interspersed with the vivid red of the more 
 fragile ling, and where the uplands sloped away broad 
 blotches of the same rich colors checkered the grass. 
 In the foreground a river gleamed athwart the picture, 
 and overhead there stretched an arch of cloudless blue. 
 There was no wind; the day was still and hot. 
 
 A young lad whose sunburned face already bore the 
 stamp of self-indulgence was stationed behind the 
 butt with Lisle, and the latter was not favorably im- 
 pressed with his appearance or conversation. 
 
 " Look out," he cautioned by and by. " You 
 were a little slow last time. They travel pretty fast." 
 
 Lisle picked up his gun ; he had used one in the 
 West, though he was more accustomed to the rifle. 
 Cutting clear against the dazzling sky, a straggling 
 line of dark specks was moving toward him, and a 
 series of sharp cracks broke out from the farther wing 
 
 68
 
 ON THE MOORS 69 
 
 of the row of butts, wliich stretched across the moor. 
 Lisle watched the birds, with fingers tightening on his 
 gun ; one cluster was coming his way, each flitting 
 body growing in size and distinctness with marvelous 
 rapidity. Then there was a flash beside him, and an- 
 other crash as he pitched up his gun. Something 
 struck the heather with a thud not far away, and 
 swinging the muzzle a little, he pulled again. He 
 was not surprised to hear a second thud, and laying 
 down his gun he turned to his youthful companion, 
 while a thin cloud of acrid vapor hung about him. 
 
 " Get anything? " he asked. 
 
 *' I didn't," was the sullen answer. " Couldn't ex- 
 pect it with the second barrel, after you'd filled the 
 place with smoke. Wonder why Gladwyne's man gave 
 you the old black powder? " 
 
 As nearly everybody else used smokeless, this was 
 a point that had aroused Lisle's curiosity, though it 
 was not a matter of much importance. Nasmyth had 
 provided him with cartridges, but they had somehow 
 been left behind, and on applying to Gladwyne's 
 keeper he had been supplied with ammunition which, 
 it seemed, was out of date. 
 
 " After all, you have done well enough," his com- 
 panion resumed. " We'd better get on to our next 
 station — it's right across the moor on the high ridge 
 yonder. Don't bother about the birds." 
 
 " Shall I leave them there? " 
 
 " Certainly ! Do you want to carry them all the 
 afternoon? One of the keeper fellows will bring them 
 along." 
 
 The lad's tone was half contemptuous; he had al-
 
 70 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 ready shown that he considered the Canadian what he 
 would have called an outsider; but he was wilhng to 
 make use of him. 
 
 " You might look after Bella ; she's alone in the 
 next butt — and I've something else to do," he said. 
 " There's an awkward ghyll to cross and she won't 
 carry anything lighter than a 14-gun. See she doesn't 
 leave the cartridges in it." 
 
 He strode away across the heather, and Lisle turned 
 toward the turf shelter indicated. As he approached 
 it, a girl appeared and glanced at him with very 
 obvious curiosity ; but as he supposed that she was the 
 sister of his late companion he did not expect any 
 diffidence from her. She was short in stature and 
 slight in figure, and dressed in grayish brown; hat, 
 coat, and remarkably short skirt all of the same ma- 
 terial. Her hair was of a copper color; her eyes, 
 which were rather narrow, of a pale grayish-green. 
 He would have called them hard, and there was a hint 
 of arrogance in her expression. Yet she was pl- 
 quantly pretty. 
 
 " I suppose you're Nasmyth's Canadian friend.'^ " 
 she began, and went on without waiting for an an- 
 swer: "As we occupy adjoining butts on the next 
 drive, you may take my gun. Teddy has deserted 
 me." 
 
 " Teddy .f* " queried Lisle, who wondered if she were 
 referring to her brother. " I thought his name was 
 Jim." 
 
 " It's Marple's stout friend with the dyed hair I 
 mean. I told him what would happen if he ate as he 
 persisted in doing at lunch. It's too hot to gorman- 
 dize ; I wasn't astonished when he collapsed at the steep
 
 ON THE MOORS 71 
 
 place on tlie last walk. Hcflccting that it was his own 
 fault, I k-ft him." 
 
 Lisle was not charmed with the girl's manners, but 
 he could not check a smile. 
 
 "Are you tired.? You oughtn't to be," she con- 
 tinued with another bold glance at him. 
 
 "No," he replied; "if it's any consolation to you, 
 I'm far from exhausted yet." 
 
 " That's reassuring," she retorted. " You haven't 
 taken my gun." 
 
 Having forgotten it for the moment, he flushed a 
 little, and she watched him with unconcealed amuse- 
 ment while he opened the weapon and took out the 
 cartridges. 
 
 " What's that for? " she asked impertinently. " It's 
 hammerless ; there's nothing to catch." 
 
 " The pull-off's probably very light, if it's been 
 made for a lady's use. It's sometimes possible to jar 
 the strikers down when they set the springs to yield at 
 a touch." 
 
 " Then you know something about guns.? " she said, 
 as if she had not expected this. 
 
 " Not a great deal about the scatter kind, though 
 I've stripped a few." 
 
 " We never do that," she informed him. " We send 
 them to London. Still, you're right ; the gun did go 
 off when I knocked it jumping down from a wall." 
 
 " If you'll let me have it to-night, I'll alter that. 
 I understand we're going out again to-morrow." 
 
 She considered a moment. 
 
 " Well," she consented, with the air of one con- 
 ferring a favor, " 3'ou may take it when we've fin- 
 ished."
 
 72 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 Lisle wondered what had prompted him to make the 
 offer. The way she had addressed him was not in- 
 gratiating, but he dehghted in examining any fine 
 mechanism and he had never handled such a beauti- 
 fully made weapon. 
 
 They plodded on side by side through the heather, 
 which was long and matted, and prescntl}^, seeing that 
 she was breathless, he stopped on the crest of a higher 
 rise and once more looked about with keen apprecia- 
 tion. 
 
 In front of him the crimson and purple heath was 
 rent and fissured, and in the deep gaps washed out by 
 heavy rains the peat gleamed a warm chocolate-brown. 
 Elsewhere, patches of moss shone with an emerald 
 brightness, and there were outcrops of rock tinted 
 lustrous gray and silver with lichens. Below, near 
 the foot of the moor, ran a straight dark line of firs, 
 the one coldly-somber streak in the scene ; but beyond 
 it the rolling, sunlit plain ran back, fading through 
 ever varying and softening colors to the hazy blue 
 heights of Scotland. 
 
 Lisle's companion noticed his intent expression. 
 
 " It is rather fine up here," she conceded. " I some- 
 times feel it's almost a pity one couldn't live among 
 the heather. Certain things would be easier on these 
 high levels." 
 
 "Yes?" interrogated Lisle, slightly puzzled and 
 astonished. 
 
 " You're obviously from the woods," she smiled. 
 " If you had spent a few years among my friends, you 
 would understand. I was referring to the cultivation 
 of ideas and manners which seem to be considered out 
 of date now."
 
 ON THE MOORS 73 
 
 Lisle made no reply to this, but he glanced too di- 
 rectly at a red stain on her hand. 
 
 " Blood," she explained. " I had a bet with Alan 
 that I'd get a brace more than Flo ; that's why I went 
 after a cripple running in the ling. It wasn't dead 
 when I picked it up — rather horrid, wasn't it.'' " 
 
 The man was conscious of some disgust. She 
 looked very young and, slight as she was, her figure 
 was prettily rounded and she had a soft, kittenish 
 gracefulness ; but she spoke with the assurance of a 
 dowager. Though he had killed and cut up many a 
 deer, he shrank from the small red stain on her delicate 
 hand. She saw it and laughed, and then with a sud- 
 den change of mood she stooped and swiftly rubbed 
 her fingers in the heather. 
 
 " Now," she said sharply, " if you're sufficiently 
 rested, we'll go on." 
 
 Lisle moved away, but he asked a question : 
 
 " Do many girls shoot in this country ? " 
 
 " No," she answered with a mocking smile ; '* not so 
 many, after all. That's comforting, isn't it? This 
 kind of thing is hard work, and damaging to the com- 
 plexion." 
 
 Presently they came to a wall, and Lisle stopped in 
 some uncertainty. It was as high as his shoulders and 
 built of loose, rough stones. 
 
 " Get over," she ordered him. " Then pull a lot of 
 it down." 
 
 He did so, making, though he endeavored to avoid 
 this, a rather wide hole. 
 
 She scrambled through agilely and then regarded 
 him with surprise as he proceeded to replace the 
 stones.
 
 •74 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 
 Why are you doing that? " she asked. 
 There are sheep up here." 
 
 "Too many, considering that it's a grouse-moor; 
 but what of it.^* They don't belong to us." 
 
 " They belong to somebody who would rather they 
 didn't stray," Lisle rejoined. " In the country I come 
 from, it's considered a serious transgression to knock 
 over another person's fence and not put it up 
 again." 
 
 He calmly went on with his task, and sitting down 
 she took out a silver cigarette-case. After a minute 
 or two she looked up at him. 
 
 *' You're doing that very neatly," she remarked. 
 
 " I've done something of the kind for a living," 
 liisle informed her. 
 
 " Oh ! It's curious that you seem proud of it. In 
 this case, I don't mind your keeping me, because they 
 can't drive up the birds until we have crossed the 
 higher moor. It will annoy Gladwyne and his keeper, 
 and I'm not pleased with cither of them. I wanted 
 Flo Marple's station at the first butts." 
 
 Lisle considered this. He had wondered why she 
 had favored him with her company, when, although 
 her previous companion had deserted her, she could 
 by hun-ying a little have joined the others. The butts 
 were not spaced very far apart. Their late occupants 
 had, however, now vanished into a dip of the moor. 
 He asked himself why a girl with her assurance should 
 have troubled to offer him an explanation. 
 
 When he had finished the repairs to the wall, they 
 went on, and a little later he heard a sharp " Cruck — 
 cruck-curruck," to one side of him. Swinging 
 around, he saw a grouse skimming the heather.
 
 ON THE MOORS 76 
 
 " A pair of gloves to a sovereign that you miss 1 " 
 cried his companion. 
 
 The bird was flying fast; Lisle had to load, and by 
 the time he had snapped in a cartridge it was a long 
 range. This, however, was somewhat in his favor, as 
 he was better used to the rifle. There was a flash and 
 the bird struck the heath. The girl glanced at him 
 in unveiled appreciation. 
 
 " A clean kill ! " she exclaimed. " You have won 
 the gloves ; and you'll dcser\'e them before you have 
 heard the last of this incident. I suppose you don't 
 know that you shouldn't have fired a shot except from 
 behind the butts." 
 
 She watched his expression with open amusement. 
 
 " You don't like to ask why I tempted you," she 
 went on. " It was to vex the keeper ; you may have 
 turned back the birds the beaters are driving up." 
 
 Thanks for the information," Lisle said coolly. 
 
 Do you mind my inquiring whether you would have 
 taken the sovereign in case I'd missed? As you sug- 
 gested, I'm lately from the wilds." 
 
 " Of course ! " she mocked. " I could have had it 
 drilled and worn it on a chain ! " 
 
 The man made no comment as they went on. Pres- 
 ently they came to a deep rift in the moor through 
 which a stream leaped sparkling. The girl scrambled 
 down, waist-deep in yellow fern, but the other side was 
 steep and stony and she was glad of help when he held 
 out his hand. They made the ascent with some diffi- 
 culty and on reaching the summit she looked around, 
 breathless. 
 
 " This is a romantic spot, if you're interested in the 
 legends of the Border," she told him. 
 
 «
 
 76 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " I am," Lisle said ; and she sat down among the 
 heather. 
 
 " It's an excuse for a rest," she confessed. " The 
 old moss-troopers used to ride this way to ravage Cum- 
 berland. It was advisable for them to follow hidden 
 paths among the moors, and once an interesting little 
 skirmish took place among those brakes down the hol- 
 low." 
 
 She pointed toward a spot where the ravine widened 
 into a level strip of quaggy grass and moss which 
 glowed a brilliant emerald. On either side of it a 
 gnarled and stunted growth of alders and birches 
 fringed the foot of the steep slopes, and between them 
 the stream spread out across a stretch of milk-white 
 stones. The hollow was flooded with light and filled 
 with the soft murmur of iTinning water. 
 
 " It would be a strong place to hold, if the de- 
 fenders had time to clioose their ground," Lisle re- 
 marked. 
 
 *' So it proved," replied his companion. " Well, 
 once upon a time, a bold Scots reaver, riding south, 
 «aw a maid who pleased him near a Cumberland pele. 
 His admiration was not reciprocated, but he came 
 again, often, though being an armed thief by profes- 
 sion there was a price upon his head. It is stated 
 that on each occasion he returned unaccompanied by 
 any of the cattle belonging to his lady's relatives, 
 which was an unusual piece of forbearance. In those 
 days, men must have been able to disassociate business 
 from their love-making." 
 
 "Don't they do so now.'*" Lisle inquired lazily. 
 
 She looked at him with a smile which had a hint of 
 real bitterness in its light mockery.
 
 ON THE :\I0011S 77 
 
 " Not often, one would imagine. Perhaps they can't 
 be blamed — I'm afraid we're all given to cultivating 
 dreadfully expensive tastes. No doubt, when it was 
 needful, the Border chieftain of the story could live 
 on oatmeal and water, and instead of buying pedigree 
 hunters he probably stole his pony. He haunted the 
 neighborhood of the pele until the maid became afraid 
 and urged her kinsmen to rid her of him. Several of 
 them tried and failed — which wasn't surprising." 
 
 "Love made him invulnerable.'' " Lisle suggested. 
 
 " No," retorted his companion. " A man with a 
 heart constant and stout enough to face the risks he 
 ran would be hard to kill. When you read between 
 the lines, it's a moving tale. Think of the long, peril- 
 ous rides he made through an enemy's land, all for a 
 glance at his disdainful lady ! They Avatched the fords 
 in those days, but neither brawling rivers nor well- 
 mounted horsemen could stop him. At last, he came 
 one night with a dozen spears, broke in the burmkin 
 gate and carried her off. All her relatives rode hard 
 after them and came up with them in this ghj-ll. 
 Then there happened what was, in one way, a rather 
 remarkable thing — the abducted maid lirmlv de- 
 clined to be rescued. There was a brisk encounter, 
 I believe two or three were killed; but she rode off to 
 Scotland with her lover. I suppose I needn't point 
 the moral.'* " 
 
 " I can see only the ancient one — that it's unwise 
 to take a lady's ' No ' as conclusive," Lisle ventured. 
 
 She laughed at him in a daring manner. 
 
 " The pity is that we haven't often a chance of say- 
 ing it to any one worth while. But I'll express the 
 moral in a prettier way — sometimes disinterested
 
 78 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 steadfastness and real devotion count with us. Un- 
 fortunately, they're scarce." 
 
 There was a challenge in her glance, but the man, 
 not knowing what was expected of nim, made no an- 
 swer. At first he had been almost repelled by the 
 girl, but he was becoming mildly interested in her. 
 She could, he thought, be daring to the verge of coarse- 
 ness, and he did not admire her pessimism, which was 
 probably a pose ; but there was a vein of elfish miischief 
 in her that appealed to him. Sitting among the 
 heather, small, lithe, and felinely graceful, watching 
 him with a provocative smile in her rather narrow eyes, 
 she compelled his attention. 
 
 " Well," she laughed, " you're not much of a cour- 
 tier. But doesn't that story bring you back into touch 
 Avith elemental things — treacherous mosses, dark 
 nights, flooded rivers, passion, peril, dauntlessness ? 
 Now we're wrapped about with empty futilities." 
 
 He understood part of what was in her mind and 
 sympathized with it. He had lived close to nature in 
 stem grapple with her unbridled forces. From women 
 he demanded no more than beauty or gentleness ; but 
 a man, he thought, should for a time, at least, be 
 forced to learn the stress and joy of the tense strug- 
 gle with cold and hunger, heat and thirst, on long 
 marches or in some dogged attack on rock and flood. 
 He had only contempt for the well-fed idlers who 
 lounged through life, not always, as he suspected, even 
 gracefully. These, however, were ideas he had no in- 
 tention of expressing. 
 
 " There are still people who have to face realities in 
 the newer lands ; and I dare say j'ou have some in this 
 country, on your railroads and in 3'our mines, for ex-
 
 ON THE MOORS 79 
 
 ample," he said. " But hadn't we better be getting 
 on?" 
 
 They left the brink of the hollow and plodded 
 through the heather toward where a row of butts 
 stood beneath a lofty ridge of the moor. A man ap- 
 peared from behind one as they approached and 
 glanced at them with unconcealed disapproval. 
 
 " Couldn't you have got here earlier, Bella.'' " he 
 asked. " In another few minutes you'd have spoiled 
 the drive — the birds can't be far off the dip of the 
 ridge. Hardly fair to the keepers or the rest of us 
 to take these risks, is it.'*" 
 
 " When I do wrong, I never confess it, Clarence," 
 the girl replied. " You ought to know that by 
 now." 
 
 Lisle heard the name and became suddenly intent — 
 this was Clarence Gladwyne ! There was no doubt 
 that he was a handsome man. He was tall and held 
 himself finely ; he had a light, spring}- figvire, with 
 dark eyes and hair. Besides, there Avas a certain stamp 
 of refinement or fastidiousness upon him which was 
 only slightly spoiled by the veiled hint of languid 
 insolence in his expression. 
 
 " I heard a shot," he resumed. 
 
 " I've no doubt you did," the girl agreed. " An 
 old cock grouse got up in front of us — it was irre- 
 sistibly tempting." 
 
 Gladwyne turned to Lisle with a slight movement of 
 his shoulders which was somehow expressive of half- 
 indulgent contempt. 
 
 "You're Nasmyth's friend from Canada.? I guess 
 you don't understand these things, but you might have 
 made the birds break back," he said. " However, we
 
 80 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 must get under cover now — there's your butt. I'll 
 see 3'ou later." 
 
 He turned away and Lisle took up his station behind 
 the wall of turf pointed to. He had once upon a time 
 been forcibly rebuked for his clumsiness at some un- 
 accustomed task in the Canadian bush and had not re- 
 sented it, but the faint movement of Gladwyne's shoul- 
 ders had brought a warmth to his face. The girl 
 noticed this. 
 
 " Clarence can be unpleasant when he likes, but 
 there are excuses for him," she said. " A day's shoot- 
 ing is one of the things we take seriously, and manners 
 are not at a higher premium here than I suppose they 
 are in the wilds." 
 
 Lisle made no response, and there was silence on the 
 sun-steeped moor until a row of small dark objects 
 skimming the crest of the ridge above became silhouet- 
 ted against the sky. Then a gun cracked away to the 
 right and in another moment a dropping fusillade 
 broke out.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 GLADWYNE RECEIVES A SHOCK 
 
 IT Avas about nine o'clock in the evening, and Glad- 
 wyne's somewhat noisy guests were scattered 
 about his house and the terrace in front of it. 
 Several of them had gathered in the hall, and Bella 
 Crestwick, Lisle's companion on the moors, stood, ciga- 
 rette in hand, with one foot on the old-fashioned 
 hearth-irons, frankly discussing him. A few birch 
 logs glowed behind the bars, for on those high uplands 
 the autumn nights were chilly, but the wide door stood 
 open, revealing a pale green band of light behind the 
 black hills, and allowing the sweet, cool air of the 
 moors to flow in. 
 
 The girl had gained something by the change from 
 her outdoor attire to the clinging evening dress, but 
 it was with characteristic unconcern that she disre- 
 garded the fact that the thin skirt fell well away from 
 one shapely ankle effectively displayed by a stocking 
 of the finest texture. 
 
 " The man," she said, " is a bit of a Puritan. They 
 still live over there, don't they? His idea of English 
 women is evidently derived from what his father told 
 him, or from early-Victorian literature. I'm inclined 
 to believe I shocked him." 
 
 " It's highly probable," lauglied a man lounging 
 near. " Still, I believe the descendants of the folks 
 
 81
 
 82 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 you mention live three thousand miles from his coun- 
 try, in the neighborhood of the Atlantic shore. One 
 wouldn't fancy that you'd like Puritans." 
 
 There was nothing offensive in the words, but his 
 glance was a little too bold and too familiar, and Bella 
 looked at him with a gleam of malice in her eyes. 
 
 " Extremes meet ; it's the middle — ■ the medium me- 
 diocrity — that's irreconcilable with either end," she 
 retorted. " For instance, I led a life of severe as- 
 ceticism all last Lent." There were incredulous smiles, 
 though the statement was perfectly correct. " It's a 
 course I could confidently recommend to you," she pro- 
 ceeded, unheeding ; " of late you have been putting on 
 flesh with an alarming rapidity." 
 
 The man made no response and Bella resumed: 
 
 " Besides, the Puritans have their good points ; 
 they're so refreshingly sure of themselves and their 
 views, while the rest of us don't believe in anything. 
 You can't be a fanatic without being thorough, and 
 in renouncing the world and the flesh you may gain 
 more than a passable figure. Among other things, 
 the ascetic life means straight shooting, steady hands, 
 and an eye you can depend upon. The overcivilized 
 man who does nothing to counterbalance his luxuri- 
 ousness is generally a rotter." 
 
 " But what has all this to do with Nasmyth's Ca- 
 nadian ? " somebody asked. 
 
 Bella waved her cigarette. 
 
 " Try to walk a steep moor v/ith him and you'll see. 
 If that's not sufficient, take the same butt with him 
 when the grouse are coming over." 
 
 Suddenly she straightened herself, dropping her foot 
 from the iron and flinging the cigarette into the fire,
 
 GLADWYNE RECEIVES A SHOCK 83 
 
 as a gray-haircd lady entered the liall. She had heen 
 a beauty 3'ears ago and now lier fragility emphasized 
 the fineness of her features and the clear pallor of her 
 skin. She was dressed in a thin black fabric, and her 
 beautifully shaped hands gleamed unusually white 
 against its somber folds. 
 
 "Where's Clarence.''" she asked the group col- 
 lectively, in a voice that was singularly clear and pene- 
 trative. " I haven't seen him for the last half-hour." 
 
 One of the men immediately went in search of him, 
 and the lady crossed the hall to where Milllcent Glad- 
 wyne was sitting, for the time being alone. Millicent 
 liad noticed Bella's sudden change of demeanor upon 
 her hostess's entrance, with something between amuse- 
 ment and faint disgnst. IMrs. Gladwyne was what 
 Bella would liave called early-Victorian in her views, 
 and she would occasionally have been disturbed by the 
 conversation of some of her son's guests, had she not 
 been a little deaf. 
 
 " Sitting quiet.'' " she said to ISIillicent, who was a 
 favorite of hers ; and her voice carried farther than 
 she was aware of as she continued : " I heard the 
 laughter and it brought me down, though I want to 
 tell Clarence something. I like to see bright faces ; 
 but the times have changed since I was young. We 
 were a little more reserved and not so nols}^ then." 
 
 " A dear old thing ! It's a pity she's quite so ante- 
 diluvian," Bella remarked to a man at her side. 
 
 " Isn't that the natural penalty of being a dear old 
 thing?" laughed her companion. "There's no doubt 
 we have progressed pretty rapidly of late." 
 
 Clarence appeared shortly after this and was gently 
 chidden by his mother for going out wiHiout his hat,
 
 84. THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 because the autumn nights were getting chilly. A 
 few minutes later, footsteps became audible outside the 
 open door and Nasmyth entered the hall with Lisle. 
 It was spacious and indifferently lighted ; the others, 
 standing near the hostess, concealed her, and Lisle 
 stopped for a word with Bella. Then Nasmyth no- 
 ticed Mrs. Gladwjme and called to his companion. 
 
 " This way, Vernon." 
 
 Clarence swung round with a start and cast a swift 
 glance at the stranger, and Millicent wondered why 
 his face set hard ; but the next moment Nasmyth led 
 up the Canadian and presented him. Mrs. Gladwyne 
 had risen and Lisle made a little respectful inclination 
 over the delicate hand she held out. Age had but 
 slightly spoiled her beauty ; she had still a striking 
 presence, and a manner in which a trace of stateliness 
 was counterbalanced by gentle good-humor. Lisle 
 was strongly impressed, but, as Millicent noticed, he 
 betrayed no awkwardness. 
 
 " I seem to have heard your name before in con- 
 nection with Canada," said Mrs. Gladwyne, confusing 
 it with his surname. " Ah, yes ! Of course ; it was 
 George's guide I was thinking of." She turned to 
 Millicent, adding in an audible aside: "I've a bad 
 habit of forgetting. Forgive me, my dear." 
 
 Everything considered, it was, perhaps, the most 
 awkward thing she could have said ; but Lisle's bronzed 
 face was imperturbable, and Gladwyne hdd promptly 
 recovered his composure as he realized the mistake. 
 Still, for a moment, he had been badly startled. No- 
 body noticed Nasmyth, v/hich was fortunate, because 
 his unnatural immobility would have betrayed him.
 
 GLADWYXE RECEIVES A SHOCK 85 
 
 ** I'd been expecting 3011 both earlier ; told you to 
 come to dinner," said his host. 
 
 Then he addressed Lisle. 
 
 " As my mother mentioned, I had once something to 
 do with a man called ^'ernon, in Canada." 
 
 Knowing what he did. Lisle fancied that Glad- 
 wyne's indifferent tone had cost him an effort. 
 
 " It's only my Christian name, as you have heard," 
 he explained. 
 
 " You were up in the bush with Nasmyth, were you 
 not.? " 
 
 " Yes," answered Lisle. " I met him quite by 
 chance in a Victoria hotel when I happened to have 
 a few weeks at my disposal which I thought of spend- 
 ing in the wilds. When he heard that I intended mak- 
 ing a trip through the northern part of the country 
 and suggested that we should go together I was glad 
 to consent." 
 
 " Then 3'ou belong to Victoria "? " 
 
 " I was located there when I met Nasmyth. Before 
 that I was up in the Yukon district for some time. 
 Since leaving him I've lived in the cit}'." 
 
 He thought Gladw3'ne was relieved at his answer, 
 for the latter smiled genially. 
 
 " Well," he said, " we must try to make your visit 
 to this country pleasant." 
 
 Shortly after this, the group broke up and Glad- 
 wyne, escaping from his guests, slipped out on to the 
 terrace and v^alked up and down. Nasmyth had 
 merely mentioned that he had a Canadian friend stay- 
 ing with him ; somehow a formal introduction had 
 been omitted during the day on the moors, and Glad-
 
 86 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 wyne had been badly disconcerted when he heard the 
 man addressed as Vernon. The name vividly recalled 
 a Canadian episode that he greatly desired to forget, 
 and he had, indeed, to some extent succeeded in doing 
 so. That unfortunate affair was done with, he had 
 assured himself; for two years it had scarcely been 
 mentioned in his hearing, but for a horrible moment 
 which had taxed his courage to the utmost he had 
 almost fancied that it was about to be brought to light 
 again. Lisle's answer and manner had, however, re- 
 assured him. Nasmyth had met the man accidentally 
 and it was merely as the result of this that they had 
 made the journey through the bush together. It was 
 evident that he had been needlessly alarmed. 
 
 For all that, he was troubled. Living for his own 
 pleasure, as he did, he was nevertheless a man who 
 valued other people's good opinion and prided him- 
 self upon doing the correct and most graceful thing. 
 There was no doubt that he had once badly failed in 
 this, but it was in a moment of physical weakness, 
 when he was exhausted and famishing. After all, it 
 was most probable that his cousin had died before he 
 could have reached him, and there were, he thought, 
 few men who, if similarly situated, would have faced 
 the risk of the return journey. Still, the truth would 
 have had an ugly sound had it come out. This was 
 v.'hy he had spread the story of the guide's defection, 
 which he now regretted. It might not have been 
 strictly necessary, but he had reached the trappers' 
 camp on the verge of a collapse, too far gone to rea- 
 son out the matter calmly. A man in that condition 
 could hardly be held accountable for his action. Be- 
 sides, it was incredible that the guide's statement that
 
 GLADWYNE RECEIVES A SHOCK 87 
 
 he had made the journey without replenishing his pro- 
 visions could be correct. 
 
 His reflections were inteniipted by Mrs. Gladwyne, 
 who came out, wrapped in a shawl, 
 
 "Why are you here alone?" she asked. "You 
 look disturbed. Plas anything gone wrong? " 
 
 Gladwyne was sorry that she had joined him where 
 the light from a window fell on his face, but he 
 smiled. 
 
 " No," lie answered quietly, for he was always gen- 
 tle with her. " I only felt that I'd rather avoid the 
 chatter of the others for a few minutes. I suppose 
 it was the man's name, together with your reference 
 to George, that upset me." 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne laid her hand on his arm. She was 
 inordinately fond and proud of the son whom she 
 liad spoiled. 
 
 *' I sometimes think you are too sensitive on that 
 point, Clarence," she said. " Of course, it was very 
 tragic and we both owe George a great deal, but- you 
 did all that anybody could have done." 
 
 The man winced, and it was fortunate that they 
 had now left the light behind and his mother could 
 not see his face. 
 
 " I could have stayed and died with him," he broke 
 out with unaffected bitterness. " There were times at 
 the beginning when I was sorry I let him send me 
 away." 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne shook her head reproachfully. She 
 "was gracious and quietly dignified and refined in 
 thouglit, but for all that she was not one to appreciate 
 such a sacrifice as he had indicated. 
 
 " I'm afraid that was an undue exaggeration of a
 
 88 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 natural feeling," she remonstrated. " How could 
 your staying have helped him, when by going in 
 search of help you increased his only chance of safety? 
 I have always been glad you were clear-headed enough 
 to realize it, instead of yielding to mistaken emotional 
 inclinations." 
 
 Gladwyne felt hot with shame. His mother had 
 an unshaken confidence in his honor, which was the 
 less surprising because her perceptions had never been 
 very keen and she had always shrunk from the con- 
 templation of unpleasant things. It was an amiable 
 weakness of hers to idealize those she loved, and by 
 resolutely shutting her eyes on occasions she succeeded 
 in accomplishing it more or less successfully. Clar- 
 ence was, of course, aware of this, and it hurt to re- 
 member that in deserting his cousin he had been 
 prompted chiefly by craven fear. His mother, how- 
 ever, quite unconscious of what she was doing, further 
 humiliated him. 
 
 " Of course," she continued, " if you had found the 
 cache of provisions, it would have been your duty to 
 return to George at any hazard, and I have no doubt 
 whatever that you would have gone." 
 
 The damp stood beaded on the man's forehead. He 
 realized that even his lenient and indulgent mother 
 would shrink from him if she knew that he had aban- 
 doned his dying benefactor like a treacherous coward. 
 He said nothing and they had strolled to the end of 
 the terrace before she spoke again. 
 
 " I think it would be better to go back to the others 
 and drive away these morbid ideas," she advised. 
 " It's a duty to look at the brightest side of every- 
 thing."
 
 GLADWYNE RECEIVES A SHOCK S9 
 
 He made no answer, but he strove witli some degree 
 of success to recover his usual tranquilhty as they 
 turned toward the entrance of the hall. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Lisle had been talking to Milli- 
 cent. She had already made a marked impression on 
 him, for in the wilds the man had acquired a swift 
 and true insight into character. One has time to think 
 in the lonely places where, since life itself often de- 
 pends upon their accuracy, a man's perceptions grow 
 keen, and though some of tlie minor complexities and 
 subtleties of modern civilization might have puzzled 
 him he was seldom mistaken in essentials. 
 
 He liked her direct and calmly searching gaze; he 
 liked her voice which, while soft and pleasant, had a 
 trace of gravity in it. He knew that her fine car- 
 riage was a sign of physical vigor and he recognized 
 how it had been gained by the clear, warm tinting of 
 her slightly sun-darkened skin. But, apart from this 
 and her comeliness, which was marked, there was that 
 in her personalit}' which spoke of evenness and depth 
 of character. She was steadfast, not lightly to be 
 swayed from a resolve, he thought. 
 
 " Nasmyth has often spoken about you,'* she told 
 him. " I understand it was chiefly by your help that 
 he succeeded in reaching the scene of my brother's 
 death. I want to thank you for that." 
 
 Her voice was quiet, but it did not betoken indiffer- 
 ence; he knew that she was not one to forget. He 
 could not think of any apposite answer, but she saw 
 the sympathy in his eyes and it pleased her more than 
 words would have done. 
 
 " It w^as a relief to me that Nasmyth made that 
 journey," she went on. " I wanted to learn every-
 
 90 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 thing that could be known — instead of shrinking 
 from it. You see, I had a great faith in my brother." 
 
 " He deserved it," Lisle declared warmly. " I have 
 gathered enough to convince mc of that ! " 
 
 " Thank you ! Clarence was not in a condition to 
 notice an^'thing very clearly during his journey, and 
 I think what he suffered blunted his recollection. Be- 
 sides, the subject is a distressing one to him, and it is 
 seldom he can be induced to speak about it. Perhaps 
 that is a pity ; I find it does not always save one 
 trouble in the end to avoid a little immediate pain." 
 
 Lisle was gratified. She had spoken so unrestrain- 
 edly, though he imagined that it was a somewhat un- 
 usual thing for her to take a stranger into her confi- 
 dence. 
 
 " Yes," he replied ; " I think that's very true. It's 
 better to face it and get it over. The wound sooner 
 heals." 
 
 She smiled rather wistfully and changed the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 " I told Nasmyth that you taught him to see." 
 
 " I suppose I did," acknowledged Lisle. " Still, it 
 was only as far as it concerned the things that Pm 
 acquainted with. I'm not sure that my meaning's 
 very clear? " 
 
 " I understand. You knew what to expect ; that 
 carries one a long way. Were you disappointed in 
 finding it? " 
 
 He was a little surprised at her keenness, and rather 
 confused. This was a question that could not be di- 
 rectly answered. 
 
 " What I was more particularly referring to was 
 the meaning of such things as a broken branch, a gap
 
 GLADWYNE RECEIVES A SHOCK 91 
 
 in a thicket, or a few displaced stones," he explained. 
 " I taught him what to infer from those." 
 
 " Yes," she said ; " I understand that you discov- 
 ered nothing new — I mean nothing that could throw 
 any further light upon what befell my brother after 
 the others left him." 
 
 He was glad that he could answer her candidly. 
 
 " No ; we can only suppose that the conclusions the 
 rescue party came to were correct. But all that we 
 found relating to the week or two before the separa- 
 tion spoke of the courageous struggle that your 
 brother made and his generosity in sending the others 
 away." 
 
 She bent her head. 
 
 " That," she said quietly, " is only what one would 
 have expected. He left a diary ; you must come over 
 and see it." 
 
 " I should like to, if it wouldn't be painful to you." 
 
 " No," she replied ; " I shall be glad to show it to 
 you." 
 
 She left him shortly after this and strolled out on 
 to the terrace, thinking about him. The little she had 
 seen of him had pleased her; he had earnest ej'es and 
 a resolute air, and she liked the men who lived In the 
 open. He was direct, and perhaps a little rudimentary 
 without being awkward, which was in his favor, for 
 subtlety of any kind was distasteful to her. Still, in 
 one respect, she was disappointed — he had in no way 
 amplified Nasmyth's story, and she had expected to 
 hear a little more of the expedition from him.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 LISLE GATHERS INFORMATION 
 
 NASMYTH'S dinner was over and he lay, pipe 
 in hand, in an easy-chair in his smoking-room, 
 with Lisle lounging opposite him. They had 
 been walking up partridges among the higher turnip 
 fields all day, and now both were pleasantly tired and 
 filled with languid good-humor. Nasmyth's house was 
 old — it had been built out of the remains of a Border 
 pele — and the room was paneled to the ceiling and 
 very simply furnished. It had an ancient look and 
 an ancient smell, and the few articles of plain oak 
 furniture harmonized with it. The window stood 
 wide open, and the fragrance of a grove of silver firs 
 outside drifted in. The surroundings had their effect 
 on Lisle, who had not been accustomed to dwellings 
 of that kind. 
 
 " You have been here a fortnight and must have 
 formed a few opinions about us," Nasmyth remarked 
 at length. " You needn't be shy about expressing 
 them, and I've no doubt there are things you'd like to 
 ask." 
 
 " As a whole, my opinion's highly favorable," Lisle 
 announced with a smile. " I'd be uncommonly hard 
 to please if it weren't." 
 
 " That's flattering. But I'm not sure that I meant 
 as a whole; I had a few particular instances in my 
 
 92
 
 LISLE GATHERS INFORMATION 93 
 
 mind. Bella Crestwick, for example ; I'm curious to 
 licar what you think of her. She seems quite favor- 
 ably impressed with you." 
 
 " She's interesting," Lisle replied. ." A type that's 
 new to me; the latest development, isn't it? Anyway, 
 I like her — whatever the admission's worth — though 
 I must say that I found her rather startling at first. 
 She's honest, I think, and that counts for a good deal.'* 
 
 " I suppose you're not aware that she's desirably 
 rich.?" 
 
 " I wasn't. It's not a fact of any moment to me. 
 Besides, I've a suspicion that it's Gladvvyne's scalp 
 she's after." 
 
 Nasmyth nodded. 
 
 " You're prett}' shrewd. Though I've had much 
 greater opportunities for observation, that idea has 
 only lately occurred to me. Of course, in a general 
 way, I shouldn't discuss my acquaintances in this 
 casual fashion, but as you are likely to see a good 
 deal of us there are things 3'ou'd better know." 
 
 " I'll explain my point of view," said Lisle, refill- 
 ing his pipe. " You have seen something of the kind 
 of life I've led. Half my time, I suppose, has been 
 spent in primeval surroundings ; the rest in contact 
 with the latest efforts of a rather unfinished civiliza- 
 tion. Well, what you have to show me here is vastly 
 different. These old houses, your smoothed-down 
 ways, are a revelation to me. The polish on some of 
 your furniture has taken several hundred 3'ears to 
 put on ; that in my Victoria quarters smells of the fac- 
 tory, and the board walls of other hotels I've lived 
 in rend into big cracks because they're fresh from 
 the mill. I'm full of interest ; everything's new to me.
 
 94 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 But so far my curiosity's impersonal; I'm taking no 
 hand in anything." 
 
 His companion's face grew grave. 
 
 " The trouble is that you may not be able to avoid 
 it later. You're here, and some part will probably 
 be forced on you. However, as I said, I think you're 
 right about Bella." 
 
 " But her money would be no great inducement to 
 Gladwyne." 
 
 " That's not certain. Clarence has a way of 
 squandering money, and you may as well understand 
 that there's very little to be derived from agricultural 
 property. George had his mother's money, but he 
 left it to Millicent; Clarence got only the land. 
 That's what made a match between them seem so de- 
 sirable." 
 
 " Desirable ! " Lisle broke out. " It's impossible ! 
 Not to be contemplated 1 " 
 
 " Yes," Nasmyth agreed quietly. " If necessary, 
 it will have to be prevented. I was only stating pop- 
 ular opinion." 
 
 There was something curious in his tone and Lisle 
 looked hard at him. Their eyes met full for a mo- 
 ment and the thoughts of each were clear to the other. 
 
 " If anything must be done, it will fall to you," 
 Nasmyth went on. " In this case it would be partic- 
 ularly invidious for me to interfere. But, if there had 
 been nobody else, I'd have broken off the match." 
 
 Lisle made no comment, but there was comprehen- 
 sion and sympathy in his expression, and Nasmyth 
 nodded. 
 
 " Yes," he acknowledged ; " it's an open secret that 
 I would have looked for nothing better than to marry
 
 LISLE GATHERS INFORMATION 95 
 
 Milliccnt Gladwyne." He paused with a slight flush 
 creeping into his hronzed face. " For all that, I knew 
 some years ago that I liadn't the faintest chance and 
 never would liave. I have her confidence and friend- 
 ship ; that has to be enough." 
 
 " I think it's a good deal," said Lisle. 
 
 There was silence for a minute or two, and then 
 Lisle asked a question : 
 
 " How could a girl like Millicent Gladwyne ever 
 contemplate the possibility of marrying Clarence.''" 
 
 " It's puzzling to me. These things often are to 
 outsiders. Still, Clarence is a handsome man, and I 
 think George was in favor of the match, which would 
 count with her. Then, in a way, she was always fond 
 of Clarence, and now that she has the money and he's 
 far from prospering on the land, the idea that she 
 could set him firmly on his feet by sharing her posses- 
 sions with him may prove tempting. It's very much 
 the sort of thing that would appeal to her." 
 
 " You suggest that she isn't strongly attached to 
 the man." 
 
 " I really believe she isn't ; but, for all that, I'm 
 sometimes afraid she'll end by marrying him. It's 
 very probable that she suspects some of his faults, 
 but I'm not sure they'd deter her. It would make her 
 more compassionate, believing it was her duty to help 
 him — that kind of thing's an old delusion. Still, to 
 do the fellow justice, he hasn't of late shown nmch 
 eagerness to profit by his opportunities." 
 
 Lisle mused for a few moments. It struck him 
 that Nasmyth had described a very fine t^'pe of woman, 
 which was quite in accordance with his own ideas of 
 jNIiss Gladwyne.
 
 96 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " What led Gladwyne to cultivate Marple and the 
 Crestwicks ? " he asked. " They're different from the 
 rest of you." 
 
 " I can't say. It's a point I've wondered about, 
 though Marple and his rather rowdy friends are pros- 
 perous. I can better see why they got hold of Clar- 
 ence." 
 
 " I don't see it," responded Lisle. " Remember I'm 
 an unsophisticated stranger in search of information. 
 If they've means enough, can't they associate with 
 whom they like ? " 
 
 Nasmyth smiled, but there was a trace of diffidence 
 in his manner. 
 
 " In a way, you're right ; but there are limits, more 
 particularly ii} such a place as this. The counties, 
 I'm sometimes thankful, don't keep pace with London. 
 It's a little difficult to explain, but we're old-fashioned 
 and possibly prejudiced here. Anyhow, we exercise a 
 certain amount of caution in the choice of our friends." 
 
 " But Mrs. Gladwyne seems cordial to the people 
 you object to, and one would imagine that she's the 
 embodiment of your best traditions, a worthy repre- 
 sentative of the old regime." 
 
 " Mrs. Gladwyne is a remarkably fine lady, but it's 
 unfortunate that she's a little deaf and — it must be 
 owned — not particularly intelligent. A good deal 
 of what goes on escapes her. Besides, she has always 
 idolized Clarence, and that would account for her not 
 seeing his friends' failings." 
 
 ** It's curious that Gladwyne makes so much of that 
 young Crestwick." 
 
 " I've wondered about it," Nasm^^th confessed. 
 *' The lad's vicious — and I've an idea that the influ-
 
 LISLE GATHERS INFORMATION 97 
 
 ence Clarence has over him isn't beneficial. In fact, 
 I'm sorry for his sister. She has been given her head 
 too young, but, in my opinion, the girl's the pick of a 
 very indifferent bunch." 
 
 " But you haven't accounted for these people's 
 desire to be on good terms with Gladwyne." 
 
 Nasmyth hesitated. 
 
 " Oh, well, since you're so persistent, the Crestwicks 
 have evidently been left with ample means, acquired 
 by their parents, not much education, and big ambi- 
 tions. They can get into certain circles, but that 
 won't content them, and other doors, which Gladwyne 
 can open to them, are shut. After all, he's a good 
 sportsman, a man of some culture, with a manner 
 that's likely to impress such people. The lad's hold- 
 ing on to him and taking his worst aspect for a copy, 
 while Clarence seems willing to extend his patronage." 
 
 *' For some consideration? " 
 
 Nasmyth looked disturbed. 
 
 " It's unpleasant, but I can't help feeling that 
 you're right. One way or another, young Crestwick 
 will have to pay his entrance fees." He rose and 
 stretched himself lazily. " I'll spoil my temper if I 
 say any more about it, and as we've had a long day 
 I'm off to bed." 
 
 Lisle followed him from the room, but he was up 
 early the next morning and strolled down to the river 
 while the light was creeping across the moors and the 
 dew lay thick upon the grass, thinking over what he 
 had heard on the previous night. It was his nature 
 to be interested in almost everything and he was 
 curious to learn what he could of the people to whom 
 his father had belonged. In Canada he had, for the
 
 98 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 most part, met only men of somewhat primitive habits 
 and simple desires, grappling with rock and forest, 
 or with single purpose toiling to acquire wealth in 
 the new cities. What was more to the purpose, few 
 of them were married. Now he was thrown among 
 a people not more intelligent — indeed, he thought 
 they were less endowed with practically useful knowl- 
 edge — but in some respects more complex, actuated 
 by different and less obvious ambitions and desires. 
 He felt impelled to watch them, though he recognized 
 that, as Nasmyth had predicted, this might not be 
 all. It was possible that sooner or later he would be 
 drawn into action. 
 
 He reached the stream at a spot where it flowed, 
 still and clear, beneath a birch wood. A few of the 
 leaves were green, but most of them gleamed a deli- 
 cate saffron among the gray and silver stems, and the 
 ground beneath was flecked with yellow. Behind the 
 trees rough, lichened rock and stony slopes ran up to a 
 bare ridge, sifliouetted against the roseate glow of the 
 morning sky. The sun had not risen, the water lay 
 in shadow ; it was very quiet and rather cold, and 
 Lisle was surprised to see Millicent Gladw3me picking 
 her way cautiously over a bank of stones. It was 
 only her movements that betrayed her, for her neutral- 
 tinted attire harmonized with the background; but 
 when she caught sight of him she left the foot of the 
 slope she was skirting and came directly toward him. 
 He thought she looked wonderfully fresh and whole- 
 some, and he noticed that she carried a small camera. 
 
 " I'm afraid you have spoiled my sport," she 
 laughed. " I was after an otter — though you 
 mustn't tell Nasmyth that there is one about here. 
 
 ?5
 
 LISLE GATHERS INFORMATION 99 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Certainly not," acquiesced Lisle. " But why? " 
 
 *' He would consider it his duty to bring up the 
 hounds the next meet. Isn't it curious how slaughter 
 appeals to a man.'' But Nasmyth isn't unreasonable; 
 tliere are reserves in which even the jays he longs to 
 shoot have sanctuary." 
 
 But you were looking for an otter.'' " 
 Yes ; I wanted its picture, not its life. I've got 
 several, but I'm not satisfied; though I've been lucky 
 lately. I got a dabchick — they're gi'owing scarce 
 — not long ago." 
 
 " We'll try the next pool, if you'll let me come," 
 suggested Lisle. " I'm prett}' good at trailing. But 
 what do you want with their pictures ? " 
 
 " For my book," she told him. " I have to make 
 ever so many drawings in color before I get them 
 right. If you're fond of the wild creatures, I'll show 
 them to you." 
 
 Lisle said that he would be delighted, and they went 
 on, keeping back among tall brushwood where they 
 skirted the swift stream at the head of the pool, and 
 then proceeding cautiously with the outline of their 
 figures softened by the heathy slopes behind. At 
 length, creeping up through a thin growth of alders, 
 they stopped near another still reach and tlie girl 
 pointed to a few floating objects on its surface. 
 
 " You're good at trailing or they'd have taken 
 fright," she said. " Still, I think I will surprise you, 
 if you will wait here." 
 
 " Mallard," Lisle commented. " Young birds — 
 even where we seldom disturb them, they're shy." 
 
 She slipped away through the alders and he noticed 
 how little noise she made, though the lower branches
 
 100 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 here and there brushed against her gliding form. She 
 was wonderfully light and graceful in her movements. 
 As she came out into the open there was a startled 
 quack or two from the birds. Lisle expected to see 
 them rise from the water, but she called softly and, to 
 his vast astonishment, they ceased paddling away 
 from her. She called again and they turned and swam 
 cautiously toward her, and when she took a handful 
 of something from a pocket and flung it upon the 
 surface of the stream, three or four heads were 
 stretched forward to seize the morsels. 
 
 While the birds drew nearer Lisle looked on admir- 
 ing. She had roused his interest when he had first seen 
 her in her rich evening dress, but now he thought she 
 made a far more striking picture, and her sympathy 
 with the timid wild creatures which evidently knew and 
 trusted her awakened something responsive in him. 
 Half the pool now glimmered in the rosy light, with 
 here and there an alder branch reflected upon its mir- 
 ror-like surface, and Millicent stood on a strip of 
 gravel with her figure clearly outlined against it. 
 Dressed in closely-fitting, soft-colored tweed, tall and 
 finely symmetrical, she harmonized with rock and flood 
 wonderfully well. Lisle had occasionally seen a bush 
 rancher's daughter, armed with gun or fishing-rod, 
 look very much at home in similar surroundings ; but 
 this English lady, of culture and station, reared in 
 civilized luxury, appeared equally in her right place. 
 
 He afterward recollected each adjunct of the scene 
 — the stillness, the pale gleam of the water, and the 
 aromatic smell of fallen leaves, but the alluring, cen- 
 tral figure formed the sharpest memory. By and by 
 she clapped her hands, the ducks rose and flew away
 
 LISLE GATHERS INFORMATION 101 
 
 up-stream with necks stretched out, and she came back 
 toward him, laughing softly. 
 
 " Sometimes they will come almost up to my feet ; 
 but I'm afraid it's hardly fair to inspire them with an 
 undue confidence in human nature. It might cost 
 them dear." 
 
 *' You're wonderful ! " Lisle exclaimed, expressing 
 what he felt, for she seemed to him endowed with every 
 gracious qualit}'. 
 
 " Oh," she smiled, " there's nothing really remarka- 
 ble in what I showed you. I happened to find the 
 nest and by slow degrees disarmed the mother bird's 
 suspicions ; mallard have been domesticated, you know^ 
 though they're often hard to get very near. But 
 we may as well turn back ; it's now too late to see an 
 otter. I'm inclined to think they're the shyest of all 
 the British wild creatures." 
 
 They moved away down-stream side by side, and 
 some time later she left him where a stile-path crossed 
 a meadow. 
 
 *' Come and see my drawings whenever you like," 
 she said on parting. 
 
 Lisle determined to go as soon as possible. Quite 
 apart from the drawings, the idea of going had its 
 attractions for him, and he walked homeward deter- 
 mined that this girl should never marry Clarence Glad- 
 wyne. It was unthinkable — that was the only word 
 for it.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 Bella's champion 
 
 T was early in the afternoon when Lisle arrived 
 at Millicent's house and, after a glance at its 
 quaint exterior, was ushered into her drawing- 
 room. There he sat down and looked about while he 
 waited. The salient tones of its decoration were white 
 and aqueous blue, and the effect struck him as pleas- 
 antly chaste and cool. Among the rather mixed orna- 
 ments were a couple of marble statuettes, the figures 
 airily poised and very finely wrought. Next, he 
 noticed some daintily carved objects in ivory, and a 
 picture in water-color of a wide, gray stretch of moor 
 with distance and solitude skilfully conveyed. He had 
 risen to examine it when Millicent entered. 
 
 " I'm glad you came, though, as you're used to the 
 life of the woods and rivers, I'm a little diffident about 
 showing you my sketches," she said. " I'm afraid I've 
 kept you waiting." 
 
 Lisle smiled and she liked the candidly humorous 
 gleam in his eyes. 
 
 " Nasmyth warned me that I was early — or rather 
 he said that if I were going to visit anybody else I 
 would have been too soon. I'd better confess, how- 
 ever, that I've been making a good use of the time. 
 Things of this kind " — he indicated the statuettes — 
 " are almost new to me. They strike me as unusually 
 fine." 
 
 102
 
 BELLA'S CHAMPION 103 
 
 " Yes," she answered, realizing that he had an artis- 
 tic eye, " they arc beautiful — and one sees so many 
 that are not. George brought them from Italy for 
 me. This " — she moved toward a representation in 
 ivory of a Mogul gateway — " is of course a different 
 style, but it's remarkable in its patient elaboration of 
 detail. The mosque's not so fine. Nasmyth sent me 
 the pair from India ; he once made a trip to the fringe 
 of the Himalayas." 
 
 Lisle examined the object carefully, and she waited 
 with some interest for his comment. 
 
 " It's wonderful," he declared. " I suppose it's a 
 truthful copy ? " 
 
 " I'm inclined to think the man who carved that had 
 not the gift of imagination. He merely reproduced 
 faithfully what he saw." 
 
 " Different peoples have strikingly different ways, 
 haven't they.?" commented Lisle. "While they were 
 making that small Eastern arch, we'd fling up a 
 thriving wooden town or build a hotel of steel and 
 cement to hold a thousand guests. The biggest 
 bridges that carr}^ our great freight-trains across the 
 roaring gorges in the Rockies cost less labor.'* 
 
 " I should imagine it. What then.? " 
 
 He studied the carved ivory. 
 
 " In a dry climate the orginal of this would last 
 for centuries — it has lasted since the days of the 
 Moguls — an object of beauty for generations to 
 enjoy. Perhaps those old builders used their time as 
 well as we do. Our works serve their purpose, but 
 one can't call them pretty." 
 
 She was pleased with his answer. 
 
 " I think that gets the strongest hold on mc," he
 
 104< THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 went on, glancing toward the picture of the moor; 
 " it's reaJ ! " 
 
 There was a hint of diffidence in MilHccnt's expres- 
 sion. 
 
 "But you can hardly judge, can you? You have 
 scarcely seen the English moors." 
 
 " I've spent a while on the high Albertan plains, 
 and 3'ou have the same things yonder; the vast sweep 
 of sky, the rolling waste running on forever. It's all 
 in that picture ; how expressed, I don't know — there 
 are only the grades of color, scarcely a line to gage 
 the distance by. Still, the sense of space is vivid." 
 
 Milhcent blushed. 
 
 *' You're an indulgent critic ; that drawing is my 
 own." 
 
 He did not appear embarrassed, though she saw 
 that he had not suspected the fact. She had already 
 noticed that when he might, perhaps, have looked 
 awkward he only looked serious. 
 
 " After what you have said," she resumed, " I'll 
 show you the other things with greater confidence. 
 Do you know, I thought all you Western people were 
 grimly utilitarian .'' " 
 
 He sat down and considered this. The man could 
 laugh readily, but he was also characterized by a cer- 
 tain gravity, which she found refreshing by contrast 
 with the light glibness to which she was more accus- 
 tomed. 
 
 " Well," he reasoned, " in my opinion, the white 
 man's greatest superiority over all other peoples is his 
 capacity for making useful things — even if they're 
 only ugly sawmills or grimy locomotives. Philosophy 
 never fed any one or lightened anybody's toil; com-
 
 BELLA'S CHAMPION 105 
 
 merce is a convenience, but the man who makes a big 
 profit out of it is only levying a heavy toll on some- 
 body else. It seems to me that all our actual benefits 
 come from the constructor." 
 
 "Have you been building sawmills?" Millicent 
 asked mischievously. 
 
 He laughed with open good-humor. " Oh, no ; 
 that's why I'm free to talk. I happened to find a 
 lode with some gold in it, and gold is only a handy 
 means of exchanging things. I'll own that I was 
 probably doing more useful work when I stood up to 
 my waist in ice-water, fitting sharp stones into a pulp- 
 mill dam." 
 
 " Perhaps you're right," IVIillicent agreed, " but it 
 sounds severe. What of the people who never do 
 anything directly useful at all? " 
 
 *' There are a few who, by just going up and down 
 in it, keep the world sweet and clean. Some of the 
 rest could very well be spared." 
 
 *' Then you believe that everybody must practically 
 justify his existence? " 
 
 " If he fails to do so with us, his existence generally 
 ceases. The wilderness where I found the gold is full 
 of the bones of the unfit." 
 
 Millicent spread out some drawings. Most were in 
 color, in some cases several of the same object, done 
 with patient care, and she was strangely pleased when 
 she saw the quick appreciation in his eyes. 
 
 " An otier ; it's alive," he remarked. " You've 
 shown it working through a shallow, looking much 
 less like an animal than a fish — that's right." 
 
 " I made half a dozen sketches, and I'm not satis- 
 fied yet."
 
 106 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 *' Thorough," he commented. " You get there, if 
 YOU have to hammer the heart out of whatever you're 
 up against." 
 
 " It's my brother's book," she answered. " I'm fin- 
 ishing it for him. He did other things — most of 
 them useful, indirectly. I've only this — and I'd 
 like my part to be good." 
 
 He nodded sympathetically, looking troubled. 
 
 *' I can understand," he said. " I had a partner 
 — I owe him more than I could ever have repaid, and 
 he left a troublesome piece of work to me. It will 
 have to be put through. But let me see some more; 
 they're great." 
 
 She showed him a red ja}-; a tiny gold-crest perched 
 on a thorn branch; a kingfisher gleaming with tur- 
 quoise hues, poised ready for a dive upon a froth- 
 lapped stone. He Avas no cultured critic, but he knew 
 the ways of the wild creatures and saw that she had 
 talent, for her representations of them were instinct 
 with life. 
 
 The3^ Avere interrupted by a scratching at the door 
 and when she opened it a white setter hobbled aAvk- 
 wardly in and curled itself at her feet. 
 
 " He's rather a big dog for the house, but I can't 
 keep him away from me," she explained. " As you 
 see, he has lost a foot, in a trap, and he was marked 
 for destruction Avhen I asked for him. Sometimes I 
 think he knows that I saved his life." 
 
 The dog looked up and raising a paw scraped at 
 her hand, until she opened it, Avhen he thrust his 
 chin into her palm. It Avas a trivial incident, but it 
 somehow stirred the man. 
 
 " Now I know where you got power to draw these
 
 BELLA'S CHAMPION 107 
 
 lesser brethren," he said. " Study alone would never 
 have given it to you." 
 
 She let this pass. He was almost embarrassing in 
 his directness, though she acquitted him of any crude 
 intention of flattering her. 
 
 " I promised to let you read my brother's diary," 
 she reminded him. " If you will wait a few moments, 
 I'll get it." 
 
 The dog pattered after her, as though unwilling to 
 remain out of her sight, and she came back presently 
 with a small leather case and opening it took out a 
 tattered notebook. Noticing how she handled it and 
 that the case was beautifully made. Lisle fancied that 
 it was precious to her, in which he was correct. In- 
 deed, she was then wondering why she had volunteered 
 to show it to this stranger when only two of her inti- 
 mate friends had seen it. 
 
 " Thank you," he said, when she gave It to him ; 
 and drawing his chair nearer the window he began to 
 read. 
 
 Though he was already acquainted with most of it, 
 the story gripped him. On the surface, it was merely 
 a plain record of a hazardous and laborious journey; 
 but to one gifted with understanding it was more 
 than this — a vivid narrative of a struggle waged 
 against physical suffering, weakness, and hunger, by 
 optimistic human nature. An odd word here, a line 
 or two in another place, was eloquent of simple, stead- 
 fast courage and endurance ; and even when the weak- 
 ening man clearly knew that his end was near there 
 was no outbreak of desperation or sign of faltering. 
 He had dragged himself onward to the last, indomita- 
 ble.
 
 108 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 Then Lisle proceeded to examine the book more 
 closely. It showed the effects of exposure to the 
 weather to an unusual degree, considering that the 
 covers were thick and that the rescue party had re- 
 covered It shortly after its owner's death. Moreover, 
 Lisle did not think that George Gladwyne would have 
 left it in the snow. Several pages were missing, and 
 having been over the ground, he knew that they re- 
 corded the part of the journey during which the two 
 caches of provisions had been made, and he had 
 already decided that there would be a list of their con- 
 tents. This conclusion was confirmed by the fact that 
 Gladwyne had enumerated the stores they started with, 
 and had once or twice made a reduced list when they 
 had afterward taken stock. The abstraction of the 
 records was clearly Clarence's work. Then he realized 
 that he had spent some time in perusing the diar}"^ and 
 he handed it back to Millicent with something that im- 
 plied a respect for it. She noticed the sparkle in his 
 e3'es and her heart warmed toward him. 
 
 " It's the greatest story I've ever read," he declared. 
 
 She made no answer, but he knew that she was 
 pleased and it filled him with a wish to tell her that 
 she was very much like her dead brother. More he 
 could not have said, but remembering that he had 
 already gone as far as was permissible he had sense 
 enough to repress the inclination. He saw the girl's 
 lips close firmly, as if she were conscious of some emo- 
 tion, but there was silence for a minute or two. He 
 broke it at length. 
 
 " I know that you have granted me a very great 
 privilege, and I'm grateful," he told her, and added, 
 because he thought a partial change of the subject
 
 BELLA'S CHAMPION 109 
 
 might be considerate: " In a way, it's hard to realize 
 that tale in this restful place. It's easier out yonder, 
 where what you could call the general tone is dif- 
 ferent." 
 
 " Nasmyth once said something like that," INIilli- 
 cent replied. " I suppose the change is marked." 
 
 Lisle nodded. 
 
 " Here you have order, peace, security. In the 
 wilds, it's all battle, the survival of the strong; frost 
 and ice rending the solid hills, rivers scoring out deep 
 ravines, beast destroying beast, or struggling with 
 starvation. Man's not exempt either; a small blunder 
 — a deer missed or a flour bag lost — may cost him 
 his life. For the difference you have to thank the 
 constructor, the maker of plows and spades and more 
 complex machines." 
 
 " That's one of your pet hobbies, isn't it.'' " 
 
 He once more changed the subject. 
 
 " I wish that I could show you the wilderness," he 
 said. 
 
 Millicent looked thoughtful. 
 
 " I should like to see it. I've an idea that if this 
 book is well received I might, perhaps, try something 
 a little more ambitious — the larger beasts and wilder 
 birds of other countries. In that case, I should choose 
 British Columbia." 
 
 " Then you will let me be your guide .'' " 
 
 She made a conditional promise, and shortly after- 
 ward he left her. ]\Ieeting Nasmyth he walked with 
 him toward Gladwyne's house, where they found the 
 guests assembled on the lawn and Mrs. Gladwyne 
 sitting by a tea-table. One or two young women were 
 standing near and several men had gathered about a
 
 110 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 mat laid upon the grass fifty yards from where a 
 small target had been set up. Lisle joined Bella 
 Crestwick, -who detached herself from the others. 
 
 "What is this?" he asked. "It's a very short 
 range," 
 
 " Miniature rifle shooting," she informed him. 
 " It's becoming popular. Gladwyne has been trying 
 to form a club. My brother Jim is president of some 
 league. He's rather keen and there are reasons why 
 I'm glad of it." 
 
 She added the last words confidentially and Lisle 
 ventured to nod. It struck him that a healthy inter- 
 est in any organized work or amusement would be bene- 
 ficial to young Crestwick. The girl looked at him, 
 as if considering something; and then she seemed to 
 make up her mind. 
 
 " There's one thing I don't like," she complained. 
 " Thej' will shoot for high stakes. Jim isn't a bad 
 shot, but he's too eager. I'm afraid he's inclined to 
 be venturesome just now." 
 
 Lisle thought that she had a request to make. 
 There was something about him that inspired confi- 
 dence, and the girl had made a friend of him. 
 
 " What do you want me to do ? " he asked. 
 
 She made a sign of impatience ; he was too direct. 
 " Oh," she pouted, " aren't you taking a good deal for 
 granted.^ Still, you bushmen can shoot, can't you?" 
 
 " As a rule," Lisle answered. " I almost think I 
 
 see." 
 
 " Then," she retorted, " you shouldn't have said so ; 
 you should merely have smiled and acted." 
 
 " I'm from the wilds ; you mustn't expect too much. 
 Well, if you'll excuse me."
 
 BELLAS CHA.AIPION 111 
 
 She flashed a grateful glance at him, and he saun- 
 tered toward the group of men, among whom Glad- 
 wyne stood. There was a shai^p crack as he 
 approached them, a thin streak of smoke drifted across 
 the figure l3'ing on the mat, and a man beside it low- 
 ered the glasses he held. 
 
 " High to the left," he announced. " You're not in 
 good form, Jim. Hadn't jou better give up? " 
 
 Lisle studied the speaker, whom he had met once or 
 twice already. He was approaching middle-age and 
 was inclined to corpulence, but there was something in 
 his pose that suggested a military training. His face 
 was fleshy, but the features were bold and he was 
 coarsely handsome. As a rule, he aff^ected an easy 
 good-humor, but Lisle had felt that there was some- 
 thing about him Avhich he could best describe as preda- 
 tory. He occasionally spoke of business ties, so he 
 had an occupation, but he had not in Lisle's hearing 
 mentioned what it was. 
 
 Crestwick's face was hot as he answered his re- 
 mark. 
 
 " Not at all, Batley. The trouble is that I'm used 
 to the Roberts target, and the spots on the card are 
 puzzling after the rings. I'll get into it presently." 
 
 " Oh, well," acquiesced the other. " As j^ou didn't 
 fix a time limit, we'll go on again, though it's getting 
 tame and I want some tea." 
 
 " I'll ijicrease the interest again, if j-ou like," the 
 lad replied. 
 
 Lisle joined the group. 
 
 " What's it aU about.? " he asked. 
 
 " Batley's a pretty good rifle shot, but if he won't 
 mind my saying so he's a little opinionated," Glad-
 
 112 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 wyne explained. " Crestwick questioned an idea of 
 his, and the end of it was that Batley offered to prove 
 his point — that a stiff pull-off is as good as a light 
 one in practised hands — by backing himself to beat 
 the field. Crestwick took him up, and since the rest 
 of us were obviously out of it, the thing has resolved 
 itself into a match between the two. Crestwick is 
 using an easy-triggered rifle ; Batley's has an unusu- 
 ally hard spring." 
 
 Lisle considered. Remembering Bella's remarks, he 
 thought it would be easy to lure the lad into a rash 
 bet. He was headstrong and his manners might have 
 been more conciliator}'^, but Lisle, learning the 
 amount of the stakes, decided that his host should not 
 have let the thing go so far. 
 
 " Crestwick doubled several times ; he's stubborn and 
 doesn't hke to be beaten," Gladwyne resumed. " I 
 had the same ideas when I was as young as he is." 
 
 " I've offered to let him off," Batley broke in. " I'd 
 do so now only he's kept me shooting for the last half- 
 hour. As Gladwyne says, he's obstinate, and it's a 
 pity that he's wrong. If he'd trained his wrist-tendons 
 by using a harder trigger, he'd have made a passably 
 good shot." 
 
 Lisle was aware that while there was something to 
 be said for Batley's view, Crestwick was justified in 
 contending that the lighter tension was more adapted 
 to the case of the average person ; but he recognized 
 that the indulgent manner of the older men was cal- 
 culated, he thought intentionally, to exasperate the 
 hot-headed lad. 
 
 " Well," he observed, addressing Batley, " you have 
 the courage of your convictions if you have oflPered to
 
 BELLA'S CHAMPION 113 
 
 maintain them against all comers, which I understand 
 is what you have done." 
 
 The man nodded carelessly and Lisle went on : 
 
 " After all, since I dare say these gentlemen are 
 more used to the shotgun, your superiority doesn't 
 prove very much." 
 
 Crestwick looked around at him quickl}'. 
 
 " Most of you Colonials can use the rifle ; do you 
 feel inclined to take him on.'' You're a dark horse, 
 but I'll double the stakes if he'll throw you in." 
 
 This was what Lisle wanted, but he turned to the 
 others. 
 
 " I've never had a small rifle in my hands — we use 
 the 44—70, and I must leave you to decide whether 
 my shooting Avould be fair to Mr. Batley. In that 
 case, I'll put up half the stakes." 
 
 The men said there was no reason why he should 
 not join, and Batley made no protest, though Lisle 
 fancied that he was not pleased. Lying down on the 
 mat, he took the light-springed rifle and the six car- 
 tridges handed him and fixed his e3'es on the target, 
 which was a playing-card pinned to a thick plank. 
 He got the first shot off before he was quite ready — 
 the light pull was new to him — and somebody called 
 that he had touched the left top comer. The next 
 shot was down at the bottom, and the four following 
 marks were scattered about the card. "When he got 
 up, Batley looked reassured and proceeded to make 
 a neat pattern around the center of another card. 
 There was no doubt that Crestwick was anxious, and 
 when he took his turn he shot badly. In the mean- 
 while, the rest of the party on the lawn had gradually 
 gathered round; the eager attitude of the original
 
 114 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 spectators hinted that something out of the usual 
 course was going on. 
 
 Lisle was very cool when he lay down again. A 
 swift, encouraging glance from Bella Crestwick made 
 him determined, and during his previous six shots he 
 had, he thought, learned the right tension on the 
 trigger. 
 
 " Wipe it out for me, somebody," he said, holding 
 up the rifle. 
 
 Bella seized it and deftly used the rod, regardless 
 of soiled fingers. 
 
 " May it bring you luck," she wished, with a defiant 
 glance at Batley, who smiled at her as she returned the 
 weapon. 
 
 Then there was a hush of expectancy. Lisle took 
 his time ; a sharp crack, a streak of smoke, and Glad- 
 wyne raising his glasses, laughed. 
 
 " High ! " he called. " Top spot ! " 
 
 It was a three of hearts, and Gladwyne's smile lin- 
 gered for a moment after Lisle fired again. 
 
 " Bottom now ; you're low 1 " he cried, and then his 
 expression slightly changed. Both spots were drilled 
 out — this did not look altogether like an accident. 
 
 " Center ! " he announced after another shot, and all 
 the faces surrounding him became intent. The three 
 hearts were neatly punched. 
 
 " A fresh card ! " exclaimed Crestwick, looking 
 around at Batley with an exultant sparkle in his eyes. 
 " You ofiPered to let me off. Shall I return the com- 
 pliment.'' " 
 
 The man laughed carelessly, though Lisle thought 
 it cost him an effort. 
 
 " No," he retorted; " I can't show myself less of a
 
 BELLA'S CHAJNIPION 115 
 
 sportsman than you are; but I think I've the option 
 of demanding a longer range. Move the mat back 
 twenty-five yards and put up an ace of spades ; it's 
 the plainest. Three shots each should suffice at the 
 distance." 
 
 Crestwick got down and thrice touched the outside 
 of the card; Batley did better, for two shots broke 
 the edge of the black and one was close above them. 
 It was good shooting at so small a mark, and Lisle 
 was a little anxious as he very deliberately stretched 
 himself out on tlie mat. Having little of the gam- 
 bler's instinct in his nature, he was reluctant to lose 
 the money at stake, but he was more unwilling to let 
 Batley fleece the lad whom, as he recognized now, he 
 had been asked to aid. He meant to do so, if the 
 thing were possible, and twice he paused and relaxed 
 his grip Avhen his sight grew slightly blurred. 
 
 Tlien there was a sharp crack, and he smiled when 
 he heard Gladwyne's report. 
 
 " I can't see it. These ai'e only opera-glasses." 
 
 Dead silence followed the next shot, which left no 
 visible mark on the target; and Lisle did not look 
 around as he thrust his last cartridge into the rifle. 
 He let it lie beside him for half a minute while he 
 opened and shut his right hand, and then, taking it 
 up quickly, fired. Still there was no blur on the white 
 surface of the card and Gladwyne shai-pl}' shut his 
 glasses, while two of the onlookers ran toward the 
 target. They came back in silence and one signifi- 
 cantly held up the ace. There were three small holes 
 in the black center. 
 
 Gladwyne had turned away when Lisle got up, but 
 Batley concealed his feelings very well.
 
 116 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Excellent ! " he exclaimed. " As I can't beat that, 
 the only thing left me is to pay up." 
 
 Lisle turned to Crestwick, who looked hot and ex- 
 cited. 
 
 " You made the bet," he said. " Will you use my 
 half in buying a competition cup for one of your 
 clubs.?" 
 
 He saw Batley's smile and a somewhat curious look 
 in Gladwyne's face, but the group broke up and he 
 strolled back across the lawn with Bella. 
 
 " I'm grateful," she said softly. " I was a little 
 afraid at first that I was asking too much of you." 
 
 Lisle met her glance with a good assumption of sur- 
 prise. 
 
 " Grateful? Because I indulged in a rather en- 
 j 03' able match? " 
 
 She laughed. 
 
 ** You learn rapidly. But I'd better say in excuse 
 that I didn't think I'd involved you in a very serious 
 risk. He hasn't your eyes and hands — one couldn't 
 expect it. You don't need pick-me-ups in the morn- 
 ing, do you ? " 
 
 Lisle was slightly embarrassed. This girl's knowl- 
 edge of life was too extensive, and he would have 
 preferred that she should exhibit it to somebody else. 
 
 " Well," she concluded as they approached the tea- 
 table, " my thanks are yours, even if you don't value 
 them." 
 
 " What do you expect me to say ? " he asked, re- 
 garding her with some amusement and appreciation. 
 She was alluringly pretty in her rather elaborate light 
 dress. 
 
 " Yes," she smiled mockingly, disregarding his ques-
 
 BELLA'S CHAMPION 117 
 
 tion ; " these things become me better than the tweeds, 
 don't they? Tliey make one look nice and soft and 
 fluffy ; but that's deceptive. You see, I can scratch ; 
 in fact, I felt I could have scratched Bat ley badly if 
 I'd got the chance. There's another hint for you — 
 make what you like of it." 
 
 Then with a laugh she swung round and left him, 
 puzzled.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 CEESTWICK GIVES TROUBLE 
 
 THE little room in Marple's house, where the 
 Crestwicks were staying, was hot and partly 
 filled with cigar smoke which drifted in filmy 
 streaks athwart the light of the green-shaded hanging- 
 lamp. Lisle sat beneath the lamp, studying the cards 
 in his hand, until he leaned back in his chair and flung 
 a glance about the table. There were no counters on 
 it, but Gladw^^ne had just noted something in a little 
 book and was waiting with a languid smile upon his 
 handsome face. Next to him sat Batley, looking 
 thoughtful; and Crestwick sat opposite Lisle, eager 
 and unhealthily flushed. His forehead shoAved damp 
 in the lamplight and there was an unpleasant glitter 
 in his eyes. It was close on to midnight and luck 
 had gone hard against him during the past hour, half 
 of which Lisle had spent in his company. This had 
 cost Lisle more money than he was willing to part with. 
 
 " It's getting late," he said with a yawn. " After 
 this hand, I'll drop out; I dare say one of the other 
 two will take my place. Crestwick, I believe your 
 sister and Miss Leslie will be waiting. You're going 
 with them, aren't you? " 
 
 The lad, turning in his chair, reached toward a 
 near-by table on which there were bottles and siphons, 
 fl.nd took a glass from it. He had been invited to join 
 
 118
 
 CREST WICK GIVES TROUBLE 119 
 
 a shooting party at a house in the neighborhood and 
 was to spend the night tliere. 
 
 " Oh ! " he exclaimed with some irritation ; " Bella's 
 always in such an unreasonable hurry. The others 
 can't be going 3'et. I think I hear Flo Marple sing- 
 ing." 
 
 A voice from somewhere below reached them 
 through the open door. It was a good voice, but the 
 words were a silly jingle and the humor in them could 
 not be considered delicate. Lisle, glancing at Glad- 
 wyne, noticed his slight frown, but one of the two 
 young men lounging by the second table Avatching the 
 game hummed the refrain with an appreciative smile 
 upon his heavy and somewhat fatuous face. 
 
 " The3''ll take half an hour to get ready," declared 
 Batley. " Better play out this round, anA'how." 
 
 They laid down their cards in turn and then Crest- 
 wick noisily thrust his chair back. 
 
 " Another knock-out ! " he exclaimed savagely. " I 
 don't like to get up so far behind. Shall we double 
 on another deal? " 
 
 *' As 3'ou like," returned Batley. " You're plucky, 
 considering the cards j'ou've had; but if Fortune's 
 fickle, she's supposed to favor a determined suitor." 
 
 It was innocent enough, but Lisle fancied that there 
 was sufficient flattery in the speech to incite the head- 
 strong lad, who had now emptied the glass at his 
 hand. He remembered that on another occasion when 
 there had been a good deal at stake, Batley had played 
 on Crestwick's feelings, though in a slightly diff^er- 
 ent manner. Whether or not the young man lost 
 more than he could afford was, in one way, no concern 
 of Lisle's, and he did not find him in the least at-
 
 120 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 tractive; but half an hour previously Bella had met 
 him in the hall and had hinted, with a troubled look, 
 that she would appreciate it if he could get her 
 brother away. It was this that accounted for the 
 Canadian's presence in the card-room. 
 
 " I'm going, anyway," he said, taking out some 
 notes and gold and laying them down. " There has 
 been a smart shower and you had better remember 
 that Miss Leslie walked over — the roads will be wet. 
 As you know, I promised to take the girls back in 
 Nasmyth's trap, and he won't thank me if I keep his 
 groom up." 
 
 Crestwick grumbled and hesitated, and he grew 
 rather red in face as he turned to Batley. 
 
 *' I've only these two notes," he explained. " Ex- 
 pected all along I'd pull up even. Will you arrange 
 things.'^ See you about it when I come back." 
 
 Batley nodded carelessly, and the lad stood up, look- 
 ing irresolutely at the table. 
 
 " Fact is," he went on, " I'd like to get straight 
 before I go. I'm in pretty heavy for one night ; an- 
 other round might do something to set me straight." 
 
 " Gladvvyne and I are quite willing to give you 
 your chance," was Batley's quick reply ; but Lisle un- 
 ceremoniously laid his hand on Crestwick's shoulder. 
 
 *' Come along," he urged, laughing. " Luck's 
 against you ; you've had quite enough." 
 
 He had the lad out of the door in another moment, 
 and looking back from the landing he saw a curious 
 look in Gladwyne's face which he thought was one of 
 disgust. Batley, however, was frowning openly ; and 
 the two men's expressions had a meaning for him. He 
 was inchned to wonder whether he had used force
 
 CRESTWICK GIVES TROUBLE 121 
 
 too ostensibly In ejecting the lad; but, after all, that 
 did not very much matter — his excuse was good 
 enough. As they went down the stairs, Crcstwick 
 turned to him, hot and angry. 
 
 " It strikes me you're pretty officious ! Never saw 
 you until two or three weeks ago," he muttered. 
 " Not accustomed to being treated in that offliand man- 
 ner. It's Colonial, I suppose!" 
 
 " Sorry," Lisle apologized with a smile. " I've an 
 idea that you'll be grateful when 3'^ou cool off. You've 
 been going it pretty strong to-night." 
 
 " That's true," agreed the other with a show of 
 pride. " Kept on raising them ; made things lively ! " 
 
 " Found it expensive, didn't you.? " Lisle suggested; 
 and as they reached the foot of the stairs he led his 
 companion toward the door. " Suppose we take a turn 
 along the terrace before we look for your sister." 
 
 Crcstwick went with him, but presently he stopped 
 and leaned on the low wall. 
 
 " Do you ever feel inclined for a flutter on the 
 stock-market.?" he inquired. "There's a thing Bat- 
 ley put me on to — there'll be developments in a month 
 or two ; it's going to a big premium. Let you have a 
 hundred shares at par. Rather in a hole, tempo- 
 rarily." 
 
 Lisle had no intention of buying the stock, but he 
 asked a few questions. It appeared that it had been 
 issued by a new company formed to grow coffee and 
 rubber in the tropics. 
 
 " No," he said ; " a deal of that kind is out 
 of my line. Why not sell them through a broker and 
 get your full profit.? " 
 
 " It would take some days," answered the other.
 
 122 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 *' Besides, they won't move up until the directors let 
 things out at the next meeting. Something of that 
 kind, any waj ; I forget — Batley explained it." He 
 paused and added irritably : " Believe I told you I'm 
 in a hole." 
 
 " You must meet your losses and don't know how to 
 manage it.'' " 
 
 Lisle was curious and had no diffidence about putting 
 the question, though the lad was obviously off his 
 guard. 
 
 ** I can raise the money right enough — Batley'll 
 see to that ; but I'd sooner do it another way. The in- 
 terest's high enough to make one think, and in this 
 <ase I'm paying it on money he's putting into his 
 pocket." 
 
 There was a good deal to be inferred from this re- 
 ply, but Lisle considered before he spoke again. 
 
 " You're twenty-one, aren't you.'' " he asked. 
 
 ** Yes," assented the lad, " but the trustees keep hold 
 until I'm twenty-four." 
 
 He turned with quick suspicion to the Canadian. 
 
 " I don't see what that has to do with you ! " 
 
 " It isn't very obvious," Lisle agreed. " Shall we 
 go in .'' " 
 
 They found Bella in the hall, and when her brother 
 went to get his coat she walked out on to the terrace 
 ivith Lisle. 
 
 " Thank you," she said gratefully when they were 
 out of sight from the hall. " It was a relief to see 
 you had succeeded in getting him away." 
 
 " I'm sorry I was unable to do so sooner," Lisle re- 
 plied. 
 
 " Ah { Then he has been losing heavily again ? "
 
 CIIESTWICK GIVES TKOUBLE 123 
 
 ** I'm afraid so. I couldn't make my interference 
 too marked." Obeying some impulse, he laid his hand 
 on her arm. " Rather a handful for 3'ou, isn't he? " 
 
 Bella nodded, making no attempt to shake off his 
 grasp. 
 
 "Yes," she acknowledged with some bitterness; 
 " but I can hardly complain that I have no control 
 over him. It would be astonishin"; if I had." She 
 broke into a little harsh laugh. " Anj'way, I manage 
 to keep my head, and do not deceive myself, as he 
 does. I know what our welcome's worth and what the 
 few people whose opinion counts for anything think 
 of us." 
 
 " Well," offered Lisle, " if I can be of service in any 
 respect — " 
 
 " Thanks," she interrupted, and turned back toward 
 the door. 
 
 When they reached the hall she glanced at her com- 
 panion as the light fell on his face. 
 
 " Your offer's genuine," she said impulsively. " I 
 can't see what you expect in return." 
 
 Lisle was puzzled by her expression. She was va- 
 riable in her moods, generally somewhat daring, and 
 addicted to light mockcr3\ He could not tell whether 
 she spoke in bitterness or in mischief. 
 
 " No," he replied gravely, " nor do I." 
 
 She left him with a laugh ; and a little later he drove 
 her and her companions away and afterward returned 
 to Nasmyth's house to find that his host had retired. 
 Lisle followed his example and rising early the next 
 morning they set off for the river, up which the sea- 
 trout were running. They were bus}' all morning and 
 it was not until noon, when they la}' in the sunshine
 
 124) THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 eating their lunch on a bank of gravel, that either of 
 them made any allusion to the previous evening, 
 
 "Did you enjoy yourself last night?" Nasmyth 
 asked. 
 
 " Fairl}"," Lisle responded, smiling. " I've already 
 confessed that you people interest me. At the same 
 time, I had my difficulties — first of all to explain to 
 the ]\Iarples why you didn't come. The reasons you 
 gave didn't sound convincing." 
 
 " They were good cnougli. It's probable that Mar- 
 pie understood them. Like most of my neighbors, I 
 go once or twice in a year; his subscription to the ot- 
 ter hounds entitles him to that." 
 
 " We don't look at things in that way in the parts of 
 Canada I'm acquainted with," laughed Lisle. 
 
 " Then I've no doubt you'll come to it," Nasmyth 
 replied with some dryness. " They've done so alread}'' 
 in the older cities. Now — since you're fond of can- 
 dor — you have been glad to earn a dollar or two a day 
 by chopping and shoveling, haven't you? Have you 
 felt left out in the cold at all during the little while you 
 have spent among us?" 
 
 " Not in the least," Lisle owned. 
 
 " Then you can infer what you like from that. In 
 this country, we take a good deal for granted and avoid 
 explanations. But you haven't said anything about 
 the proceedings at ]\Iarple's. I suppose you were in- 
 vited to take a hand at cards ? " 
 
 " I invited myself ; result, sixty dollars to the bad 
 in half an hour. I used to hold my own in our mining 
 camps, and I hadn't the worst cards." 
 
 Nasmyth laughed with unconcealed enjoyment. 
 
 " The only fault I have to find with you Westerners
 
 CRESTWICK GIVES TROUBLE 125 
 
 Is that you're rather apt to overrate yourselves. I 
 suppose they let young Crestwick in a good deal 
 deeper? " 
 
 " That," laughed Lisle, " Is what you have been lead- 
 ing up to from the beginning." 
 
 " I'll admit it. As I've hinted, one of the differences 
 between an American and an Englisliman is that tlie 
 former usually expresses more or less forcibly what he 
 thinks, unless, of course, lie's a financier or a politician ; 
 while you have often to learn by experience what the 
 latter means. Better use your own methods in telling 
 me what took place." 
 
 Lisle did so, omitting an}'^ reference to Bella, and 
 Nasmyth looked disturbed and disgusted. 
 
 " Crestwick's as devoid of sense as he is of manners ; 
 he deserves to lose. What I can't get over is that 
 fellow Batley's staying in what was once George Glad- 
 wyne's house, with Clarence standing sponsor for 
 him." 
 
 Lisle fancied he could understand. Nasmyth had 
 his failings, but he had also his simple, drastic code, and 
 it was repugnant to him that a man of his own caste, 
 one of a family he had long known and respected, 
 should countenance an outsider of Batley's kind and 
 assist him in fleecing a silly vicious lad. 
 
 *' You have no reason to think well of Gladwyne," 
 Lisle reminded him. 
 
 " I haven't," Nasmyth owned. " Still, though the 
 man has made one very bad break, I hardly expected 
 him to exceed every limit. At present it looks as if he 
 might do so ; he'll probably be forced to." 
 
 " I don't quite understand." 
 
 " Then I'll have to expl.'in. It's unpleasant, but
 
 126 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 here the thing is, as I see it — Batley's not the kind oi 
 man Clarence would willingly associate with, and to 
 give Clarence his dues, all his instinct must make him re- 
 coil from the fellow's game Avith Crestwick. Consider- 
 ing that he's apparently making no protest against it, 
 this is proof to me that Batley has some pretty firm hold 
 on him." 
 
 "What's Batley's profession?" 
 
 " I suspect he's something in the smart money-lend- 
 ing line ; one of the fellows who deal with minors and 
 others on post-obits." 
 
 "Post-obits.?" 
 
 " Promises to pay after somebody's dead. Suppose 
 there should be only an invalid or an old man between 
 you and a valuable property ; you could borrow on the 
 sliiength of your expectations. Now, what Crestwick 
 told you shows that the person who left him his money 
 T^-j wisely handed it to trustees, with instructions to 
 pay him only an allowance until he's twenty-four. It's 
 a somewhat similar case to the one I've instanced — 
 he's drawing on a capital he can't get possession of for 
 two or three years, and no doubt paj^ing an extortion- 
 ate interest. So far as I know, no respectable bank or 
 finance broker would handle that kind of business." 
 
 ** But if the boy died before he succeeded to the 
 property ? " 
 
 " Batley could cover the risk by making Crestwick 
 take out an insurance policy in his favor." 
 
 Lisle's face grew stern, and Nasmyth la}^ smoking in 
 silence for a while. Then he broke out ajrain : 
 
 " It's intolerable ! George Gladwyne's successor 
 abetting that fellow in robbing the lad, luring him into 
 wagers and reckless play, with the result that most of
 
 CUESTWICK GIVES TROUBLE 12T 
 
 the borrowed money goes straight back into the liands 
 of the man who lent it ! '* 
 
 " Have you any suspicion that Gladwyac ^ts a 
 share? " 
 
 " No," replied Nasmytli, with signs of strong un- 
 easiness ; " I can't bcHeve lie benefits in that manner — 
 if he did, I'd feel it my duty to denounce him. Still,, 
 I expect he wins a little now and then, incidcntaJly." 
 
 Again there was silence for a while, broken GaaX^ 
 by Lisle. 
 
 " When I'd been here a week or two I began to see 
 that my task wasn't quite so simple as it liad appeased 
 — you can't attack a man situated as Gladwyne is 
 without hurting innocent people. Indeed, I've spewt 
 hours wondering how, when the time comes, I can cle«r 
 Vernon's memory, with the least possible damage — 
 that is my business, not the punishing of Gladwyne, 
 though he deserves no consideration. As you say, a 
 man may make a bad break and pull up again, but this 
 one has had his chance and has gone in deeper. What 
 he's doing now — helping to ruin that lad in cold- 
 blood — is almost worse than the other offense." 
 
 Nasmj'th made an acquiescent gesture. 
 
 " It's time ; let it go at that. I don't see how the 
 thing can be stopped. There's a fish rising in the 
 slack yonder ! " 
 
 Lisle saw a silver}' gleam in a strip of less-troubled 
 water behind a boulder and taking up his rod he cast 
 the gaudy fly across the ripple. There was a jar, a 
 musical clinking of the reel, and when Nasmyth waded 
 in with ready net all thought of Gladwyne passed out 
 of the Canadian's mind. 
 
 After a few minutes' keen excitement, they landed
 
 128 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 the beautiful glistening trout; and then they set off 
 down-stream in search of another, scrambling over 
 rock and gravel and wading amidst the froth in the 
 pools. Overhead, soft gray clouds drifted by, casting 
 long shadows across fern-clad hillside and far-reaching 
 moor; and the flood flashed into silver gleams and 
 grew dim again. 
 
 Both of the men were well content with their sur- 
 roundings, and now and then Nasmyth wondered why 
 Clarence could not be satisfied with the simple pleas- 
 ures that were freely off*ered him. He could have had 
 the esteem of his neighbors and the good will of his 
 tenants, and there were healthful tasks that would 
 have kept him occupied — the care of his estate, the 
 improving of the homes and conditions of life of those 
 who worked for him, experiments in stock-raising, local 
 public duties. He had once slipped badly, so badly 
 that the off"ense could hardly be contemplated ; but that 
 was when he was weak and famishing and under the 
 influence of an overwhelming fear. At least, he could 
 make some reparation by leaving the countryside bet- 
 ter than he found it, and in this he had friends who 
 would loyally assist him. 
 
 Clarence, however, had chosen another way, one that 
 led down-hill to further dishonor; and Nasmyth con- 
 sidered gloomily what the end of it all would be. Oc- 
 casionally he glanced at the lithe figure of the Cana- 
 dian, standing knee-deep amid the froth of the stream. 
 Serious-eyed, alert, resolute, he could be depended on 
 to carry out any purpose he had determined on; it 
 was his firm hands that would hold Clarence's scourge.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 MRS. GLADWYNe's APPEAL. 
 
 MILLICENT was sitting in a window-seat with 
 a paint-box beside licr and a drawing of a 
 water-ouzel upon her knee. It was a lifelike 
 sketch, but she had a great capacity for painstaking 
 and she was not altogether pleased with the drawing. 
 The bird stood on a stone an inch or two above a 
 stream, its white breast harmonizing with the flecks of 
 snowy froth, and the rest of its rather somber plumage 
 of the same hue as a neighboring patch of shadow. 
 This was as it should be, except that, as the central 
 object of a picture, it was too inconspicuous. She 
 was absorbed in contemplating it when Mrs. Gladwyne 
 was shown in. Clarence's mother did not pay many 
 visits and jNIillicent fancied she had some particular ob- 
 ject in coming. 
 
 She sat down where the sunlight fell on her gentle 
 face and silvery hair, her delicate white hands spread 
 out on her dark dress. 
 
 *' Busy, as usual, my dear," she said, glancing at 
 the sketch. "That's very pretty." 
 
 " I think it's correct," returned Millicent ; " but I'm 
 not sure it's Avhat it ought to be in other respects. 
 You see, its pui^pose is to show people what a water- 
 ouzel is like and it's hard to make the creature out. 
 Of course, I could have drawn it against a background 
 
 a29
 
 180 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 that would have forced up every line, but that wouldn't 
 have been right — these wild things were made to fade 
 into their surroundings." She laughed. " Truth is 
 rigid and uncompromising — it's difficult to make it 
 subservient to expediency." 
 
 Her visitor did not feel inclined to discuss the mat- 
 ter. 
 
 " You're too fastidious," she smiled, and added with 
 a sigh: "George was like that. Little things keep 
 cropping up ever}' day to show it — I mean in con- 
 nection with his care of the property. I'm sometimes 
 afraid that Clarence is different." 
 
 Millicent could not deny this, but she did not see 
 his mother's purpose in confessing it. 
 
 " Of course," she answered, as she rang for tea, 
 " he hasn't been in charge very long. One can learn 
 only by experience." 
 
 ]Mrs. Gladwyne looked grateful ; but although she 
 was very tranquil there was something in her manner 
 that hinted at uncertainty. 
 
 " You will finish the book and these pictures some 
 day," she said. " What will you do then ? " 
 
 " I really don't know. Perhaps I shall start an- 
 other. If not, there is always something I can turn 
 ray hand to. So many things seem to need doing — 
 village matters alone would find me some occupation." 
 
 The elder lady considered this. 
 
 " Yes," she agreed with diffidence. " I'm now and 
 then afraid everything's not quite so satisfactory as it 
 used to be. The cottages don't look so pretty or well 
 cared for, the people are not so content — some of 
 them are even inclined to be bitter and resentful. Of 
 course, things change, our relations with our depen-
 
 MRS. GLxVDWYNE'S APPEAL 131 
 
 dents among thcin ; but I feel that people like the ]Mar- 
 plcs, living as they do, have a bad effect. They fonii 
 a text for the dissatisfied." 
 
 ]\lilllccnt contented herself with a nod. She could 
 not explain that in spite of the changing mode of 
 thought it is still possible for an old-fashioned landlord 
 to retain almost everybody's good will. Sympatliy 
 and tactful advice arc appreciated, though not effu- 
 sivel}', and even a bluff, well-meant reproof is seldom 
 resented. But when rents are rigorously exacted by a 
 solicitor's or banker's clerk, and repairs are cut do^^^^, 
 when indifference takes the place of judicious interest, 
 it is hardly logical to look for the cordial relations that 
 might exist. Nasmyth's tenants stopped and ex- 
 changed a cheery greeting or a jest with him ; most of 
 Gladwyne's looked grim when he or his friends, the 
 Marplcs, passed. 
 
 Then tea was brought In and Millicent found pleas- 
 ure in watching her guest. jMrs. Gladwyne made a 
 picture, she thought, sitting with the dainty china in 
 her beautiful hands ; she possessed the grace and some- 
 thing of the stateliness w^hich is associated with the 
 old regime. 
 
 " How quick your people are," she commented. 
 " You rang and the things were brought in. Our 
 staff is large and expensive, but as a rule they keep 
 us waiting. Though you paint and go out so much, 
 you have the gift of making a home comfortable. It 
 really is a gift ; one that should not be wasted." 
 
 Millicent grew serious. It looked as if her com- 
 panion were coming to the point, and this became 
 plainer when Mrs. Gladwyne proceeded. 
 
 " Do you think the life you contemplate — writing
 
 132 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 books on birds and animals — is the best or most nat- 
 ural one for a woman ? " 
 
 A little color crept into the girl's face. 
 
 " I don't know ; perhaps it isn't. It is the one that 
 seems open to me." 
 
 " The only one, my dear.'' You must know what I 
 mean." 
 
 Millicent turned and faced her. She was disturbed, 
 but she seldom avoided a plain issue. 
 
 " I think," she said, " it would be better if you told 
 me." 
 
 " It's difficult." Mrs. Gladwyne hesitated. " You 
 must forgive me if I go wrong. Still, you know it 
 was alwaj^s expected that you would marry Clarence 
 some day. It M^ould be so desirable." 
 
 "For which of us?" Millicent's tone was sharp. 
 She sj^mpathized with Mrs. Gladwyne, but something 
 was due to herself. 
 
 " It was Clarence that I was thinking of," admitted 
 her visitor. " I suppose that I am selfish ; but I am 
 his mother." She laid down her cup and. looked at 
 the girl with pleading e3^es. *' I must go on, though 
 I don't think I could say what I wish to any one but 
 you. Clarence has many good qualities, but he needs 
 guidance. An affectionate son ; but it is my misfor- 
 tune that I am not wise or firm enough to advise or 
 restrain him. I have dropped behind the new genera- 
 tion ; the standards are different from what they were 
 when I was young." 
 
 This was true, but it was incomplete, and Millicent 
 let her finish. 
 
 " I have been a little anxious, perhaps foolishly so, 
 about him now and then. I cannot approve of all his
 
 MRS. GLADWYNE'S APPEAL 133 
 
 friends — sometimes thej jar on me — and I do not 
 like the views he seems to nave acquired from them. 
 They are not the ones his father held. Of course, this 
 is onl}' the result of wrong associations and of having 
 a good-humored, careless nature ; it would be so differ- 
 ent if he could be brought under some wholesome in- 
 fluence." She smiled at Millicent. " One could tinast 
 implicitly to yours." 
 
 It was an old pica, fallacious often, but none the 
 less effective. Millicent was devoid of officious self- 
 righteousness, but she was endowed with a compas- 
 sionate tenderness which prompted her to extend help 
 to all who needed it. She thought that Clarence did 
 so, but in spite of that she did not feel so responsive as 
 she could have wished. 
 
 " There is one difficulty," she answered while the 
 blood crept into her face. " I'll own that I recognized 
 what your ideas and George's were about Clarence and 
 myself. I may go so far. But of late there has been 
 nothing to show that Clarcnco desired to carry out 
 those ideas." 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne gathered her courage. 
 
 " My dear, it is rather hard to say, but the truth is 
 that a declaration from a man is not usually quite 
 spontaneous. He looks for some tacit encouragement, 
 a sign that one is not altogether indifferent to him. 
 Now it has struck me that during the past year you 
 have rather stood aloof from my son." 
 
 Millicent started slightly ; there was some truth in 
 this statement. ]\Irs. Gladw3'ne, however, was not wise 
 enough to stop. 
 
 " I think that is why there is some risk of his falling 
 into bad hands — that Crestwick girl isn't diffident,"
 
 134 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 she went on. " I know the strong regard he has for 
 you ; but the girl sees a good deal of him, and a man 
 is sometimes easily led where he does not mean to go." 
 
 Millicent's cheeks burned. 
 
 " Do you wish me to compete openl^^ for Clarence's 
 favor with Bella Crestwick? " 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne spread out her hands in protest. 
 
 " Oh, my dear 1 " she exclaimed. " I have said the 
 wrong thing. I warned you that you might have to 
 forgive me." 
 
 " But the thought must have been in your mind ! " 
 
 " I only meant that you needn't repel or avoid him, 
 as you have done of late." 
 
 Millicent felt compassionate. After all, Mrs. 
 Gladwyne was pleading for what slie believed would 
 benefit her only son ; but the girl was very human 
 and a trace of her resentment remained. It was, 
 however, obvious that Mrs. Gladwyne expected some 
 response. 
 
 " I can venture to promise that I won't be openly 
 rude," ]VIillicent agreed with a faint smile. 
 
 " Can't you go a little beyond that, my dear? " 
 
 The girl, seeing the look in her eyes, yielded to an 
 impulse which prompted her to candor. 
 
 " What there is to be said had better be spoken 
 now," she replied. " I have confessed that I knew 
 what was expected — Clarence showed that he knew it, 
 too — and the idea was not altogether repugnant to 
 me. But since he came back from Canada there has 
 been a change in both of us. How or why I can't ex- 
 plain, but we have drifted apart. I don't know 
 whether this will go on — I don't understand myself — 
 I only know that I am as anxious for his welfare as
 
 MllS. GLADWYNES APPEAL 135 
 
 T always liave been. It must be left to him; there Is 
 nothing you must urge me to do." 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne looked regretful, but she made a 
 sign of acquiescence and rising came toward the girl 
 and took her hand. 
 
 " What I could do I have done — badly perhaps," 
 she said. " I can't blame you. I am only sorry." 
 
 She went out in a few minutes and left Millicent in 
 a thoughtful mood. Looking back on the past, the 
 girl recognized that she had been fond of Clarence — 
 which was the best word for it — and that she would 
 have married him had he urged it. He had, however, 
 hardly been in a position to do so then, and she re- 
 membered that she had in no way regretted the fact. 
 This was, she thought, significant. Then the change 
 had gradually come about. She saw his faults more 
 clearly and it grew increasingly difficult to believe that 
 she could eradicate them. What was more, during the 
 past few weeks she had once or twice felt scornfully 
 angry with him. She had tried not to yield to the 
 sensation, and now she wondered how it had originated 
 and why she was less tolerant. 
 
 As she considered the question, a shadow fell upon 
 the sunlit lawn and looking up she saw Lisle approach- 
 ing with a creel upon his back. She started at the 
 sight of him and once more felt her cheeks grow hot ; 
 then she smiled, for the half -formed suspicion that had 
 flashed into her mind was obviously absurd. He saw 
 her the next moment and strode toward the open win- 
 dow. 
 
 " We got a few good white trout, fresh run," he 
 said. " It occurred to me that you might like one or 
 two of them."
 
 136 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 He glanced at the long French window. 
 
 *' May I come in this way? " 
 
 *' I've no .doubt you could do so, but out of defer- 
 ence to conventional prejudices it might be better if 
 you went round by the usual entrance." 
 
 " Charmed ! " he smiled. " That's easy." 
 
 " Would you rather have it hard ? " 
 
 " That wasn't the idea," he answered. " I only felt 
 that a much greater difficulty wouldn't stop my getting 
 in." 
 
 Millicent laughed. 
 
 " If one of my neighbors made such speeches, they'd 
 sound cheap. From 30U they're amusing." 
 
 He affected to consider this. 
 
 " I suppose the difference is that I mean them. 
 Anyway, I'll walk around." 
 
 She gave him some tea when he came in, and after- 
 ward admired the fish. 
 
 " They're well above the average weight," she said. 
 
 " We had two or three that would beat them," Lisle 
 declared. " Miss Crestwick came along and corralled 
 the finest." 
 
 "Was the explanation essential.?" Millicent in- 
 quired with a smile. 
 
 " That was a bad break of mine. So bad that I 
 won't try to explain it away." 
 
 *' I think you are wise," Millicent retorted with a 
 trace of dryness. 
 
 On the face of it, she was pleased with his answer, 
 but the fact he had mentioned caused her some irrita- 
 tion. Bella Crestwick, not content with monopolizing 
 Clarence, must also seek to include the Canadian in 
 her train. It was curious that for the moment that
 
 MRS. GLADWYNE'S APPEAL 137 
 
 seemed the more serious offense. The girl was insa- 
 tiable and going too far, Millicent thought. 
 
 Lisle noticed her silence. 
 
 " Remember that I'm from the wilds," he said. 
 
 She smiled at him reassuringly. 
 
 " After all, that isn't a great drawback. Anyway, 
 I'm grateful for the trout." Then, somewhat to his 
 surprise, she abruptly changed the subject. " I won- 
 der what you think of a tacit promise? " 
 
 His face grew thoughtful ; she liked his quick change 
 to seriousness. 
 
 " Well, I don't know that my opinion's of much 
 value, but you may have it. Supposing two people 
 allow each other to assume that they're agreed upon 
 the same thing, it's binding upon both of them." 
 
 " But if only one actually made his wishes clear." 
 
 " In that case, the other had the option of showing 
 that they couldn't be acceded to. Failing that, in 
 my view, he can't go back on it." Then his eyes 
 gleamed with amusement. " I don't often set up as a 
 philosopher." 
 
 Millicent was a little vexed with herself for asking 
 him and did not quite understand why she had done so, 
 unless it was because she had not altogether recovered 
 her usual collectedness after Mrs. Gladw^'ne's visit. 
 Why she should be interested in this man's opinion 
 was not clear, but she thought he was one who would 
 act in accordance with it. She was aftenvard even 
 more astonished at her next remark, which she made 
 impulsively. 
 
 " You have seen a good deal of Miss Crestwick, 
 one way or another." 
 
 He considered this gravely.
 
 138 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Yes," he replied. " I like her. For one thing, 
 she's genuinely concerned about that brother of hers." 
 
 " What do you think of him? " 
 
 " Not much," Lisle answered candidly. " I've no 
 use for a man who needs a woman to keep him straight 
 and look after him. But one feels a strong respect 
 for the woman, even though it's obvious that she's 
 wasting her time." 
 
 " Is it wasting time ? " 
 
 *' It strikes me like that. A man of that sort is 
 bound to come down badly some day." 
 
 Millicent sat silent a while. The conversation had 
 taken an unusually serious turn, but she Avondered 
 whether he were right. She had, she thought, allowed 
 Clarence to assume that she would not repulse him 
 when lie formally claimed her and that — so this man 
 from the wilds considered — constituted a binding ob- 
 ligation. She could not contest this view ; but Clar- 
 ence seemed more interested in Bellat Crestwick than 
 he was in her. Then she wondered why the girl had 
 made so much of Lisle, unless it was to use him for 
 the purpose of drawing Clarence on. If that were 
 so, it seemed a pity that the confiding Canadian could 
 not be warned, though that, of course, was out of the 
 question. 
 
 " I'm afraid I'm not very amusing to-day," she ac- 
 knowledged. 
 
 He smiled. 
 
 " I'll go the moment you want to get rid of me ; but, 
 even if you don't say anything, I like sitting here. 
 This place rests me." 
 
 " I shouldn't have imagined you to be of a very 
 restful nature."
 
 MRS. GLADWYNE'S APPEAL 139 
 
 " Oh," he declared, " there's a kind of quietness that 
 braces 3'ou." 
 
 He was less reserved than tlie average EngHshnian, 
 but he felt the charm of his surroundings more keenly 
 than the latter would probably have done. Every- 
 thing in the room was artistic, but its effect was deeper 
 than mere prettiness. It was cool, thougli the autumn, 
 sunshine streamed in, and tlie girl had somehow im- 
 pressed her personality upon it. Soft colorings, furni- 
 ture, even the rather incongruous mixture of statu- 
 ettes and ivory carvings, blended into a haniionious 
 whole, and the girl made a most satisfactory central 
 figure, as she sat opposite him in her unusually 
 thoughtful mood. He felt the charm of her presence, 
 though he could hardly have anah'zed it. As he said, 
 it was not even needful that she should talk to him. 
 
 " There are lakes in British Columbia from which 
 you can look straight up at the never-melting snows," 
 he went on. " You feel that you could sit there for 
 hours, without wanting to move or speak, though it 
 must be owned that one very seldom gets the oppor- 
 tunity." 
 
 "Why.?" Milhcent inquired. 
 
 " As a rule, the people who visit such places are 
 kept too busy chopping big trees, hauling canoes 
 round rapids, or handling heavy rocks. Besides, you 
 have your food to cook and your clothes to mend and 
 wash." 
 
 " Then, after the day's labor, a man must do his 
 own domestic work.f* " 
 
 " Of course," answered Lisle. " Now and then one 
 comes back to camp too wet or played out to worry, 
 and goes to sleep without getting supper. Pm speak-
 
 140 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 ing of when 3'ou're working for your own hand. In 
 a big logging or construction camp you reach the 
 fringe of cooperation. This man sticks to the saw, 
 the other to the ax, somebody else who gets his share 
 of the proceeds chops the cord-wood and does the 
 cooking." 
 
 *' And if 3^ou can neither chop nor saw nor cook.'' " 
 
 *' Then," Lisle informed her dryly, " you have to 
 pull out pretty quick." 
 
 " It sounds severe ; that's cooperation in its grim- 
 mest aspect, though it's quite logical — everybody 
 must do his part. I'm afraid I shouldn't be justified 
 if we adopted it here." 
 
 " Cooperation implies a division of tasks," Lisle 
 pointed out. " In a country like this, they're many 
 and varied. So long as you draw the wild things as 
 you do, you'll discharge your debt." 
 
 " Do you know that that's the kind of work the com- 
 munity generall}^ pays one very little for? " 
 
 "Then it shows its wrong-headedness," Lisle an- 
 swered as he glanced meaningly round the room. " But 
 haven't you got part of your fee already "? Of course, 
 that's impertinent." 
 
 " I believe we would shrink from saying it, but it's 
 quite correct," INIillicent replied. " Still, since you 
 have mentioned the drawings, I'd like your opinion 
 about this ouzel." 
 
 She took up the sketch and explained the difficulty, 
 as she had done to Mrs. Gladwyne. 
 
 "It's right; don't alter it," advised Lisle. "It's 
 your business to show people the real thing as it actu- 
 ally is, so they can learn, not to alter it to suit their 
 untrained views."
 
 MRS. GLADWYNE'S APPEAL 141 
 
 He laughed and rose somewhat reluctantly. 
 
 " After that, I'd better get along. I have to thank 
 you for allowing me to come in." 
 
 She let him go with a friendly smile, and then sat 
 down to think about him. He was rather direct, but 
 the good-humor with which he stated his opinions 
 softened their positiveness. Besides, she had invited 
 them ; and she felt that they were correct. He was 
 such another as Nasmyth, simple in some respects, but 
 reliable ; one who could never be guilty of anything 
 mean. She liked the type in general, and she admit- 
 ted that she liked this representative of it in partic- 
 ular.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 A FUTILE PROTEST 
 
 IT was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in 
 hand, in his hbrar}^, while Batlej lounged beside 
 the hearth. A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic 
 fragrance into the great high-ceihnged room, and 
 the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the pol- 
 ished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice 
 into the shadow. Heavily-corniced bookcases rose 
 above it on either band, conveying an idea of space 
 and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they 
 receded from the liglit. 
 
 The room had an air of stateliness in its severe sim- 
 plicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of 
 brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked 
 in harmony with it. Something in his finely-lined fig- 
 ure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at 
 home in such a place. A decanter stood near his elbow, 
 but it was almost full. Gladwyne, in many ways, was 
 more of an ascetic than a sensualist, though this was 
 less the result of moral convictions than of a fastidi- 
 ous temperament. The man had an instinctive aver- 
 sion for anything that was ugly or unpleasant. His 
 companion, dressed with an equal precision, looked dif- 
 ferent, more virile, coarser; he was fuller in figure and 
 heavier in face. 
 
 " No," declared Gladwyne with a show of firmness ; 
 
 142
 
 A FUTILE PROTEST 143 
 
 " the line must be drawn. I've already gone farther 
 than I should have done." 
 
 " I'm sorry for you, Gladwyne — you don't seem 
 to realize that a man can't very well play two widely 
 different parts at once," Batley rejoined, smiling. 
 " Your interfering Canadian friend would describe your 
 attitude as sitting upon the fence. It's an uncom- 
 fortable position, one that's not often tenable for any 
 length of time. Hadn't you better make up your mind 
 as to which side you'll get down on ? " 
 
 Gladwyne looked uneasy. The choice all his instinct 
 prompted him to make was not open to him, except at 
 a cost which he was hardly prepared to face. He was 
 known as a bold rider, he had the steady nerves that 
 usually result from a life spent in the open air, but, as 
 Batley recognized, he lacked stamina. 
 
 " You are going wide of the mark," he answered. 
 " What I have asked you to do is to let the lad alone. 
 The thing's exciting comment. You " — he hesitated 
 — " have made enough out of him." 
 
 " I think," replied the other coolly, " I was very 
 much to the point. If you don't recognize this, I'll 
 ask : Suppose I don't fall in with your request, what 
 then.?" 
 
 Gladwyne examined his cigar. It was not in his na- 
 ture to face an issue boldly, and his companion seemed 
 determined to force one. 
 
 " I've asked it as a favor," he finally said. 
 
 " No," corrected Batley ; " I don't tliink you did so. 
 You intimated your wishes in a rather lordly style." 
 
 This was true, but Gladwyne winced at the man's 
 cold smile. He had, in a fit of indignation w'hich was 
 both honest and commendable, expressed himself with
 
 144 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 some haughtiness ; but he knew that he would be beaten 
 if it came to an open fight. This was unfortunate, be- 
 cause his intentions were good. 
 
 *' Besides," Batley continued, " I'm not in a posi- 
 tion to gi'ant expensive favors. My acquaintance with 
 j-oung Crestwick is, of course, profitable. What's 
 more, I've verj' liberally offered you a share," 
 
 Gladwyne's face grew hot. He had acted, most re- 
 luctantly, as a decoy to the vicious lad, but he had 
 never benefited by it, except when now and then some 
 stake fell into his hands. The suggestion that he 
 should share in the plunder filled him with disgust, and 
 he knew that Batley had made it to humiliate him. 
 
 " You're taking risks," he continued. " There's 
 legislation on the subject of minors' debts; Crestwick 
 began to deal with you before he was twenty-one, and 
 he's still in his trustees' hands. If he made trouble, 
 I'm inclined to think some of your transactions would 
 look very much like conspiracy." 
 
 " I know my man. You people would suJfFer a good 
 deal, sooner than advertise yourselves through the law 
 courts." 
 
 " Crestwick isn't one of us," Gladv/yne objected. 
 
 " Then, as he aspires to be considered one, he'll go 
 even farther than you would. None are so keen for 
 the honor of the flock as those who don't strictly belong 
 to the fold. There's another point you overlook — 
 a person can't very well conspire alone, and inquiries 
 might be made about my confederates. That, how- 
 ever, is not a matter of much importance, because I 
 imagine Miss Crestwick would not allow any one to 
 point to you. Besides, her money's safe, and she's a 
 prepossessing young lady."
 
 A FUTILE PROTEST 146 
 
 Gladwyne straightened himself sharply in his chair. 
 " Don't go too far ! Tiierc are things I won't stand ! " 
 
 *' Then we'll try to avoid them. All I require is 
 that you still give the lad the entry of this house and 
 don't interfere with mc. You see I'm reasonable." 
 
 As Gladwyne had interfered, to acquiesce was to 
 own defeat, which was galling, and while he hesitated 
 Batley watched him with an air of indulgent amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 " It's a pity you were not quite straight with me at 
 the beginning, Gladwyne ; it would have saved you 
 trouble," he remarked at length. " I took a sporting 
 risk at pretty long odds — I have to do so now and 
 then and I pa}' up when I lose. But if I'd known the 
 money was to go to Miss Gladwj'ne and you would only 
 get the land, I'd never have kept 30U supplied; and 
 in particular I wouldn't have made the last big loan 
 shortly before you and your cousin sailed for Canada." 
 
 *' You knew it was a blind speculation — that I ran 
 the same risk as George did, and that he might outlive 
 me." 
 
 " You're wrong on one point," Batley objected 
 dryly. " I'm acquainted with your temperament — 
 it's not one that would lead you into avoidable diffi- 
 culties. Well, you came through and your cousin died, 
 but you failed to pay me off when you came into pos- 
 session." 
 
 " I've explained that I couldn't foresee the trouble 
 I have in meeting expenses. I've paid you an extor- 
 tionate interest." 
 
 "That's in arrears," retorted Batley. "You 
 should have pinched and denied yourself to the utmost 
 until you had got rid of me. You couldn't bring your-
 
 146 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 self to do so — well, it's rather a pity one can't have 
 ever^'thing." 
 
 Approaching the table, he quietly took up the lamp. 
 It was heavy, standing on a massive silver pillar, but 
 he raised it above his head so that the light streamed 
 far about the stately room. Then he laughed as he 
 set it down. 
 
 " It's something to be the owner of such a place 
 and enjoy all that it implies — which includes your 
 acknowledged status and your neighbors' respect. 
 There would be a risk of losing the latter if it came 
 out that, driven by financial strain, you had been spec- 
 ulating on your cousin's death." 
 
 Gladwyne made a little abrupt movement and Batley 
 saw that his shot had told. 
 
 " It would be enough to place you under a cloud," 
 he went on. " People might think that you had at 
 least not been very reluctant to leave him to starve. 
 Well, I've had to wait for my money, with the interest 
 by no means regularly paid, and unless you can square 
 off the account, I must ask you to leave me a free hand 
 to deal with Crestwick as I think fit. In return, if 
 it's needful, I'll see you through on reasonable terms 
 until you marry Miss Crestwick or somebody else with 
 money." 
 
 On the whole, Gladwyne was conscious of relief. 
 He had been badly frightened for a moment or two. 
 If Batley, who had good reasons for distrusting him, 
 had accepted his account of his cousin's death, it was 
 most unlikely that it had excited suspicion in the mind 
 of anybody else. Crestwick, however, must be left to 
 his fate. It was, though he failed to recognize this, 
 an eventful decision that Gladwyne made.
 
 A FUTILE PROTEST 147 
 
 <i 
 
 As you will," he answered, rising. " It's late ; 
 I'm going for my candle." 
 
 He strode out of the room, and Batlcy smiled as he 
 followed him. 
 
 A day or two later Lisle stood on Gladwyne's lawn. 
 Gladwyne entertained freely, and though his neighbors 
 did not approve of all of his friends, the man had the 
 gift of pleasing, and his mother unconsciously exerted 
 a charm on every one. She rarely said anything witty, 
 but she never said anything unkind and she would 
 listen with a ready sympathy that sometimes concealed 
 a lack of comprehension. 
 
 Lisle had a strong respect for the calm, gracious 
 lady, though she had won it by no more than a smile 
 or two and a few pleasant words, and he went over to 
 call upon her cver3' now and then. He was interested 
 in the company he met at her house ; it struck him as 
 worth studjing ; and he had a curious feeling that he 
 was looking on at the preliminary stages of a drama in 
 which he might presently be called upon to play a lead- 
 ing part. Besides, he had reasons for watching Glad- 
 wyne. 
 
 The stage was an attractive one to a man who had 
 spent much of his time in the wilderness — a Avide sweep 
 of sunlit sward with the tennis nets stretched across 
 part of it ; on one side a dark fir wood ; and for a 
 background a stretch of brown moor receding into the 
 distance, dimmed by an ethereal haze. A group of 
 young men and women, picturesquely clad, Avere busy 
 about the nets ; others in flannels and light draperies 
 strolled here and there across the grass, and a few more 
 had gathered about the tea-table under a spreading 
 cedar, where IMrs. Gladwyne sat in a low wicker-
 
 148 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 chair. Over all there throbbed the low, persistent 
 murmur of a stream. 
 
 Lisle was talking to Milllcent near the table. He 
 looked up as a burst of laughter rose from beside the 
 nets and saw Bella Crestwick walk away from them. 
 One or two of the others stood looking after her, and 
 Mrs. Gladwyne glanced from her chair inquiringly. 
 
 " Thej^ seem amused," she said. 
 
 " It was probably at one of Miss Crestwick's re- 
 marks ; she's undoubtedly original," returned Millicent. 
 " Still, I think it was chiefly Mr. Marple's laugh you 
 heard." 
 
 His voice had been most in evidence — it usually 
 carried far — but Lisle was half amused at the dis- 
 approval in the girl's tone. 
 
 " I'm afraid I'm now and then a little boisterous, 
 too," he ventured. 
 
 " It depends a good deal upon what you laugh at," 
 Millicent informed him. 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne looked up again, as if she had not 
 heard, and the girl smiled at her. 
 
 " What I said isn't worth repeating." 
 
 She moved awaj'^ a pace or two and Lisle watched 
 Bella, who glanced once or twice in his direction as she 
 crossed the lawn. Somehow he felt that he was wanted 
 and a little later he strolled after the girl. Millicent 
 noticed it with a slight frown, though she did not 
 trouble to ask herself why she was vexed. When Lisle 
 reached Bella, she regarded him with mischief in her 
 eyes. 
 
 " As I once mentioned, you learn rapidly," she 
 laughed. " You'll be thankful for the instruction 
 some day, and I promise not to teach you anything
 
 A FUTILE PROTEST 149 
 
 very detrimental. But I'm a little surprised that Mil- 
 licent Gladwyne allowed you to come." 
 
 " I dare say she could spare me ; I'm not a very en- 
 tertaining companion," Lisle said humbly. 
 
 " It wasn't that," Bella explained. " I don't think 
 she'd like you spoiled — perhaps I should say con- 
 taminated; she has ideas on the subject of education, 
 too. She always calls me I\Iiss Crcstwick, which is 
 significant ; I've no doubt she did so when Marple made 
 himself conspicuous by his amusement just now." 
 
 Lisle had noticed the correctness of her assumptions 
 on other occasions, but he said nothing, for he had 
 noticed some bitterness in her voice. He walked on 
 with her and she led him into a path through a shrub- 
 bery bordering the lawn, where she sat do^vn on a 
 wooden scat. 
 
 " Now," she said teasingly, " we have given the 
 others somt^thing to think about ; but I've really no 
 designs on you. It wouldn't be much use, anyway. 
 You're safe." 
 
 She looked up at him with elfish mischief in her ag- 
 gressively pretty face. Dressed in some clinging 
 fabric of pale watery green that matched the greenish 
 light in her eyes and the reddish gleam in her hair, 
 she was very alluring; but it was borne in upon Lisle 
 that to take up her challenge too boldly would lower 
 him in the girl's regard. 
 
 " I'm human," he laughed. " Perhaps I'd better 
 mention it. But I think it's more to the purpose to say 
 that I'm altogether at your disposal." 
 
 " Well," she answered, " I wanted you. As you're 
 almost a stranger, it's curious, isn't it.'' But, you see, 
 I haven't a real friend in the world."
 
 150 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " I wonder if that can be quite correct? " 
 
 " So far as the people here go, haven't you eyes? " 
 
 Lisle had seen the men gather about her, but it was 
 those he thought least of who followed her most closely, 
 and the women stood aloof. 
 
 " There are Miss INIarple and her mother, anyway ; 
 they're friends of yours," he pointed out. 
 
 " Just so. Flo and I are in the same class, making 
 the same fight ; but that isn't always a reason for mu- 
 tual appreciation or support. Mrs. Marple, of course, 
 is her daughter's partizan, though in some ways it 
 suits us to stand together. But I didn't bring you 
 here to listen to my grievances, but because you hap- 
 pen to be the one man I can trust." 
 
 Lisle looked embarrassed, but merely bent his head. 
 
 " It's that silly brother of mine again," she went on. 
 
 " What has he been doing now? " 
 
 " It's what he's thinking of doing that's the worst. 
 He has been led to believe it's easy to acquire riches 
 on the stock exchange and that he has the makins-s of 
 a successful speculator in him. Cards and the turf 
 I've had to tolerate — after all, there were ways in 
 which he got some return for what he spent on them — 
 but this last craze may be disastrous." 
 
 " Where did he get the idea that he's a financial 
 genius? It wouldn't be from you." 
 
 " No," she said seriously ; " I'm his sister and most 
 unlikely to encourage him in such delusions. I don't 
 think Batley had much trouble in putting the notion 
 into his mind." Her expression suddenly changed. 
 " How I hate that man ! " 
 
 Lisle looked down at her with grave sympathy. 
 
 " It's quite easy to get into difficulties by specu-
 
 A FUTILE PROTEST 151 
 
 lating, unless one lias ample means. But I under- 
 stood — " 
 
 Bella checked him with a gesture. 
 
 *' Jim comes into money — we have a good allow- 
 ance now — hut it will he nearly two years hefore he 
 gets possession. I want him to start fair when he 
 may, perhaps, have learned a little sense, and not to 
 find himself burdened with debts and associates he 
 can't get rid of. At present, Batlcy's lending him 
 money at exorbitant interest. I've pleaded, I've 
 stormed and told him plain truths ; but it isn't the 
 least use." 
 
 " I see. T\Tiy don't you take him away ? " 
 
 " He won't come. It would be worse if I left him." 
 
 *' Do you know why Gladwyne tolerates Batley? " 
 
 " I don't." Bella looked up sharply. " What has 
 that to do with it.?" 
 
 Lisle thought it had a bearing on the matter, as the 
 lad would have seen less of Batley without Gladwyne's 
 connivance. 
 
 " Well," he countered, " what would you like me to 
 do.?" 
 
 " It's difficult to answer. He's obstinate and re- 
 sents advice. You might, however, talk to him when 
 you have a chance; he's beginning to have a respect 
 for your opinions." 
 
 That's gratifying," Lisle commented dryly. 
 He was inclined to patronize me at first." 
 
 She spread out her hands. 
 
 " You're too big to mind it ! Tell him anything 
 you can about disastrous mining ventures ; but don't 
 begin as if you meant to warn him — lead up to the 
 subject casually." 

 
 152 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " I'm afraid I'm not very tactful," Lisk confessed. 
 " He'll see what I'm after." 
 
 " It's not very likely. Talk as if you considered 
 him a man of experience. It's fortunate that you can 
 be of help in this ca^e, because I think some Canadian 
 mining shares are to be the latest deal. From what 
 Jim said it looks as if Batley was to give him some in- 
 formation about them on Wednesday, when Gladwyne 
 and he are expected at Marple's. Can't you come? 
 I understand you have been asked." 
 
 " Yes," promised Lisle. " If I have an opportu- 
 nity, I'll see what can be done." 
 
 Bella rose and smiled at him. 
 
 " We'll go back ; I'm comforted already. You're 
 not profuse, but one feels that you will keep a 
 promise." 
 
 They walked across the lawn, Bella now conversing 
 in an animated strain about unimportant matters, 
 though it did not occur to Lisle that this was for the 
 benefit of the lookers-on. On approaching the tea- 
 table, she adroitly secured possession of a chair which 
 another lady who stood higher in her hostess's esteem 
 was making for, and sitting down chatted cheerfully 
 with Mrs. Gladwyne. Lisle was conscious of some 
 amusement as he watched her. She was clever and 
 her courage appealed to him ; but presently he saw 
 Millicent and strolled toward where she was standino-. 
 She spoke to him, but he thought she was not quite so 
 gracious as she had been before he went away.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 USLE COMES TO THE RESCUE 
 
 A FEW days after his interview with Bella, Lisle 
 overtook INIillicent as she was walking up a 
 wooded dale. She looked around with a smile 
 when he joined her and they fell into friendly talk. 
 There were points on which they differed, but a sense 
 of mutual appreciation was steadily growing stronger 
 between them. Presently Lisle happened to mention 
 the Marplcs, and IMillicent glanced at him thought- 
 fully. She knew that he met Bella at their house. 
 
 " You have seen a good deal of these people, one 
 way or another," she remarked. 
 
 "These people.? Aren't 3'ou a little prejudiced 
 against them.? " 
 
 I suppose I am," Millicent confessed. 
 Then won't you give me the reason.? Your point 
 of view isn't always clear to an outsider." 
 
 " I'll try to be lucid. I don't so much obj cct to 
 Marple as I do to what he stands for ; I mean to mod- 
 em tendency." 
 
 " That's as involved as ever." 
 
 The girl showed a little good-humored impatience. 
 She did not care to supply the explanation — it was 
 against her instincts — and she was inclined to won- 
 der why she should do so merely because the man had 
 asked for it. 
 
 153 

 
 15^ THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Well," she said, " the feudal system isn't dead, 
 and I believe that what is best in it need never dis- 
 appear altogether. Of course, it had its drawbacks, 
 but I think it was better than the commercialism that 
 is replacing it. It recognized obligations on both 
 sides, and there is a danger of forgetting them ; the 
 new people often fail to realize them at all. Marple 
 - — I'm using him as an example — bought the land for 
 what he could get out of it." 
 
 " About three per cent., he told me. It isn't a 
 great inducement." 
 
 Millicent made a half-disdainful gesture. 
 
 " He gets a great deal more — sport, a status, 
 friends and standing, and a means of suitably enter- 
 taining them. That, I suppose, is one reason why the 
 return in money from purely agricultural land is so 
 small." 
 
 " Then is it wrong for a business man to buy these 
 things, if he can pay for them ? " 
 
 " Oh, no ! But he must take up the duties attached 
 to his purchase. When you buy land, human lives 
 go with it. They're still largely in the landlord's 
 hands. Of course, we have legislation which has cur- 
 tailed the land-owner's former powers, but it's a soul- 
 less, mechanical thing that can never really take the 
 place of direct personal interest." 
 
 She stopped and glanced back down the winding 
 dale. Here and there smooth pastures climbed the 
 slopes that shut it in, but over part of them ranged 
 mighty oaks, still almost green. Beyond these, beeches 
 tinted with brown and crimson glowed against the 
 dusky foliage of spmces and silver-firs. 
 
 " One needs wisdom, love of the soil and all that
 
 LISLE COMES TO THE RESCUE 155 
 
 lives on it, and perhaps patience most of all," she re- 
 sumed. " These woods are an example. They are not 
 natural like jour forests — every tree has been care- 
 full}' planted and as it grew the young sheltering 
 wood about it carefully thinned out. Then as the 
 trunks gained in size it was necessary to choose with 
 care and cut. With the oaks it's a work of genera- 
 tions, planting for one's great-grandchildren, and the 
 point that is suggested most clearly is the continuity 
 of interest that should exist between the men who use 
 the spade and ax and the men who own and plan. 
 It is not a little thing that the third and fourth genera- 
 tions should complete the task, when a mutual tolera- 
 tion and dependence is handed down." 
 
 Lisle was conscious of a curious stirring of his 
 feelings as he listened to her. She was tall and finely- 
 proportioned, endowed with a calm and gracious dig- 
 nity which was nevertheless, he thought, in keeping 
 with a sanguine and virile nature. This girl was one 
 of the fairest and most precious products of the soil 
 she loved. 
 
 " It's a pity in many ways that the Gladwyne prop- 
 erty didn't come to you," he obser\'ed. 
 
 Her expression changed and he spread out one hand 
 deprocatingly. 
 
 " That's another blunder of mine. I haven't ac- 
 quired your people's unfailing caution j^et, but I only 
 meant — " 
 
 " Perhaps it would be better if you didn't tell me 
 what you did mean." 
 
 Lisle nodded. He felt that he had desen'ed the re- 
 buke, as the truth of his assertion could not be ad- 
 mitted without disparaging Gladwyne. She would al-
 
 156 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 low nothing to the latter's discredit to be said by a 
 stranger, but it was unpleasant to think that she re- 
 garded him as one. He changed the subject. 
 
 " You mentioned that landlord and laborer had a 
 joint interest in the soil, and that's undoubtedly 
 right," he said. " The point where trouble arises is, 
 of course, over the division of the yield. The former's 
 share is obvious, but nowadays plowman and forester 
 want more than their fathers seem to have been satis- 
 fied with. I don't think you can blame them — in Can- 
 ada they get more." 
 
 " I'll give you an instance to show why one can't 
 treat them very liberall}^ Wlien my brother got pos- 
 session he spent a great deal of money — it was left 
 him by his mother and didn't come out of the land — 
 in draining, improvements, and rebuilding homesteads 
 and cottages, besides freely giving his time and care. 
 For a number of years he got no return at all, and 
 part of the expenditure will always be unproductive. 
 It isn't a solitary case." 
 
 They went on together through the shadowy, crim- 
 son-tinted dale until Millicent stopped at the gate of a 
 field-road. 
 
 " I am going to one of the cottages yonder," she 
 explained. " I expect Nasmyth on Wednesday eve- 
 ning. Are you coming with him? " 
 
 " I'm son-y, but I'm going to Marple's. You see, 
 I promised." 
 
 " Promised Marple? " 
 
 He was learning to understand her, for though she 
 showed no marked sign of displeasure he knew that 
 she was not gratified. 
 
 " No," he answered ; " Miss Crestwick."
 
 LISLE COMES TO THE RESCUE 157 
 
 She did not speak, but there was something in her 
 manner that hinted at disdainful amusement. 
 
 " I think jou're hardly fair to her," he said. 
 
 " It's possible," Millicent replied carelessly. " Does 
 it matter? " 
 
 " Well," he broke out with some warmth, " the girl 
 hasn't such an easy time among 3'ou ; and one can only 
 respect her for the way she stands by her brother." 
 
 " Have you anything to say in his favor.'' " 
 
 " It would be pretty difficult," admitted Lisle. 
 " But you can't blame his sister for that." 
 
 " I don't think I've shown any desire to do so," she 
 retorted. 
 
 Lisle knit his brows. 
 
 " You people are rather curious in your ideas. 
 Now, here's a lonely girl who's pluckily trying to look 
 after that senseless lad, and not a one of you can 
 spare her a word of s^-mpathy, because she doesn't run 
 on the same stereotyped lines as you do. Can you 
 help only the people who will conform.'' " 
 
 Millicent let this pass, and after an indifferent word 
 or two she turned away. Before she reached home, 
 however, she met Nasmyth. 
 
 " Why don't you keep Mr. Lisle out of those ]\Iar- 
 ples' hands?" she asked him. 
 
 " In the first place, I'm not sure that I could do so ; 
 in the second, I don't see why I should tr}'," Nasmyth 
 replied. " On the whole, considering that he's a 
 Western miner, I don't think he's running a serious 
 risk. Perhaps I might hint that Bella Crestwick's 
 hardly likely to consider him as big enough game." 
 
 " Don't be coarse ! " INIillicent paused. " But he 
 spoke hotly in her defense."
 
 158 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " After all," responded Nasmyth, " I shouldn't won- 
 der if she deserves it ; but it has no significance. You 
 see, he's a rather chivalrous person." 
 
 Millicent flashed a quick glance at him, but his face 
 was expressionless. 
 
 " What did he say ? " he asked. 
 
 " I don't remember exactly : he hinted that we were 
 narrow-minded and uncharitable." 
 
 Nasmyth laughed. 
 
 " I almost think there's some truth in it. I've seen 
 you a little severe on those outside the fold." 
 
 " A man's charity is apt to be influenced by a pretty 
 face," Millicent retorted. 
 
 "I'll admit it," replied Nasmyih dryly. "But I 
 can't undertake to determine how far that fact has 
 any bearing on this particular instance." 
 
 Millicent talked about something else, but she was 
 annoyed with herself when the question Nasmyth had 
 raised once more obtruded itself on her attention dur- 
 ing the evening. 
 
 On Wednesday Lisle walked over to Marple's house, 
 because he had promised to go, though he would much 
 rather have spent an hour or two with Nasmyth and 
 Millicent in the latter's drawing-room. He had no 
 opportunity for any private speech with Bella, but 
 she flung him a grateful glance as he came in. He 
 waited patiently and followed her brother here and 
 there, but he could not secure a word with him alone. 
 
 Some time had passed when, escaping from a group 
 engaged in what struck him as particularly stupid 
 badinage, he sauntered toward the billiard-room, strug- 
 gling with a feeling of Irritation. He was generally 
 good-humored and tolerant rather than hypercritical,
 
 LISLE COMES TO THE RESCUE 159 
 
 but the somewhat senseless hilarity of Marple's guests 
 was beginning to jar on him. A burst of laughter 
 which he thought had been provoked by one of Bella's 
 sallies followed him down the corridor, but when he 
 quietly opened the door the billiard-room was empty 
 except for a group of three in one comer. He stopped 
 just inside the threshold, glancing at them, and it 
 was evident that they had not heard his approach. 
 
 Wreaths of cigar smoke drifted about the room ; 
 the light of the shaded lamps fell upon the men seated 
 on a lounge, and their expressions and attitudes were 
 significant. Gladwyne leaned back languidly grace- 
 ful ; Batley, a burlier figure, was talking, his eyes fixed 
 on Crestwick ; and the lad sat upright, looking eager. 
 Batley appeared to be discussing the principles of 
 operating on the stock exchange. 
 
 " It's obvious," he said, " that there's very little to 
 be made by waiting until any particular stock becomes 
 a popular favorite — the premium equalizes the profit 
 and sometimes does away with it. The essential thing 
 is to take hold at the beginning, when the shares are 
 more or less in disfavor and can be picked up cheap." 
 
 Lisle stood still — he was in the shadow — watching 
 the lad, who now showed signs of uncertainty. 
 
 " I dropped a good deal of money the last time I 
 tried it," he protested. " The trouble is that if you 
 come in when the company's starting, 3^ou can't form 
 an accurate idea of how it ought to go." 
 
 " Exactly," replied Batley. " You can rarely be 
 quite sure. What you need is sound judgment, the 
 sense to recognize a good thing when you see it, 
 pluck, and the sporting instinct — you must.be ready 
 to back your opinion and take a risk. It's only the
 
 160 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 necessity for that kind of thing which makes it a fine 
 game." 
 
 He broke off, looking up, and as Lisle strolled for- 
 ward with a glance at Crestwick, he saw Batley's 
 genial expression change. It was evident that the 
 idea of being credited with the quahties mentioned ap- 
 pealed to the lad, and Lisle realized that Batley was 
 wishing him far away. He had, however, no inten- 
 tion of withdrawing, and taking out a cigar he chose 
 a cue and awkwardly proceeded to practise a shot. 
 
 " This," he said nonchalantly, " is an amusement I 
 never had time to learn, and I really came along for a 
 quiet smoke. Don't let me disturb you." 
 
 He saw Crestwick's look and understood what was 
 in the lad's mind. It was incomprehensible to the 
 latter that a man should boldly confess his ignorance 
 of a game of high repute. Batley, however, seeing 
 that the intruder intended to remain, returned to the 
 attack, and though he spoke in a lower voice Lisle 
 caught part of his remarks and decided that he was 
 cleverly playing upon Crestwick's raw belief in him- 
 self. This roused the Canadian to indignation, 
 though it was directed against Gladwyne rather than 
 his companion. Batley, he thought, was to some 
 extent an adventurer, one engaged in a hazardous 
 business at which he could not always win, and he had 
 some desirable qualities — good-humor, liberality, 
 coolness and daring. The well-bred gentleman who 
 served as his decoy, however, possessed none of these 
 redeeming characteristics. His part was merely des- 
 picable; there was only meanness beneath his polished 
 exterior. 
 
 " It certainly looks promising," Lisle heard Crest-
 
 LISLE COMES TO THE RESCUE 161 
 
 wick say ; " you have pretty well convinced me that 
 it can't go wrong." 
 
 " I can't see any serious risk," declared Batley. 
 *' That, in the case of mining stock, is as far as I'd 
 care to go. On the other hand, there's every prospect 
 of a surprising change in the value of the shares as 
 soon as the results of the first reduction of ore come 
 out. I can only add that I'm a holder and I got you 
 the offer of the shares as a favor from a friend who's 
 behind the scenes. Don't take them unless you feel 
 inclined." 
 
 Tliis was a slip, as Lisle recognized. It is not in 
 human nature to dispose of a commodity that will 
 shortly increase in value. Crestwick, however, obvi- 
 ously failed to notice this : Lisle thouq:ht the idea of 
 getting on to the inside track appealed to his vanity. 
 
 " It's a curious name they've given the mine," com- 
 mented the lad, repeating it. " What does it mean.'* " 
 
 Lisle started, for he recognized the name, and it 
 offered him a lead. Strolling toward the group, he 
 leaned against the table. 
 
 " I can tell you that," he said. " It's an Indian 
 word for a river gorge. I went up it not long ago." 
 
 " Then," exclaimed Crestwick, " I suppose you 
 know the mine.'' " 
 
 Lisle glanced at the others. Their eyes were fixed 
 upon him, Batley's steadily, Gladwyne's with a hint 
 of uneasiness. It was, he felt, a remarkable piece of 
 good fortune that had given him control of the situa- 
 tion. 
 
 " Yes," he answered carelessly, " I know the mine." 
 
 " I'm thinking of taking shares in it," Crestwick in- 
 formed him.
 
 162 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Well," said Lisle, " that wouldn't be wise." 
 
 Gladwyne leaned farther back in his seat, as if to 
 disassociate himself from the discussion, which was 
 what the Canadian had expected from him ; but Batley, 
 who was of more resolute fiber, showed fight. His 
 appearance became aggressive, his face hardened, and 
 there was a snap in his eyes. 
 
 " You have made a serious allegation in a rather 
 startling way, Mr. Lisle. As I've an interest in the 
 company in question, I must ask you to explain." 
 
 " Then I'd advise j^ou to get rid of your interest 
 as soon as possible; that is, so long as you don't sell 
 out to Crestwick, who's a friend of mine." 
 
 Batley's face began to redden, and Lisle, looking 
 around at the sound of a footstep, saw Marple stand- 
 ing a pace or two away. He was a fussy, bustling 
 man, and he raised his hand in expostulation. 
 
 " Was that last called for, or quite the thing. 
 Lisle.'* " he asked. 
 
 Batley turned to Gladwyne, as if for support, and 
 the latter assumed his finest air. 
 
 " I think there can be only one opinion on that 
 point," he declared. 
 
 Lisle's eyes gleamed with an amusement that was 
 stronger than his indignation. That Gladwyne 
 should expect this gravely delivered decision to have 
 any marked effect tickled him. 
 
 " Well," he replied, " I'm ready to stand by what 
 I said, and I'll add that if I had any shares I'd give 
 them away to anybody who would register as their 
 owner before the next call is made." 
 
 " I understood there wouldn't be a call for a long 
 while," Crestwick broke in.
 
 LISLE COMES TO THE RESCUE 163 
 
 « 
 
 Then whoever told you so must have been misin- 
 formed," Lisle rejoined. 
 
 " Arc you casting any doubt upon my honor? " 
 Batle^' demanded in a bellicose voice. 
 
 " I don't think so ; anyway, so long as you don't 
 rule out my suggestion. Still, I'm willing to leave 
 Gladwyne to decide the point. He seems to under- 
 stand these delicate matters." 
 
 Mai-ple, looking distressed and irresolute, broke in 
 before Gladwyne had a chance to reply. 
 
 " Do you know much about mining, Lisle.'' " 
 
 Lisle laughed. 
 
 " I've had opportunities for learning something, as 
 prospector, locator of alluvial claims and holder of an 
 interest in one or two comparatively prosperous com- 
 panies." 
 
 He leaned forward and touched Crestwick's shoulder. 
 
 " Come along, Jim, and I'll give you one or two par- 
 ticulars that should decide you." 
 
 Somewhat to his astonishment, the lad rose and 
 rather sheepishly followed him. There was an awk- 
 ward silence for a few moments after they left the 
 room ; then Marple turned to his guests. 
 
 " I can't undertake to say whether Lisle was justi- 
 fied or not," he began. " I'm sorry, however, that 
 anj'thing of tliis nature should have happened in my 
 house, 
 
 5J 
 
 " So am I," said Gladwjme with gracious condescen- 
 sion. " There is, of course, one obvious remedy." 
 
 Marple raised his hands in expostulation. He liked 
 Lisle, and Gladwyne was a distinguished guest. Bat- 
 ley seemed to find his confusion amusing. 
 
 *' I think the only thing we can do is to let the
 
 164 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 matter drop," he suggested. ** These fellows from the 
 wilds are primitive — one can't expect too much. The 
 correct feeling or delicacy of expression we'd look for 
 among ourselves is hardly in their line." 
 
 Marple was mollified, and he fell in with Batley's 
 suggestion that they should try a game. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Crestwick looked around at his 
 companion as they went down the corridor. 
 
 " I believe I owe you some thanks," he admitted. 
 *' I like the way you headed off Batley — I think he 
 meant to turn savage at first — and I wouldn't have 
 been willing to draw in Gladw3me, as you did. He has 
 a way of crushing you with a look." 
 
 " It's merely a sign that you deserve it," Lisle 
 laughed. " You take too many things for granted in 
 this country. Test another man's assumption of 
 superiority before you agree with it, and you'll some- 
 times be astonished to find out what it's really founded 
 on. And now we'd better join those people who're 
 singing."
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 Bella's defeat 
 
 THE afternoon was calm and hazy, and Lisle 
 lounged with great content in a basket-cliair 
 on Millicent's lawn. His hostess sat near by, 
 looking listless, a somewhat unusual thing for her, 
 and Miss Hume, her elderly companion, genial in spite 
 of her precise formality, was industriously embroider- 
 ing something not far away. There was not a 
 breath of wind astir; a soft gray sky streaked with 
 long bars of stronger color hung motionless over the 
 wide prospect. Wood and moorland ridge and distant 
 hill had faded to dimness of contour and quiet neutral 
 tones. Indeed, the wliole scene seemed steeped in a pro- 
 found tranquillity, intensified only by the murmur of 
 the river. 
 
 Lisle enjoyed it all, though he was conscious that 
 Millicent's presence added to its charm. He had 
 grown to feel restful and curiously at ease in her 
 company. She was, he thought, so essentially nat- 
 ural; one felt at home with her. 
 
 " I haven't often seen you with the unoccupied aj>- 
 pearance you have just now," he remarked at length. 
 
 " I have sent the book off, and after being at work 
 on it so long, I feel disinclined to do anything else," 
 she said. " I've just heard from the publishers; they 
 don't seem enthusiastic. After all, one couldn't ex- 
 
 165
 
 166 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 pect tliat * — the style of the thing is rather out of the 
 usual course." 
 
 Lisle looked angi'y and she was pleased with his in- 
 dignation on her behalf. 
 
 " They show precious little sense ! " he declared ; 
 " but 3'ou're right. It's one of your English customs 
 to go on from precedent to precedent until you get 
 anunmodifiable standard, when you slavishly conform 
 to it. Now your book's neither a classification nor 
 a catalogue — it's something far bigger. Never 
 mind what the experts and scientists say ; wait until 
 the people who love the wild things and want their 
 story made real get it into their hands ! " 
 
 His confidence was gratifying, but she changed the 
 subject. 
 
 " You Canadians haven't much respect for prec- 
 edent? " 
 
 " No ; we try to meet the varying need by con- 
 stantly changing means. They're often crude, but 
 they're successful, as a rule." 
 
 " It's a system that must have a wide effect," she 
 responded, to lead him on. She liked to hear him talk. 
 
 " It has. You can see it in the difference between 
 your country and mine. This land's smooth and well 
 trimmed ; everything in it has grown up little by little ; 
 its mellow ripeness is its charm. Ours is grand or 
 rugged or desolate, but it's never merel}' pretty. The 
 same applies to our people ; they're bubbling over with 
 raw, optimistic vigor, their comers are not rubbed 
 off. Some of them would jar on overcivilized people, 
 but not, I think, on any one with understanding." He 
 spread out his hands. " You have an example ; I'm 
 spouting at large again."
 
 BELLA'S DEFEAT 167 
 
 " Go on," she begged ; " I'm interested. But have 
 you ever thought that instead of being younger than 
 we are you're really older. I mean that you have gone 
 back a long way ; begun again at an earher stage, 
 instead of going ahead? " 
 
 " Now you get at the bottom of things ! " he ex- 
 claimed. " That's always been an idea of mine. The 
 people of the newer countries, perhaps more particu- 
 larly those to whom I belong, are brought back to 
 the grapple with elemental conditions. We're on the 
 bed-rock of nature." 
 
 " Are you too modest to go any further? " 
 
 He showed faint signs of confusion and she laughed. 
 " No doubt, the situation makes for pristine vigor, 
 and we are drifting into artificiality," she suggested. 
 " Perhaps you, the toilers, the subduers of the wilder- 
 ness, are to serve as an anchor for the supercivilized 
 generations to hold on by." She paused and quoted 
 softly : " * Pioneers ; O pioneers ! ' " 
 
 " What can I say to that.-^ " he asked with half- 
 amused embarrassment. " We're pretty egotistical, 
 but one can't go back on Whitman." 
 
 " No," she laughed mischievously ; " I think you're 
 loyal ; and there are situations from which it's difficult 
 to extricate oneself. Didn't you find it so, for exam- 
 ple, when you declined to come here with Nasmyth, 
 because Miss Crestwick had pressed you to go to 
 Marple's.P" 
 
 He could think of no neat reply to this and the 
 obvious fact pleased her, for she guessed that he 
 would rather have spent the evening with her. This 
 was true, for now, sitting in the quiet garden in her 
 company, he looked back on the entertainment with
 
 
 168 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 something like disgust. Marple's male friends were, 
 for the most part, characterized by a certain gross- 
 ness and sensuality ; in their amusements at games of 
 chance one or two had displayed an open avarice. 
 These things jarred on the man who had toiled among 
 the rocks and woods, where he had practised a strin- 
 gent self-denial. 
 
 " I heard that you figured in a striking little 
 scene," Millicent went on. 
 
 " I couldn't help it." Lisle appeared annoyed. 
 " That man Batley irritated me ; though, after all, I 
 don't blame him the most." 
 This was a slip. 
 Whom do you blame? " she asked sharply. 
 Oh," he explained, " I wasn't the only person 
 present, and I hadn't arrived at the beginning. Some- 
 body should have stopped the fellow ; the shares he 
 tried to work off on Crestwick were no good." 
 
 " Then Batley wanted to sell that silly lad some 
 worthless shares — and there were other people look- 
 ing on ? " 
 
 He would not tell her that Gladwyne had watched 
 the proceedings, to some extent acquiescing. 
 
 " I thought from what you said that you knew all 
 about it," he answered. 
 
 " No," she rephed, suspecting the truth, but seeing 
 that it would be difficult to extract anything definite 
 from him. " I only heard that you had an encounter 
 of some kind with Batley. But why did you hint that 
 he was not the worst ? " 
 
 " He was merely acting in accordance with his in- 
 stincts ; one wouldn't expect anything else." 
 
 " The implication is that he was tacitly abetted by
 
 BELLA'S DEFEAT 169 
 
 people of a different kind who ought to have known 
 better.'* 
 
 He was not to be drawn on this point, and she re- 
 spected him for it. 
 
 " Was it only an animus against Batley that 
 prompted you? " she asked. 
 
 " No," he admitted candidly ; " I wanted to get 
 young Crestwick out of his clutches. I'm not sure 
 iie's worth troubling about, but I'm sorry for his sister. 
 As I've said before, there's something fine in the way 
 she sticks to him." 
 
 The chivalrous feeling did him credit, Millicent ad- 
 mitted, but she was dissatisfied with it and was curious 
 to learn if it were the onl}^ one he cherished toward 
 the girl. 
 
 " That's undoubtedly in her favor," she commented 
 indifferently. 
 
 He did not respond and they talked about other 
 matters ; but Lisle was now sensible of a shght con- 
 straint in Millicent's manner and on the whole she 
 was glad when he took his leave. Quick-witted, as 
 she was, she guessed that he disapproved of the part 
 Clarence had played in the affair at Marplc's, and 
 this, chiming with her own suspicions, troubled her. 
 She had a tenderness for Clarence, and she wondered 
 how far her influence might restrain and protect him 
 if, as his mother had suggested, she eventually mar- 
 ried him. Another point caused her some uneasiness 
 — Bella Crestwick had boldly entered the field against 
 her and Avas making use of the Canadian to rouse 
 Clarence b}^ showing him that he had a rival. The 
 thought of it stirred her to indignation ; she would 
 not have Lisle treated in that fashion. After sitting
 
 170 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 still for half an hour, she rose with a gesture of im- 
 patience and went into the house. 
 
 On the same evening Bella Crestwick felt impelled 
 to lecture her brother after dinner. That was not 
 a favorable time, for the young man's good opinion 
 of himself was generally strengthened by a glass or 
 two of wine. 
 
 " I thought that matter of the shares would have 
 taught you sense, but you must listen to Batley again 
 this afternoon," she scolded. " You were with him 
 for half an hour. I've no patience with you, 
 Jim." 
 
 " He's not so easy to shake off", particularly as I'm 
 in his debt," returned the lad. " Besides, he's an in- 
 teresting fellow, the kind you learn a good deal from. 
 It's an education to mix with such men." 
 
 " The trouble is that it's expensive. Come away 
 with me before he ruins you. There's Mrs. Barnard's 
 invitation to their place in Scotland; it would be a 
 good excuse." 
 
 Her brother's rather lofty manner changed. 
 
 " You're a dear, Bella. You know you don't want 
 to go." 
 
 Having a strong reason for wishing to stay, she 
 colored at this. Among his other unprepossessing 
 characteristics, Jim had a trick of saying tilings he 
 should suppress. 
 
 " Never mind me," she answered. " Will you 
 come?" 
 
 He had an incomplete recognition of the magnitude 
 of the sacrifice she was ready to make, though it was 
 not this that decided him not to fall in with it. 
 
 " No," he said with raw self-confidence. " I'm not
 
 BELLA'S DEFEAT 171 
 
 one to run away ; but I'll promise to keep my eye on 
 the fellow after this and be cautious. All his schemes 
 aren't in the same class as those mining shares, you 
 know." 
 
 Bella lost her temper and told him some plain 
 truths about himself, and this did not improve mat- 
 ters, for in the end she retired, defeated, leaving Jim 
 rather sore but on the whole satisfied with the firm- 
 ness he had displayed. The girl felt dejected and 
 almost desperate. She could not continually apply to 
 Lisle for assistance, and she shrank from the only 
 other course that seemed open to her; but her affec- 
 tion for the misguided lad impelled her to make an- 
 other attempt to rescue him, and a few days later 
 she found her opportunity. It was a bold measure 
 she had decided on, one that might cost her a good 
 deal, but she was a young woman of courage and de- 
 tennination. 
 
 Mrs. Marple and her daughter drove over with her 
 to call on Mrs. Gladwyne. They found several other 
 people present, and as usual there Avas no ceremony ; the 
 day was fine, and the hostess sat outside, while the 
 guests strolled about the terrace and gardens very 
 much as they liked. Bella, hearing that Clarence was 
 engaged in the library and would not be down for 
 a little while, slipped away in search of him. Her 
 heart beat painfully fast as she went up the wide 
 staircase, but she was outwardly very collected — a 
 slender, attractive figure — when she entered the 
 room. In her dress as well as in her manner Bella 
 was usually distinguished by something unconven- 
 tional and picturesque. She was not pleased to see 
 Batley standing beside the table at which Gladwyne
 
 172 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 sat, but the man gathered up some papers when he 
 noticed her. 
 
 " I've explained the thing, Gladwyne, and I expect 
 Miss Crestwick will excuse me," he said. 
 
 His manner was good-humored as he bowed to her 
 and though she almost hated the man she was con- 
 scious of a faint respect for him. He might have 
 thwarted her by remaining, for she had often made 
 him a butt for her bitter wit. Now, however, when 
 she had shown that his presence was not required, he 
 was gallantly withdrawing. When he went out she 
 sat down and Gladwyne rose and stood with one hand 
 on the mantel, waiting for her to begin. Instead, she 
 glanced round the room, which always impressed her. 
 It was lofty and spacious, the few articles of massive 
 furniture gave it a severe dignity, and there was no 
 doubt that Gladwyne, with his handsome person and 
 highbred air, appeared at home in it. 
 
 While she looked around, he was thinking about 
 her. She was provocatively pretty ; a fearless, pas- 
 sionate creature, addicted to occasional reckless out- 
 breaks, but nevertheless endowed with a vein of cold 
 and calculating: sense. What was as much to the 
 point, she was wealthy, and people were becoming 
 more tolerant toward her; but in the meanwhile he 
 wondered what she wanted. 
 
 " I came about Jim," she said at length. 
 
 "Well?" 
 
 The man's expression, which suddenly changed, was 
 not encouraging and she hesitated. 
 
 " You know what he's doing. I've come to ask a 
 favor." 
 
 He avoided the issue.
 
 BELLA'S DEFEAT 173 
 
 " It's nothing" alanning ; I don't suppose he's very 
 different from most lads of his age. Perhaps it would 
 be better to let him have his head." 
 
 " No," she replied decidedly. " The pace is too 
 hot; I can't hold him. He'll come to grief badly if 
 he's not pulled up. You know that as well as I do ! " 
 
 Her anger became her, bringing a fine glow to her 
 cheeks and a hint of half-imperious dignity into her 
 pose. It had an eff'ect on him, but he felt somewhat 
 ashamed of himself. 
 
 " Well," he asked in a quiet voice, " what's the 
 favor? " 
 
 " Shouldn't a sportsman and a man of your kind 
 grant it unconditionally beforehand? Must you be 
 sure you won't get hurt when 3'ou make a venture? " 
 
 " You'd risk it," he answered, bowing. " You're 
 admirable, Bella. Still, you see, I'm either more 
 cautious or less courageous." 
 
 She was badly disappointed. She knew that a good 
 deal depended on his answer to her request, and shrank 
 from making it, because it would prove the strength 
 or weakness of her hold on him. The man attracted 
 her, and she had somewhat openly attempted to cap- 
 ture him. She longed for the position he could give 
 her; she would have married him for that and his 
 house, but she was willing to risk her success for her 
 brother's welfare. 
 
 " I want you to tell Batley that he must keep his 
 hands off" of Jim," she said. 
 
 He started at this. 
 
 " He can't do the lad much harm. Aren't you at- 
 taching a little too much importance to the matter? " 
 
 " No ; not in the least," she answered vehemently.
 
 174 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " I've told jou so already. But can't you keep to the 
 point? My brother's being ruined in several ways 
 besides the debts he's heaping up ; and I've humbled 
 m3'self to beg your help." 
 
 " Was it so very hard? " he asked, and his voice 
 grew soft and caressing. 
 
 She was shaken to the verge of yielding. The man 
 was handsome, cultivated, distinguished, she thought. 
 Whether she actually loved him, she did not know, 
 but he could gratify her ambitions and she was 
 strongly drawn to him. He had given her a lead, an 
 opening for a few telling words that might go far 
 toward the accomplishment of her wishes ; but, 
 tempted as she was, she would not utter them. She 
 was loyal to the headstrong lad; Jim stood first with 
 her. 
 
 " That is beside the point," she said with a becom- 
 ing air of pride. "I expected you would be willing 
 to do whatever you could. To be refused what I 
 plead for is new to me." 
 
 He considered for a moment or two, watcliing her 
 with keen appreciation. Bella in her present mood, 
 with her affectations cast aside, appealed to him. She 
 was not altogether the woman he would have chosen, 
 but since he must secure a rich wife, there were ob- 
 vious benefits to be derived from a match with her. 
 He devoutly wished he could accede to her request. 
 
 " Well? " she broke out impatiently. 
 
 " I'm sorry," he said ; " I'm unable to do as yoxi 
 desire. Of course, I wish I could, if only to please 
 you, though I really don't think the thing's necessary." 
 
 " You needn't tell me that again ! It's a waste of 
 time ; I'm not going to discuss it. Face the difficulty,
 
 BELLA'S DEFEAT 175 
 
 whatever it Is. Do you mean that you can't warn 
 off Batley?" 
 
 Gladwyne saw that she would insist on a definite 
 answer and in desperation he told the truth. 
 
 " It's out of the question." 
 
 It was a shock to her. In a sudden flash of illumi- 
 nation she saw him as he was, weak and irresolute, 
 helpless in the grip of a stronger man. It was sig- 
 nificant that she felt no compassion for him, but only 
 disgust and contempt. She was no coward, and even 
 Jim, who could so easily be deluded, was ready enough 
 to fight on due occasion. 
 
 " You are afraid of the fellow ! " she exclaimed. 
 
 Gladwyne colored and moved abruptly. He had 
 imagined that she was his for the asking, but there 
 was no mistaking her cutting scorn. 
 
 " Bella," he pleaded, " don't be bitter. You can't 
 understand the difficulties I'm confronted with." 
 
 " I can understand too much ! " Her voice 
 trembled, but she rose, rather white in face, with an 
 air of decision. " When I came I expected — but 
 after all that doesn't matter — I never expected 
 this 1 " 
 
 He made no answer; the man had some little pride 
 and there was nothing to be said. He had fallen very 
 low even in this girl's estimation and the fact was al- 
 most intolerably galling, but he could make no effective 
 defense. She went from him slowly, but with a sug- 
 gestive deliberation, without looking back, and there 
 was a hint of finality in the way she closed the door. 
 
 Once outside, she strove to brace herself, for the in- 
 terview had tried her hard. She had had to choose 
 between Gladwvne and her brother, but for that she
 
 176 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 was now almost thankful. The man she had admired 
 had changed and become contemptible. It was as if 
 he had suddenly collapsed and shriveled before her 
 startled eyes. But that was not all the trouble — she 
 was as far from saving Jim as ever. 
 
 It cost her an effort to rejoin the others, but she 
 was equal to it and during the rest of her stay her 
 conversation was a shade more audacious than usual.
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 GLADWYNE SURRENDERS 
 
 EVENING was drawing on when Bella strolled 
 aimlessly down the ascending road that led to 
 Marple's residence. On one hand of the road 
 there was a deep rift, filled with shadow, in which a 
 beck murmured among the stones, and the oaks that 
 climbed to the ridge above flung their great branches 
 against the saffron glow in the western sky. Fallen 
 leaves, glowing brown and red, had gathered thick 
 beneath one hedgerow and more came slowl}'^ sailing 
 down ; but Bella brushed through them unheeding, ob- 
 livious to her surroundings. She had suffered during 
 the few days that had followed her interview with 
 Gladwync and even the sharp encounter with Miss 
 Marple in which she had recently indulged had not 
 cheered her, though it had left her friend smarting. 
 
 Presently she looked around with interest as a 
 figure appeared farther up the road, and recognizing 
 the fine poise and vigorous stride, she stopped and 
 waited. Lisle was a bracing person to talk to, and 
 she wanted to see him. He soon came up with her 
 and she greeted him cordially. Unlike Gladwyne, he 
 was a real man, resolute and resourceful, with a gen- 
 erous vein in him, and she did not resent the fact that 
 he looked rather hard at her. 
 
 177
 
 178 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " You don't seem as cheerful as usual," he obser\'ed. 
 
 " I'm not," she confessed. " In fact, I think I was 
 very nearly crying." 
 
 "What's the trouble.'*" He showed both interest 
 and sympathy. 
 
 " Oh, you needn't ask. It's Jim again. I've tried 
 every means and I can't do anything with him." 
 
 " He is pretty uncontrollable. Seems to have gone 
 back to Batley again. I wonder if it would be any 
 good if I looked for an opportunity for making a row 
 with the fellow? " 
 
 " No," she answered, with appreciation, for this was 
 very different from Gladwyne's attitude. " It would 
 only separate Jim from you, and I don't want that 
 to happen. Please keep hold of him, though I know 
 that can't be pleasant for you." 
 
 " He is trying now and then, but I'll do what I 
 can. Gladwyne, however, has more influence than I 
 have. Did you think of asking him ? " 
 
 She colored, and in her brief confusion he read 
 his answer with strong indignation — she had pleaded 
 with Gladwyne and he had refused to help. 
 
 " Do you know," she said, looking up at him, 
 " you're the only real friend I have. There's nobody 
 else I can trust." 
 
 " I think you're wrong in that," he declared ; and 
 acting on impulse he laid a hand protectingly on her 
 shoulder, for she looked very dejected and forlorn. 
 " Anyway, you mustn't worry. I'll do something — 
 in fact, something will have to be done." 
 
 "What will you do?" 
 
 He knitted his brows. There was a course, which 
 promised to be effective, open to him, but he was most
 
 GLADWYNE SURRENDERS 179 
 
 averse to adopting it. He could give Gladw^^nc a 
 plain hint that he had better restrain his confederate, 
 but he could enforce compliance only by stating what 
 he knew about the former's desertion of his cousin. 
 He was not ready to do that yet ; it would precipitate 
 the climax, and once his knowledge of the matter was 
 revealed his power to use it in case of a stronger 
 need might be diminished. The temptation to leave 
 Jim Crestwick to his fate was strong, but his pity 
 for the anxious girl was stronger. 
 
 " I'll have a talk with Gladwyne," he promised. 
 
 " That wouldn't be of the least use ! " 
 
 " I think he'll do what I suggest," Lisle answered 
 with a trace of grimness. " Make your mind easy ; 
 I'll have Batley stopped." 
 
 She looked at him in surprise, filled with relief and 
 gratitude. He was one who would not promise more 
 than he could perform; but how he could force his 
 will on Gladwyne she did not know. 
 
 " You're wonderful ! " she exclaimed. " Whatever 
 one asks 3'ou're able to do." 
 
 " And you're very staunch." 
 
 "Oh!" she said, standing very close to him, with 
 his hand still on her shoulder, " we won't exchange 
 compliments — they're too empty, and you deserve 
 something better." She glanced round swiftly. 
 " Shut your eyes, tight ! " 
 
 He obeyed her, and for a moment light fingers rested 
 on his breast ; then there was a faint warm touch upon 
 his cheek. When he looked up she was standing a 
 yard awa^', smiling mockingly. 
 
 " I>on't trust your imagination too much — it 
 might have deceived you," she warned. " But you
 
 180 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 have sense; jou wouldn't attach an undue value to 
 anything." 
 
 " Confidence and gratitude are precious," he an- 
 swered. " I'd better point out that I haven't earned 
 either of them yet." 
 
 Bella was satisfied with this, but she grew graver, 
 wondering how far she might have delivered Gladwyne 
 into his hands. She was angry with the man, but 
 she would not have him suffer. 
 
 " I don't know what power you have — but you 
 won't make too much use of it — I don't wish that,'* 
 she begged. "After all, though, Jim must be got 
 out of that fellow's clutches." 
 
 " Yes," assented Lisle, " there's no doubt of it." 
 
 She left him presently and he went on down the dale, 
 not exactly repenting of his promise, but regretting 
 the necessity which had led to his making it. The 
 task with which he had saddled himself was an ex- 
 ceedingly unpleasant one and might afteinvard make 
 it more difficult for him to accomplish the pui-pose 
 that had brought him to England, but he meant to 
 carry it out. 
 
 As it happened, he met Mrs. Gladwyne at Milll- 
 cent's, where he called, and he spent an uncomfortable 
 half -hour in her company. She had shown in various 
 ways that she liked him, and calling him to her side 
 soon after he came in, she talked to him in an unusu- 
 ally genial manner. He felt like a traitor in this 
 gracious lady's presence and it was a relief when she 
 took her departure. 
 
 " You look troubled," Millicent observed. 
 
 " That's how I feel," he confessed. " After all, it
 
 GLADWYNE SURRENDERS 181 
 
 isn't a very uncommon sensation. It's sometimes dif- 
 ficult to see ahead." 
 
 " Often," she answered, smihng. " What do you 
 do then — stop a little and consider? " 
 
 " Not as a rule. The longer you consider the dif- 
 ficulties, the worse they look. It's generally better to 
 go right on." 
 
 iMillicent agreed with this ; and soon afterward Lisle 
 took his departure and walked back to Nasmyth's in 
 an unusually serious mood. They were sitting smok- 
 ing when his host broached the subject that was oc- 
 cupying him. 
 
 " It's some time since you said anything about the 
 project that brought you over," he remarked. 
 
 " That's so," assented Lisle. " I'm fixed much as 
 I was when we last spoke of it. When I was in 
 Canada, I tliought I'd only to find Gladwyne and 
 scare a confession out of him. Now I find that what 
 I've undertaken isn't by any means so simple." 
 
 " I warned you that it wouldn't be." 
 
 " You were right. There's his mother to consider 
 — it's a privilege to know her — she's devoted to the 
 fellow. Then there's Millicent ; in a way, she's almost 
 as devoted, anyhow she's a staunch friend of his. I 
 don't know how either of them would stand the reve- 
 lation." 
 
 " It would kill Mrs. Gladwyne," Nasmyth declared. 
 
 There was silence for a while, and then Lisle spoke 
 again. 
 
 " I'm badly worried ; any move of mine would lead 
 to endless trouble — and yet there's the black blot on 
 the memory of the man to whom I owe so much; I
 
 182 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 can't bring myself to let it remain. Besides all this, 
 there's another complication." 
 
 *' Young Crcstwick's somehow connected with it," 
 Nasmyth guessed. 
 
 Lisle did not deny it. 
 
 " That crack-brained lad seems to be the pivot on 
 which the whole thing turns. Curious, isn't it.'* I 
 wish the responsibility hadn't been laid on my shoul- 
 ders. Just now I can't tell what I ought to do — it's 
 harassing." 
 
 " Don't force things ; wait for developments," Nas- 
 myth advised him. " I'm not tr} ing to extract in- 
 formation; the only reason I mentioned the subject is 
 that a man in the home counties has asked me to come 
 up for a few weeks and bring you along. He's a 
 good sort, there's fair sport, and it's a nice place; 
 but I don't mind in the least whether I go or not." 
 
 " Then I'd rather stay. I've a feeling that I may 
 be wanted here." 
 
 " I'm quite satisfied, for a reason I'll explain. You 
 have ridden that young bay horse of mine. He comes 
 of good stock and he's showing signs of an excellent 
 pace over the hurdles. Now I couldn't expect to 
 enter him for any first-rate event — he's hardly fast 
 enough and it's too expensive in various ways — but 
 there's a little semi-private meeting to be held before 
 long at a place about thirty miles off. I might have 
 a chance there if we put him into training immedi- 
 ately. You know something about horses .f* " 
 
 " Not much," responded Lisle. " I've made one 
 long journey in the saddle in Alberta; but you've seen 
 our British Columbian trails. Our cayuses have gen- 
 erally to climb, and as a rule I've used horses only
 
 GLADWYNE SURRENDERS 183 
 
 for packing. Still, I'm fond of them; I'd be in- 
 terested in the thing." 
 
 Nasmyth nodded. 
 
 " One difficulty is that there's nothing in the neigh- 
 borhood that I could try him for pace against except 
 that horse of Gladwyne's." 
 
 " He'd no doubt let you have the beast." 
 
 " It's possible," Nasmyth agreed dryly. " But I've 
 objections to being indebted to him; and I don't want 
 Batley, Marple and Crestwick to take a hand in and 
 put their money on me. However, we'll think it over." 
 
 They retired to sleep soon afterward ; and the next 
 day Lisle walked across to call on Gladwyne, in a 
 quietly determined mood. Clarence was in his library, 
 and he looked up with some curiosity when Lisle was 
 shown in. Lisle came to the point at once. 
 
 " You've no doubt noticed that Jim Crestwick has 
 been going pretty hard of late," he said. " Bets, 
 speculation, and that sort of thing. He can't keep 
 it up on a minor's allowance. It will end in a bad 
 smash if he isn't checked." 
 
 Gladwyne's manner became supercilious. 
 
 " I fail to see how it concerns you, or, for that mat- 
 ter, either of us." 
 
 " We won't go into the question — it's beside the 
 point. What I want you to do is to pull him up." 
 
 He spoke as if he meant to be obeyed, and Glad- 
 wyne looked at him in incredulous astonishment. 
 
 " Do you suppose I'm able to restrain the lad.'' '* 
 
 " You ought to be," Lisle answered coolly. " It's 
 your friend Batley who's leading him on to ruin ; I'm 
 making no comments on your conduct in standing by 
 and watching, as if you approved of it 
 
 »>
 
 184. THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 The man grew hot with anger. 
 
 *' Thank you for your consideration." Kis tone 
 changed to a sneer. " I suppose you couldn't be ex- 
 pected to realize that the attitude you're adopting is 
 inexcusable .-^ " 
 
 " If you don't like it, I'll try another," Lisle re- 
 turned curtly. *' You'll give Batley his orders to 
 leave the lad alone right now." 
 
 Gladwyne rose with his utmost dignity, a fine gen- 
 tleman whose feelings had been outraged by the coarse 
 attack of a barbarian ; but Lisle waved his hand in 
 a contemptuous manner. 
 
 " Stop where you are ; that kind of thing is thrown 
 away on me. You're going to listen for a few 
 minutes and afterward j^ou're going to do what I 
 tell you. To begin with — why, after you'd opened 
 it, didn't you wipe out all trace of the cache on the 
 reach below the last portage your cousin made.? " 
 
 The shot obviously reached its mark, for Gladwyne 
 clutched the table hard, and then sank back limply 
 into his seat. He further betrayed himself by a swift, 
 instinctive glance toward the rows of books behind 
 him, and Lisle had no doubt that the missing pages 
 from George Gladwyne's diary were hidden among 
 them. He waited calmly, sure of his position, while 
 Gladwyne with difficulty pulled himself together. 
 
 " Have you any proof that I found the cache .'* " he 
 asked. 
 
 " I think so," Lisle informed him. " But we'll let 
 that slide. You'd better take the thing for granted. 
 I'm not here to answer questions. I've told you 
 plainly what I want." 
 
 There was silence for nearly a minute during which
 
 GLADWYNE SUllRENDERS 185 
 
 Gladwyne sat very still in nerveless dismay. All re- 
 sistance had melted out of him, his weakness was mani- 
 fest — he could not face a crisis, there was no courage 
 in him. 
 
 " The miserable young idiot ! " he broke out at 
 length in impotent rage. " This is not the first 
 trouble in which he has involved me ! " 
 
 " Just so," said Lisle. " Not long ago his sister 
 came here, begging you to save him, and you wouldn't. 
 It's not my part to point what she must think of you. 
 But I'm in a different position ; 3'ou won't refuse me." 
 
 Gladwyne leaned forward, gripping the arms of his 
 chair as if he needed support, and his face grew 
 haggard. 
 
 " The difficulty is that I'm helpless," he declared. 
 
 Lisle regarded him with contempt. 
 
 " Brace up," he advised him. " The fellow you're 
 afraid of is only flesh and blood ; he has his weak 
 point somewhere. Face him and find it, if you can't 
 talk him round. There's no other way open to you." 
 
 A brief silence followed ; and then Gladwyne broke 
 it. 
 
 " I'll try. But suppose I can induce him to leave 
 Crestwick alone.'' " 
 
 " So much the better for you," Lisle answered with 
 a dry smile. " I'm not here to make a bargain. I 
 don't want anything for myself." 
 
 He went out, consoling himself Avith the last reflec- 
 tion, for the part he had played had been singularly 
 disagreeable. Passing down the wide staircase and 
 through the great hall, he turned along the terrace 
 with a sense of wonder and disgust. It was a stately 
 house; the wide sweep of lawn where two gardeners 
 
 /
 
 186 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 were carefully sweeping up the leaves, the borders be- 
 yond it, blazing with dahlias and ranks of choice chrys- 
 anthemums, convej^ed the same suggestion of order, 
 wealth and refinement. One might, he thought, have 
 expected to find some qualities that matched with these 
 — dignity, power, a fine regard for honor — in the 
 owner of such a place, but he had not even common 
 courage. An imposing figure, to outward seeming, the 
 Canadian regarded him as one who owed everything to 
 a little surface polish and his London clothes. 
 
 Lisle paused to look back when he reached the end 
 of the terrace, from which a path that v.ould save him 
 a short walk led through a shrubbery. One wing of 
 the building was covered with Virginia creeper that 
 glowed with the gorgeous hues of a fading maple leaf, 
 the sunlight lay on the grass, and the feeling of tran- 
 quillity that hung about the place grew stronger. 
 He thought that he could understand how the desire 
 to possess it would stir an Englishman reared in such 
 surroundings, and yet he was now convinced that this 
 was not the impulse which had driven Gladwyne into 
 deserting his starving cousin. The man had merely 
 yielded to craven fear. 
 
 He heard footsteps, and looking around was a little 
 surprised to see Batley moving toward him. 
 
 " You have just called on Gladwyne," Batley began. 
 
 Lisle stopped. There was, so far as he knew, noth- 
 ing to be said in favor of the man, but his cool bold- 
 ness was tempered by a certain geniality and an 
 occasional candor that the Canadian could not help ap- 
 preciating. He preferred Batley to Gladwyne. 
 
 " That's so," he agreed. 
 
 " I'm inclined to think your visit concerned me.
 
 GLADWYNE SURRENDEKS 187 
 
 I've noticed your interest in young Crestwick — it's 
 obvious — I don't know whether one could say the 
 same of the cause of it ? " 
 
 " We won't discuss that. If you have anything 
 to say to me, you had better adopt a less offensive 
 style." 
 
 Batley smiled good-humorcdly. 
 
 " You're quick at resenting things. I don't see 
 why you should expect a longer patience from me." 
 
 " I don't expect anything from you," Lisle informed 
 him. " In proof of it, I'll mention that I called to 
 tell Gladwyne he must keep you off of Jim Crestwick." 
 
 He made a slip in the last few words, which the 
 other quickly noticed. 
 
 " Ordered him, in fact," he said. 
 
 Lisle made no answer and Batley resumed : 
 
 " You have some kind of a hold on Gladwyne ; so 
 have I. Of course, it's no news to you. I'm a little 
 curious to learn what yours consists of." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " It struck me that we might work together." 
 
 " I'm not going in for card-sharping or anything of 
 that kind ! " 
 
 The man seemed roused by this, but he mastered his 
 anger. 
 
 " Civility isn't expensive and sometimes it's wise," 
 he observed. " I won't return the compliment ; in fact, 
 I'll credit you with the most disinterested motives. All 
 I mean is that I might help you and you might help 
 me. I'm not quite what you seem to think I am, and if 
 I can get my money back out of Gladwyne I won't 
 harm him." 
 
 " I don't care in the least whether you harm him or
 
 188 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 not. But I'll try to arrange that you drop Crest- 
 wick." 
 
 Batley considered this for a moment or two. 
 
 " Well," he said, " I'm sorry we can't agree ; but as 
 regards Crestwick you can only head me off by forcing 
 Gladwjne to interfere. Between ourselves, do you 
 think he's a man who's likely to take a bold course? " 
 
 " I think so — in the present case." 
 
 " You mean if the pressure's sufficient. Now you 
 have given me a glimpse at your hand and I'll be can- 
 did. Gladwyne rather let me in, and there's a risk in 
 deahng with a lad who's to all intents and purposes a 
 minor ; I've gone about as far with him as I consider 
 judicious. Don't do anything that may damage Glad- 
 wyne financially without giving me warning, and in re- 
 turn I'll let Crestwick go. To some extent, I only 
 got hold of him as an offset to the trouble I've had 
 with Gladwj^ne. Is it a bargain? You can trust me." 
 
 " We'll let it go at that," repHed Lisle. " But I'll 
 keep my eye on you." 
 
 Batley's gesture implied that he would not object 
 to this, and he turned away, leaving the Canadian to 
 walk back to Nasmyth's thoughtfully. Lisle did not 
 think he had done Gladwyne much harm by his tacit ad- 
 missions, and he had some degree of confidence in Bat- 
 ley's assurance. 
 
 1
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 A BAD FALL 
 
 GLADWYNE spent the first few days that fol- 
 lowed Lisle's visit in a state of dread and in- 
 decision. He had allowed the Canadian to 
 understand that he would endeavor to prevent Crest- 
 wick's being further victimized, but he had already 
 failed to induce Batley to abandon the exploitation of 
 tlie lad and he had no cause for believing that a second 
 attempt would be more successful. Moreover, he 
 shrank from making it ; the man had shown him clearly 
 that he would brook no interference. 
 
 On the other hand, he was equally afraid of Lisle. 
 This cool, determined Canadian was not to be trifled 
 with, and he knew or suspected enough about the trag- 
 edy in British Columbia to make him dangerous. It 
 was certain that a revelation of Batley's speculation 
 would go a very long way toward establishing the 
 truth of any damaging story Lisle thought fit to tell. 
 Supposing the two by any chance combined their 
 knowledge — that he had raised money in anticipation 
 of his cousin's death, and afterward left him to perish 
 — nothing that he could say would count against the 
 inference. George had been a healthy man, not much 
 older than Clarence, when the money was borrowed, 
 and his decease within a limited time had appeared im- 
 
 189
 
 190 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 probable. Nobody would believe the actual truth that 
 Batley with characteristic boldness had, in return for 
 what he thought a sufficient consideration in the shape 
 of an exorbitant interest, taken a serious risk. The 
 thing would look like a conspiracy between the heir 
 presumptive and the speculator who lent the monc}-; 
 and in this, for a bold man, there might have been a 
 loophole for escape, but Gladwyne knew that he had 
 not the nerve to use the fact against his ally. 
 
 Nevertheless, Gladwyne was really guiltless in c;He 
 respect — he had not desired his cousin's death ; he 
 would have gone back to the rescue had he not dreaded 
 that he would share George's fate. Lack of courage 
 had been his bane, and it was so now, for instead of 
 speaking to Batley he temporized. The man had made 
 no further attempt upon Crestwick, and Gladwyne de- 
 cided that until he did so there was no need for him to 
 interfere. Still, as the next few weeks passed, he was 
 conscious of a growing dread of the Canadian which, 
 as sometimes happens, became tinged with hatred. 
 Lisle was the more serious menace, and it was ominous 
 that he now and then exchanged a word or two with 
 Batley. If the two formed an offensive alliance, he 
 would be helpless at their hands. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Nasmyth has been training his 
 horse for the approaching meeting and after trying 
 him against one belonging to a neighbor and not find- 
 ing it fast enough he had reluctantly fallen back on 
 a chestnut owned by Gladwyne. The animal pos- 
 sessed a fine speed and some jumping powers. Its 
 chief fault was a vicious temper; but Gladwyne was 
 seldom troubled by lack of nerve in the saddle. It 
 was in time of heavy moral strain that he failed, and
 
 A BAD FALL 191 
 
 he was glad to arrange with Nasmyth for a sharp 
 gallop. 
 
 Somewhat to the latter's regret, news of his inten- 
 tions had spread, and on the morning of the trial a 
 number of people, including the Marples and Crest- 
 wicks and Millicent, had gathered about the course. 
 It was a dark day, with a moist air and a low, gray sky. 
 The grass was wet, a strip of plowing which could not 
 be avoided was soft and heavy, and the ground in 
 front of several of the jumps was in a far from satis- 
 factory state. Nasmjth, who kept a very small estab- 
 lishment and had hitherto generally ridden the horse, 
 walked round part of the course with Lisle. 
 
 " It will be heav}' going and there's a nasty greasy 
 patch at the biggest fence," he said. " I'd have waited 
 for u better day only that it's often wet where they 
 have the meeting, and I want to see what he can do 
 over cjround like this. You'll have to watch him at 
 the jumps." 
 
 " He'd do better with you in the saddle," Lisle sug- 
 gested. 
 
 " I'd rather put you up. I'm not going to ride at 
 the meeting; I'm over the weight they ought to give 
 him and I want to get him used to a stranger's hands. 
 As it's an outside event of no importance, I haven't 
 fixed on my man yet." 
 
 They walked back toward the starting-point, where 
 Gladwyne was waiting, with Batley and Crestwick in 
 attendance. As they approached it, Millicent joined 
 them. 
 
 " Are you going to ride to-day ? " she asked Lisle. 
 
 " Nasmyth insists," was the answer. " I'm afraid 
 I won't do him much credit."
 
 192 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 Gladwjne looked up with a slight frown. 
 
 " You won't mind? " Nasmyth asked him. " I'd 
 penalize the horse by nearly a stone." 
 
 " No," replied Gladwyne, shortly ; " there's no rea- 
 son why I should object." 
 
 This was true, but he had an unreasoning aversion 
 to facing this opponent. Of late, the Canadian had 
 caused him trouble at almost every turn, and it looked 
 as if he could not even indulge in a morning's amuse- 
 ment without being plagued with him. He was con- 
 scious of a most uncharitable wish that Lisle would 
 come to grief at one of the fences and break his neck. 
 In many ways, this would be a vast relief. 
 
 *' Would anybody like to make it a sporting 
 match?" Crestwick asked. "The bay's my fancy; 
 I'm ready to back it." 
 
 Bella tried to catch his eye, but he disregarded this. 
 She, however, saw Lisle glance at Batley and noticed 
 the iatter's smile. 
 
 " It isn't worth while betting on trials," Batley de- 
 clared. " Better wait until the meeting." 
 
 The girl was less astonished than gratified. Glad- 
 wyne was surprised and disconcerted. He had said 
 nothing to Batley about Crestwick, but he had noticed 
 Lisle's warning glance, and the other's prompt acqui- 
 escence appeared significant. It looked as if the two 
 had joined hands, and that was what he most dreaded. 
 An almost overpowering rage against the Canadian 
 possessed him. When he attempted to mount, the 
 chestnut gave him trouble by backing and plunging; 
 but the bay was quiet and Nasmyth stood for a few 
 moments by Lisle's stirrup. 
 
 " Save him a bit for the second round," he advised.
 
 A BAD FALL 193 
 
 *' Another thing, look out when you come to the big- 
 brushed hurdles, particularly the second time." 
 
 Batley volunteered as starter, and when he got them 
 off' satisfactorily the spectators scattered, one or two to 
 watch the pace across the plowed land, the others mov- 
 ing toward the stifFest jumps — the course was roughly 
 circular. 
 
 The trial was a new experience to Lisle, and he 
 felt the exhilaration of it as, remembering his instruc- 
 tions, he strove to hold his mount. Gladwyne's horse 
 was a length ahead of him, the wind lashed his face, 
 and the thrill of the race grew keener when he swept 
 over the first fence, hard upon the flying chestnut's 
 heels. He dropped another length behind as they 
 crossed the next field and labored over the sticky plow- 
 ing; then there was a low fence and ditch, a narrow 
 meadow, and then the liurdles Nasmyth had mentioned, 
 filling a gap in a tall thorn hedge. They were wattled 
 with branches wliich projected a foot or so above them. 
 
 It did not look an easy jump and the grass was slip- 
 pery and soft, but the chestnut accomplished it clev- 
 erly and the bay flew at the hurdles with ever}' sign 
 of confidence. Then, though Lisle felt the hoofs slide 
 as the beast took off', they were over and flying faster 
 than ever across a long, wet field. As they approached 
 the end of the first round, the chestnut began to drop 
 back ; Lisle could let the baj' go and he determined to 
 bring him home the winner. It was his first fast ride 
 in England ; and he had, indeed, seldom urged a horse 
 to its utmost pace — the British Columbian trails, for 
 the most part, led steeply up or down rugged hillsides, 
 where speed was out of the question. It was very dif- 
 ferent on these level English meadows, though tlie
 
 194 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 ground was softer than usual and the fences were 
 troublesome. He rode with a zest and ardor he had 
 hardly expected to feel. 
 
 He led at the next fence and some of the onlookers 
 shouted encouragement when, drawing a little farther 
 ahead, he once more reached the sticky plowed land. 
 Here the bay slowed a little, toiling across the clods, 
 but a glance over his shoulder showed his opponent 
 still at least two lengths behind. Gladwyne, however, 
 now roused himself to ride in earnest. Hitherto he 
 had taken no great interest in the proceedings, but he 
 had just seen Bella wave her hand to Lisle and then 
 Millicent's applauding smile. He resented the fact 
 that both should be pleased to see him beaten by this 
 intrusive stranger. It reawakened his rancor, and the 
 strain of the last week or two had shaken him rather 
 badly. He was nervous, his self-control was weak ; but 
 he meant to pass his rival. 
 
 He was still behind at the next fence, but pressing 
 his horse savagely he crept up a little as they ap- 
 proached the one really difficult jump; and as they 
 sped across the narrow meadow Lisle fancied that the 
 bay was making its last effort. Crestwick was stand- 
 ing near the hurdles, with Nasmyth moving rapidly 
 toward them not far away and Bella running across a 
 neighboring field. Crestwick watched Gladwyne in- 
 tently. The man's face was strangely eager, consid- 
 ering that all he had been asked to do was to test the 
 bay's speed, and there was a hardness in his expression 
 that fixed Crestwick's attention ; he wondered the cause 
 of it. 
 
 Bella was close to him, when Lisle, riding hard, 
 rushed at the hurdles, and Jim found it hard to repress
 
 A BAD FALL 195 
 
 a shout as the bay's hoofs slipped and sHd on the 
 treacherous turf. The horse rose, however; there was 
 a heavy crash ; wattled branches and the top bar of the 
 hurdle smashed. Lisle lurched in his saddle ; and then 
 the bay came down in a heap, with the man beneath 
 him. 
 
 It was impossible to doubt that Gladwync had seen 
 the accident, but the chestnut rushed straight at the 
 shattered hurdle, teeth bare, nostrils dilated, head 
 stretched forward, and Crestwick thrilled with horror. 
 The fallen horse was struggling, rolling upon its rider, 
 just beyond the fence; but Gladwyne did nothing, ex- 
 cept sit ready for the leap. It was incomprehensible ; 
 so was the look in the man's face, which was grimly 
 set, as the big chestnut rose in a graceful bound. 
 
 Th.ere was a sickening thud on the other side, a 
 flounder of slipping hoofs, and the staccato pounding 
 of the gallop broke out again. The chestnut had come 
 down upon the fallen horse or helpless man, and was 
 going on, uncontrollable. Crestwick rushed madly at 
 the hedge, and scrambling through, badly scratched 
 and bareheaded, found Nasmyth trying to drag Lisle 
 clear of the bay. The Canadian's eyes were half open, 
 but there was no expression in them ; one arm and shoul- 
 der looked distorted, and his face was gray. Half-way 
 across the field Gladwync was strugghng savagely with 
 the plunging chestnut. 
 
 " Get hold ! " ordered Nasmyth hoarsely. " Some 
 bones broken, by the look of him; but he'll have his 
 brains knocked out in another moment." 
 
 Crestwick was cruelly kicked as the bay rolled in 
 agony, striking with its hoofs ; but he stuck to his 
 task, and with some difficulty they dragged Lisle out
 
 19G THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 of danger. When they had accomphshed it, Marple 
 came running up with two or three others and Nasmyth 
 called to him. 
 
 " Came in the car, didn't you? Go off for Irvine 
 as hard as you can drive. Drop somebody at my place 
 to run back with a gun." 
 
 Marple swung round and set off across the field, and 
 Crestwick understood why the gun was wanted when 
 he glanced at the fallen horse. Nasmyth informed 
 him that nothing could be done until the doctor came, 
 and he turned away toward where his sister was wait- 
 ina*. His forehead and hands were torn and he was 
 conscious of a bad ache in his back where a hoof had 
 struck, but these things scarcely troubled him. He 
 was overwhelmed, horror-stricken ; and the shock of 
 seeing Lisle crushed and senseless was not the only 
 cause of it. Bella, gasping after her run, with hair 
 shaken loose about her face, seemed to be suffering 
 from the same sensation that unnerved him. 
 
 " Is he dead.? " she asked falteringly. 
 
 " No. Badly hurt, I think." 
 
 " Ah ! " she exclaimed with intense relief. " I was 
 most horribly afraid." She paused before she re- 
 sumed : " You were close by the hurdles." 
 
 Jim knew she meant that he must have seen what 
 happened, but, shaking as he was, he looked hard at 
 her, wondering in a half -dazed fashion what reply he 
 should make. He thought her suspicions were aroused. 
 
 " You were some way back ; you couldn't have seen 
 anything plainly," he ventured. 
 
 " I was very near — looking back toward them — 
 when they crossed the field before the jump. You've 
 gone all to pieces. What did you see.? "
 
 A BAD FALL 197 
 
 " I can't talk about it now," Jim broke out. " He's 
 coming back." 
 
 Gladwyne had dismounted and was with some diffi- 
 culty leading the chestnut toward the hedge. His face 
 was white; he moved with a strong suggestion of re- 
 luctance ; and when he reached the spot where Lisle 
 lay he seemed to have trouble in speaking. 
 
 " Is it dangerous? " he asked. 
 
 " I can't tell," Nasmyth answered sternly. ** Shoul- 
 der's smashed; don't know if that's the worst. Why 
 didn't you pull up the brute or send him at the hedge 
 to the right.'' " 
 
 " He's hard in the mouth — you know his temper. 
 You couldn't have turned him." 
 
 " I'd have tried, if I'd had to bring him down and 
 break his neck ! " 
 
 Nasmyth checked himself, for this was not the time 
 for recriminations, and ]Millicent, who had been run- 
 ning hard, brushed past them. She did not stop until 
 she bent over Lisle. Then she turned to Nasmyth with 
 fear in her strained expression. 
 
 " I think he'll get over it/' Nasmyth told her. " I 
 won't take the responsibilit}- of having him moved un- 
 til the doctor arrives." 
 
 " Quite right," agreed Batlcy, walking up and cast- 
 ing a swift and searching glanco at Gladwyne. 
 
 " But you can't let him lie on the wet grass ! " Mil- 
 licent expostulated. 
 
 " I'm afraid we must ; it's safest," said Batley. 
 " The shock's not so much to be dreaded with a man 
 of his kind." 
 
 He and Nasmyth took charge of the situation, 
 sternly refusing to listen to all well-meant suggestions,
 
 198 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 until at last the doctor and Marple came hurrj^Ing 
 across the field. The former hastily examined the in- 
 jured man and then looked up at Nasmyth. 
 
 " Upper arm gone, close to the shoulder joint," he 
 announced. " Collar-bone too. I'll give him some 
 brandy. Shout to those fellows with the stretcher." 
 
 He was busy for some time, and in the meanwhile 
 Batley picked up the flask he had laid down and handed 
 it to Gladwyne. 
 
 " Take a good drink and pull yourself together," 
 he said quietly. 
 
 At length Lisle was gently lifted on to the stretcher, 
 and as they carried him away the report of a gun ran 
 out. The onlookers dispersed and Gladwyne was walk- 
 ing home alone when Millicent overtook him. She was 
 puzzled by his limp appearance and the expression of 
 his haggard face. It was only natural that he should 
 keenly feel his responsibility for the accident, but 
 tills did not quite seem to account for the man's 
 condition. He looked absolutely unnerved, like one 
 who had barely escaped from some appalling catas- 
 trophe. 
 
 " You shouldn't take it quite so much to heart," she 
 comforted him. " I don't think Irvine felt any great 
 uneasiness ; and nobody could blame you." 
 
 " You're the only one who has said so," he answered 
 moodily. 
 
 " They couldn't ; you stole away. Of course, it's a 
 great pity — I'm distressed — but you must try to be 
 sensible. These accidents happen." 
 
 He walked on a while in silence, and then with an 
 effort looked around at her. 
 
 *' Millicent," he said, " you're wonderfully generous
 
 A BAD FALL 199 
 
 — the sight of anybody in trouble stirs you — but I 
 don't feel able to bear your synipatliy." 
 
 " Then I'll have to offer it to Lisle," she smiled. 
 "But I'll walk with you to the lodge; and then you 
 had belter go in and keep quiet until you get back 
 your nerve." 
 
 When she left Gladwyne she went on to Nasmyth's, 
 where she waited until the doctor on leaving told her 
 that he was perfectly satisfied with the prospect for the 
 Canadian's recovery. It would, he said, be merely a 
 question of lying still for a considerable time. Milli- 
 cent was conscious of a relief which puzzled her by its 
 intensity as she heard the news, but she asked Nasmyth 
 to send somebody to inform Gladwyne. 
 
 " I think he's desperately anxious and feeling the 
 thing vcrj' badly," she concluded. 
 
 " Then he could have come over to inquire, as you 
 have done," Nasmyth answered. " In mj' opinion, he 
 deserves to be uncomfortable." 
 
 " Why are you so hard on him ? " 
 
 The man's face grew grim. 
 
 " I've had to help Irvine with Lisle, for one thing. 
 We were satisfied that his injuries were not caused by 
 the bay rolling on him ; he seems to have escaped from 
 that with a few bad bruises. The worst of the acci- 
 dent might have been avoided if Clarence had had 
 nerve enough." 
 
 " But 30U couldn't blame him very greatly for losing 
 his head — he had no warning, scarcely' a moment to 
 think. It was so sudden." 
 
 " The result's the same," retorted Nasmyth. " Lisle 
 has to pay. But to please you I'll send Clarence word 
 that Irvine's not anxious about him."
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 A PEUDEXT DECISION 
 
 IT had been dark some time and the night was raw, 
 but Jim Crestwick strolled up and down the drive 
 to Mai-ple's house, thinking unusually hard. In 
 the first place, part at least of the folly of his conduct 
 during the last year or two had been plainly brought 
 home to him, and the realization was bitter. It was 
 galling to discover that while he had regarded himself 
 as a man of the world he had been s3-stematically vic- 
 timized b}- the men who had encouraged him in the de- 
 lusion, Ke felt verv sore as he remembered how much 
 he owed Batlej-, but this troubled him less than the 
 downright abhorrence of Gladwyne which had suddenly 
 possessed him. He had looked up to the latter as a 
 model and had tried to copy his manners ; and it was 
 chiefly because Batley was a friend of Gladwyne's that 
 he had paid toll to him. For he had felt that whatever 
 the man he admired was willing to countenance must 
 be the correct thing. Now he saw Gladwyne as he 
 really was — a betrayer of those who trusted him, a 
 counterfeit of an honorable type, one who had by the 
 merest chance escaped from crime. 
 
 In the second place, he was concerned about Bella. 
 She had obviously been attracted by Gladwyne, and it 
 was his duty to warn her. Whether the warning was 
 altogether necessary he could not tell — he had watched 
 her face that morning — and Bella sometimes resented 
 
 200
 
 A PRUDENT DECISION 201 
 
 advice. When slic did so, she had an exasperating 
 trick of putting liim in the wrong; but he meant to 
 speak to her as plainly as appeared desirable. He 
 had another duty — to Lisle ; but he was inclined to 
 think that on the whole he had better not saddle him- 
 self with it. His self-confidence had been rudely 
 shaken and he recognized the possibility of his making 
 things worse. Moreover, he had cultivated the pi'ide 
 of caste, and having with some difficulty obtained an 
 entry to the circle in which Gladwyne moved, he felt it 
 incumbent on him to guard the honor of all who be- 
 longed to it. 
 
 Presently Bella came out, as he had anticipated, and 
 joined him. 
 
 " You have been very quiet since this morning," 
 she began. " I saw that you meant to slip away as 
 soon as you could." 
 
 " Yes," he admitted ; " I've had something to think 
 about — I've been a fool, Bella ; the commonest, most 
 easily gulled kind of imbecile ! " 
 
 He had expected her to remind liim that she had 
 more than once tried to convince him of this, but she 
 failed to do so. Instead, she answered with a touch of 
 the candor that sometimes characterized her. 
 
 " You're not the onl}^ one." 
 
 This was satisfactory, for it suggested that she had 
 been undeceived about Gladwyne ; but she had not fin- 
 ished. 
 
 " What did you see this morning.'' " she asked, and 
 he felt that she was speaking with keen anxiety. 
 
 " I'll tell you, but it must never go any farther. I 
 hate to think of it ! But first of all, what makes you 
 ask?"
 
 202 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 She had already mentioned that she had been near 
 when Gladwyne made his attempt to come up with Lisle, 
 but she had not explained that she had seen hatred 
 stamped in hideous plainness on his face. 
 
 " Never mind," she answered sharply. " Go on ! " 
 
 " Well," said Jim, " I was standing right against 
 the hedge, the only person on that side, and I don't 
 think Gladwyne saw me. Lisle's bay fouled the top 
 bar of the hurdle, but it hield long enough to bring him 
 down in a heap. Gladwyne was then a length or two 
 behind. He rode straight at the broken hurdle, hands 
 still — I can't get his look out of ni}' mind ! " 
 
 " But perhaps he couldn't pull up," Bella defended 
 him desperately, as if she would not believe the truth 
 she dreaded. 
 
 " There were other ways open. He could have gone 
 at the hedge a yard or two on one side ; he could have 
 spoiled the chestnut's take-off and made him jump 
 short. It might have brought him down — the hur- 
 dle was firm in the ground — but that would have been 
 better than riding over a fallen man ! " 
 
 " Are you sure he did nothing,? " 
 
 " I wish I were not ! The thing's horrible ! Glad- 
 wyne must have seen that he'd come down on Lisle or 
 the struggling bay — he could have prevented it — 
 he didn't try." 
 
 Bella shivered. Her brother was right: it was al- 
 most beyond contemplation. But that was only half 
 of the matter. 
 
 " He must have had a reason," she argued harshly. 
 
 " Yes ; one doesn't ride over a man In cold-blood for 
 nothing. I think he had some cause for being afraid 
 of Lisle; several things I remember now point to it.
 
 A PRUDENT DECISION 203 
 
 His chance came suddenly — nobody could have ar- 
 ranged it — he only remembered that Lisle with his 
 brains ci'ushed out could do him no harm." 
 
 The ijirl recognized that Jim had guessed correctly. 
 When she had gone to Lisle for help, he had allowed 
 her to understand that he could compel Gladwyne's 
 compliance with his request, which was significant. 
 Still, convinced as she was, she would not openly ac- 
 quiesce in her brother's theory. 
 
 " Jim," she protested, " if he'd ridden at the hedge 
 or made the chestnut jump short, he might have broken 
 his own neck. Pie must have realized it — it would 
 make him hesitate." 
 
 The lad laughed scornfully- 
 
 " It's quite possible, but is that any excuse.'' Would 
 Nasmyth or Lisle or Batley have shirked a risk that 
 would mean the saving of the other fellow .'' Suppos- 
 ing your idea's right — though it isn't — it only shows 
 the man as a disgusting coward." 
 
 There was no gainsaying this ; and Bella was crushed 
 and humiliated. She had already seen Gladwyne's 
 weakness, and after the choice she had been compelled 
 to make between him and her brother, she had tried to 
 drive all thought of him out of her mind. It had been 
 difficult ; he was fascinating in many ways and she had 
 set her heart upon his capture. Now she had done 
 with him ; after the morning's revelation she shrank 
 from him with positive horror. Jim seemed to guess 
 this. 
 
 " I'm sorry, Bella," he said gently. " But the fel- 
 low's impossible." 
 
 She laid her hand upon his ann. 
 
 " Jim," she replied, " we have both been mad, and
 
 204- THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 I suppose we must pay for it. I'll help you to get 
 clear of Batley when the time comes, but you must 
 never have a deal of any kind with him again." 
 
 " That's promised ; I've had my lesson. I think I'll 
 ask Lisle to take me with him when he goes back to 
 Canada. He and Nasmyth are the only men worth 
 speaking of I've met for a long while. When Lisle 
 first came here I tried to patronize him." 
 
 Bella laughed, rather feebly, but she wanted to re- 
 lieve the tension. 
 
 " It was like you. But we'll go in. This is our 
 secret, Jim. Nobody would believe you if you let fall 
 a hint as to what really happened, and there are many 
 reasons why you shouldn't. I think you said nobody 
 else could have suspected.'' " 
 
 " Nasmyth hadn't come up when the chestnut 
 reached the hurdles ; he was the nearest. Lisle was 
 down with the horse upon him. He couldn't have seen 
 an3'thing." 
 
 " Well," she decided, " perhaps that's fortunate. It 
 isn't likely that Gladwyne will get such an opportunity 
 again, and at the worst he acted on the spur of the 
 moment." 
 
 The lad nodded. He had felt that silence would 
 entail some responsibility, but Bella accepted it with- 
 out uneasiness. She seldom showed any hesitation 
 Avhen she had decided on a course. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Gladwyne had spent a miserable 
 day, alternating between horror of himself and doubts 
 about the future. Jim Crestwick's description of the 
 incident was correct — Gladwyne had ridden straight 
 at the broken hurdle, knowing what the consequences 
 might be and disregarding them. The next moment,
 
 A PRUDENT DECISION 205 
 
 however, the reaction had begun and he was thankful 
 that he had not connnitted a hideous crime. Indeed, 
 the knowledge that he had come so near to killing his 
 opponent had left him badly shaken. He wondered at 
 his insensate action until he recollected how he had once 
 stood beside an opened cache in Canada, and then, ig- 
 noring his manifest duty, had hurried on through the 
 frozen wilderness. On that occasion he had been ac- 
 countable for his cousin's death, and now Lisle had 
 very narrowly escaped. 
 
 Yet he could with justice acquit himself of any pre- 
 meditated intention in either case ; fate had thrust him 
 into a situation he was not strong enough to grapple 
 with. Dreading Lisle, as he did, his chief thought 
 had been for his own safety when he saw the bay blun- 
 der at the leap. To save the Canadian he must take 
 a serious personal risk, which Avas foreign to his nature, 
 and though a recognition of the fact that the death 
 of the fallen man would be a great relief to him had 
 been clearly in his mind, it was impossible to say how 
 far it had actuated him. 
 
 He had grown more collected when he sat in his 
 library as dusk was closing in, considering other as- 
 pects of the affair. He had not seen Crestwick, and 
 Lisle, he thought, would remember nothing except his 
 fall. After trying to recall tlie positions of the others, 
 he felt comforted; nobody could charge him with any- 
 thing worse than reckless riding or a failure of nerve 
 at a critical moment. He would confess to the latter 
 — it was to some extent the truth — and show concern 
 about Lisle's injury. Awkward as it was, the incident 
 could be smothered over ; it was consoling to remember 
 that the people he lived among were addicted to treat-
 
 206 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 ing anything of an unpleasant nature as liglitly as 
 possible. There was a good deal to be said for the 
 sensible English custom of ignoring what it would be 
 disconcerting to realize. 
 
 After a while his mother came in and gently touched 
 him. 
 
 " My dear," she urged, " you mustn't brood over it. 
 Lisle's condition's satisfactory. As it's some hours 
 since we got Nasmyth's message, I sent a man over and 
 he has just come back." 
 
 " I'm glad you sent," Gladwyne responded. " It 
 was thoughtful. I forgot ; but I've been badly trou- 
 bled." 
 
 She sat down near him, with her hand laid cares- 
 singly on his arm. 
 
 " It's natural ; I understand and feel for you. I 
 wouldn't have liked you to be indifferent ; but you 
 mustn't make too much of it. The man is strong, he 
 will soon be about again, and you couldn't have saved 
 him. Everj'body I've seen so far has given me that 
 impression. Of course, I didn't need their assurances, 
 but I was glad to see they exonerated and sympathized 
 with you." 
 
 Her confidence hurt him ; he had still a sense of 
 shame, and he found no great comfort in what she 
 told him. His mother was generally loved, and he 
 wondered how far his neighbors had been influenced by 
 a desire to save her pain. 
 
 " It looks as if Lisle deserves their commiseration 
 more than I do," he answered with a smile which cost 
 him an eff"ort. 
 
 " It is being shown. I noticed nearly everybody in 
 the neighborhood motoring or driving toward the house
 
 A PRUDENT DECISION 207 
 
 during the afternoon. Milllcent's with Nasmjth now, 
 lielping to arrange things. It's wonderful what a 
 favorite Lisle has become in so short a time ; but I own 
 that I find something very hkable about him." 
 
 Gladwyne moved impatiently. His hatred of the 
 man was as strong as ever, and his mother's attempts 
 at consolation irritated him. Lisle was too popular; 
 first Bella and now jMiUicent had taken him in 
 hand. 
 
 '* Millicent," IVIrs. Gladwyne went on, " is an excep- 
 tional woman in every desirable respect. I think you 
 have long been as convinced of that as I am." 
 
 " I'm afraid she can't have an equally favorable 
 opinion of me," he said with a short laugh. 
 
 " One does not look for perfection in a man," his 
 mother informed him seriously. " He is criticized 
 much less severely than a woman. It seems to be the 
 universal rule, though I have sometimes thought it 
 wasn't absolutely just and that it had its drawbacks. 
 It's one of the things the women who go out and speak 
 are declaiming against and something one of them 
 lately said sticks in my mind." She sighed as she 
 added : " The times are changing ; there was no need 
 to consider such questions in 3'our father's case. He 
 was the soul of honor — you were very young when 
 death parted us." 
 
 She did not always express herself clearly, but Glad- 
 wyne saw that she did not place him in the same cate- 
 gory as his father and he recognized her half-fornm- 
 lated thought that it would have been better had he 
 grown up under the latter's firmer guidance. 
 
 " Wonders never cease, mother," he responded with 
 an attempt at lightness. " It's difficult to imagine
 
 208 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 3'our being influenced by tlie latest propaganda. I 
 thought 3'ou shuddered at it." 
 
 " Well," she said, " I was forgetting what I meant 
 to talk about, drifting away from the subject; I'm 
 afraid it's a habit of mine. What I have long felt is 
 that it would be so desirable if you married suitably." 
 
 " The trouble is to define the suitability. It's a 
 point upon which everybody has a different opinion." 
 
 " I would choose a girl of good family and educa- 
 tion for you, one with a well-balanced will, who could 
 see what was right and cling to it. Still, she must be 
 wise and gentle ; a tactful, considerate guide ; and 
 though means are not of first importance, they are not 
 to be despised." 
 
 Gladwyne leaned back in his chair with a laugh that 
 had in it a tinse of irritation. 
 
 " Are such girls numerous ? But why do you insist 
 on a will and the power of guiding? It looks as if 
 you thouglit I needed it. Sometimes you're the reverse 
 of flattering." 
 
 Ilis mother looked troubled ; she would have wounded 
 no living creature unnecessarily. 
 
 " My dear, it's not always easy to express what one 
 feels, and I dare say I'm injudicious in choosing my 
 w^ords. But your welfare is verj^ near to my heart." 
 
 " I know that," he answered gently. " But you were 
 not describing an imaginary paragon. Hadn't you 
 Millicent in your mind.'^ " 
 
 " I should be very happy if I could welcome her as 
 my daughter. I should feel that you were safe then." 
 
 There was a thrill of regret in her voice that touched 
 him. It hinted that she blamed herself for omissions 
 and lack of wisdom in his upbringing. Besides, her
 
 A PRUDENT DECISION 209 
 
 confidence in any one who had won her respect, as MllII- 
 cent had done, was bestowed so generously. 
 
 " I'm afraid I've often given you trouble, and I do 
 you little credit now," he said. " But, as to the other 
 matter, one can't be sure that iNIillicent would welcome 
 the idea. Of late I've had a suspicion that she hasn't 
 a very high opinion of me," 
 
 " You could hardly expect to gain it by devoting 
 yourself to Miss Crestwick." 
 
 The man smiled rather grimly. 
 
 " If it's any consolation to you, I'm inclined to think 
 that jMiss Crestwick has let me drop. The truth's not 
 very flattering, but I can't hide it." 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne's relief was obvious, but she had 
 more to sa}- and she ventured upon it with some cour- 
 age. 
 
 " If you would only get rid of Batlcy too ! " 
 
 "I can hardly do that just now; he's useful in sev- 
 eral ways. Still, of course, if I married — " 
 
 He broke off abruptly, for his mother had occasional 
 flashes of discernment. 
 
 " Millicent has means," she said. 
 
 He started at this, wondering how much she had 
 guessed, but he veiled his embarrassment with a smile. 
 
 " Well," he acknowledged, " means, as you most 
 wisely remarked, are not to be despised, and mine are 
 unfortunately small." 
 
 She saw that she had said enough and she left him 
 sitting in the darkening room thinking rather hard. 
 Bella had thrown h.im over when he had refused to help 
 her brother, and there were many ways in which Milli- 
 cent appealed to him. Besides, she could free him of 
 his debt to Batley, which was a thing greatly- to be
 
 210 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 desired. She had shown ihat she did not blame him 
 severely for the accident at the hurdles, but he realized 
 that in trying to comfort him she had been prompted 
 by pity for his dejected mood, and it was clear that the 
 part he had pla^-ed was scarcely likely to raise him in 
 her esteem. This was unfortunate, but he would not 
 dwell on it ; there were other points to consider and 
 anything that served to divert his thoughts from the 
 unfortunate affair was a vast relief. 
 
 When at last he rose he had partly recovered his 
 usual equanimity and had decided that he would watch 
 for some sign of Millicent's feelings toward him. He 
 was aware that they had somewhat changed, but this 
 was to a large extent his fault, and with caution and 
 patience he thought it might be possible to reinstate 
 himself in her favor.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 GLADWYNE GAINS A POINT 
 
 SOME weeks had passed since the accident and 
 Lisle was lying one afternoon on a couch near 
 a window of Nasmyth's sitting-room. Two or 
 three Canadian newspapers lay on the floor and he 
 held a few letters in one hand. The prospect outside 
 was cheerless — a stretch of leaden-colored moor run- 
 ning back into a lowering sky, with a sweep of fir 
 wood that had lost all distinctive coloring in the fore- 
 ground. He was gazing at it moodily when Millicent 
 came in. His face brightened at the sight of her, and 
 he raised himself awkwardly with his uninjured ann, 
 but she shook her head at him in reproof. 
 
 " You had orders to keep as quiet as possible for 
 some time yet. Lie down again ! " 
 
 " Keeping quiet is fast breaking me up," he pro- 
 tested. " I'm quite able to move about." 
 
 " All the same, you're not to try." 
 
 He looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes. 
 
 " Then I suppose I'll have to give in. You're a 
 determined person. People do what you ask them 
 without resenting it. You have an instance here, 
 though in a general way it's a very undignified thing to 
 be ordered about." 
 
 He resumed his former position and she seated her- 
 self. 
 
 211
 
 212 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 »j 
 
 " I don't see why you should drag my character in, 
 she objected with a smile. " Other people who occa- 
 sionally obey me don't say such things." 
 
 " They're English ; that accounts for a good deal. 
 I'm inclined to think my power of expressing my feel- 
 ings on any point is a gift, though it's one that's not 
 uncommon in the West." 
 
 " Doesn't it presuppose an assurance that any one 
 you address must be interested in 3^our views ? " 
 
 " I deserv^e that," he laughed ; " but you're not quite 
 right. We say, in effect, ' These are my sentiments, 
 but I won't be down-hearted if you haven't the sense to 
 agree with them.' The last, however, doesn't apply to 
 you." 
 
 " Thank you for the explanation," she rejoined. 
 "But why do you insist on a national difference.'' 
 You're really English, aren't you, in Canada? '* 
 
 " No," he answered ; " you and the others who talk 
 in that strain are mistaken. We're a brand new nation 
 still fusing and fuming in the melting-pot. The ele- 
 ments are inharmonious in some respects — French 
 from the Laurentian littoral, Ontario Scots, Americans, 
 Scandinavians, Teutons, Magyars, Slavs. The Eng- 
 lish element's barely strong enough to temper the mix- 
 ture ; the land's too wide and the people too varied for 
 British traditions to bind. When the cooling amal- 
 gam's run out it will be into a fresh mold." 
 
 " One made in Pennsylvania, or wherever the Ameri- 
 can foundries are.^" 
 
 " They run the one you have in mind at Washing- 
 ton. You understand things a good deal better than 
 many people I've talked to here ; but you're not right 
 yet. If Canadians deliberately chose the American
 
 GLADWYNE GAINS A POINT 213 
 
 mold because it was American, a number of us would 
 kick ; but the cause is a bigger one than that. From 
 Texas to Athabasca, from Florida to Labrador, pretty 
 much the same elemental forces are fanning the melt- 
 ing fires. We have the same human raw material ; 
 we've much the same problems to tackle ; the conditions 
 are, or soon will be, pretty similar. It's only natural 
 that the result should be more or less identical. I've 
 said nothing 3-et about our commercial and social re- 
 lations with our neighbors," 
 
 " But doesn't England count.'' " 
 
 " Morally, yes. It's your part to keep our respect 
 and show us a clean lead." 
 
 "After all," she rejoined, " 3'ou, in particular, are 
 essentially English by connection with the part of the 
 country you're now staying in." 
 
 He smiled curiously. 
 
 " So you or Nasmyth have been tracing up the 
 family ! " 
 
 " No," she replied with a little sharpness. " Why 
 should I have done so ? Of course, we knew the name ; 
 and you have relations living at no great distance. I 
 understand Nasmyth got a hint that they would be 
 glad to receive you." 
 
 " Let it go at that," he answered. " ]\Iy father was 
 cast out because he dared to think for himself and my 
 mother was Canadian born. I'm a unit in the new na- 
 tion ; one of the rank and file." 
 
 She considered this for a moment or two. It was 
 hardly an English point of view, but — for his family 
 had long been one of station — there was a hint of 
 pride that struck her as rather fine about this renuncia- 
 tion. It was a risky thing to insist on being taken at
 
 214 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 one's intrinsic value, stripped of all accidental associa- 
 tions that miglit enhance it, but she thought he need 
 not shrink from the hazard. Now and then he spoke 
 with slightly injudicious candor, and sometimes too 
 vehemently, but in essential matters he displayed an 
 admirable delicacy of feeling and she recognized in 
 him a sterling sense of honor. 
 
 " I've broken loose again and you're feeling 
 shocked," he said humorously. " It's your own fault ; 
 you have a way of making one talk. There's no use 
 in discoursing to people who don't understand. How- 
 ever — and it's much more important — how's the book 
 getting on? " 
 
 " More important than my wounded susceptibili- 
 ties ? " Millicent laughed. " But we won't mind them. 
 I'm pleased to say I've heard from the publishers that 
 it's in strong request. Indeed, they add, rather super- 
 fluously, that the demand is somewhat remarkable, con- 
 sidering the nature of the work." 
 
 Lisle laughed at this. 
 
 " Any more reviews? " 
 
 She handed him several and he noticed the guarded, 
 un enthusiastic tone of the first two. 
 
 " These are the people who prefer a thing like a 
 catalogue. This fellow says the first portion of the 
 book shows most care in particulars and classification 
 — it's what one would expect from him. That was 
 your brother's work, I think. He was not an imag- 
 inative person." 
 
 " No," replied INIillicent. *' He was eminently prac- 
 tical and methodical." 
 
 " There's a great deal to be said in favor of that 
 kind of man. You can trust him when it's a case of
 
 GLADWYNE GAINS A POINT 215 
 
 grappling with practical difficulties. But I feel quite 
 angry with the next reviewer. ' The illustrations are 
 rather impressionist drawings than a useful guide to 
 identification.' The fellow would no douht rather have 
 those stiff, colored plates which are about as like the 
 real, breathing creature as a stuffed specimen in a 
 museum." 
 
 Millicent was pleased with his indignation, but his 
 disgusted expression changed as he read the next cut- 
 ting. 
 
 " Now," he exclaimed, " we're arriving at the sound 
 sense of ordinary people, lovers of nature who're not 
 naturalists. This man's enthusiastic ; the next re- 
 view's even better ! " He took up the others and there 
 was keen satisfaction in his eyes when he laid thera 
 down. "Great!" he ejaculated. "I expected it. 
 You've made your mark ! " 
 
 The girl thrilled with pleasure ; his delight at her 
 success was so genuine. 
 
 " Well," she told him, " the publishers suggest that 
 I undertake another and more ambitious work. I've 
 often thought that I should like to do so. The lonely 
 country between the Rockies and the Pacific has a pe- 
 culiar interest to me and I've long had a desire to fol- 
 low my brother's trail. I don't think it's a morbid 
 wish — somehow I feel impelled to go." 
 
 " It's a beautiful, wild land, and the creatures that 
 inhabit it are among the finest in the world. You 
 promised to let me be your guide, and you should take 
 Nasmyth, too; he's a man to be depended on. You 
 could start in the early summer next year." 
 
 She smiled at his eagerness; but he suddenly grew 
 thoughtful.
 
 216 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " It's curious how events seem to have started beside 
 those lonely river-reaches among the rocks," he re- 
 marked. " It was there that I got to know Nasmyth, 
 and through him I met you. It was there that I 
 learned something about your brother and Clarence 
 Gladwyne. The drama began in those wilds and I've 
 a feeling that it will end among them." 
 
 " The drama.'' " she queried, and he was conscious 
 that he had made a slip. 
 
 " Well," he answered, " before we crossed the big 
 divide I wasn't aware of your existence, and I'd 
 only a hazy idea that I might come to England 
 some day. Now, if I ma}' say it, I've joined your 
 group of friends and entered into their lives. One 
 feels it can't have sprung from nothing ; it isn't blind 
 chance." 
 
 She mused for a few moments. 
 
 *' It's strange," she asserted, " but I've had some- 
 thing of the same feeling. You seem to have become 
 a part of things, a connecting link between us all — 
 Mrs. Gladwyne, Clarence, Nasmyth, and even young 
 Crestwick. One could almost fancy that some mys- 
 terious agency were working upon us through you." 
 
 He did not wish her to pursue this train of thought 
 too far. 
 
 " I've promised to take Jim Crestwick back with 
 me," he said. " I'm going as soon as I'm fit to get 
 about." 
 
 " Going back, in a few weeks ? " 
 
 " Yes. In many ways, I'm sorry ; but I've had some 
 letters that show it's needful. Business calls." 
 
 She made no reply for some moments. There was 
 no doubt that she would miss him badly, and she re-
 
 GLADWYxNE GAINS A POINT 217 
 
 called the strange and tense anxiety of which she had 
 been conscious when he had fallen at the hurdles. 
 
 " We have come to look upon you as one of us," she 
 told liim simply. " Somehow we never contemplated 
 your going away, and now it seems an almost unnat- 
 ural thing." 
 
 " It would be, if I broke off the connection with my 
 English friends, but I think that can't be done. We're 
 to see more of each other; I'm to be your guide when 
 you come out next year." 
 
 " It's very likely that I shall come." 
 
 She left him shortly after this and walked home in 
 a thoughtful mood, regretting his approaching de- 
 parture and pondering over what he had said. With 
 reflection it became clearer that she had entertained 
 the same idea as his. He and she and the others he 
 mentioned were not acting and reacting upon one an- 
 other casually ; it was all a part of a purpose, leading 
 up to something that still lay unrevealed on the knees 
 of destiny. Perhaps he had been right in speaking 
 of a drama ; it suggested a sequence of prearranged 
 events, springing from George's death. Reaching 
 home, she endeavored to banish these thoughts, which 
 were vaguely troublesome, but INIiss Hume found her 
 preoccupied and absent-minded during the evening. 
 
 The following day she went over to see Mrs. Glad- 
 yryne and was asked to wait until her return. Shortly 
 afterward, Clarence entered the room where she was sit- 
 ting, and she alluded to her visit to Lisle. 
 
 " He is going back as soon as he can stand the 
 journey," she said. 
 
 Gladwyne made an abrupt movement and she noticed 
 with surprise and some indignation the relief in his
 
 ^18 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 « 
 
 expression. Though the men had not been on very 
 cordial terms, it puzzled her. 
 
 " You don't attempt to conceal your satisfaction," 
 she commented. " Isn't it a little ungenerous? " 
 
 His effort to recover his composure was obvious, but 
 he answered her quietly. 
 
 " I'm afraid it is. After the accident — I think I 
 was partly blamed for that — he behaved very well ; 
 told everybody about the slippery ground and said 
 what he could to exonerate me." 
 
 " I didn't mean to refer to that matter," explained 
 Millicent. She knew that it was a painful one to 
 him. 
 
 " Still," he resumed, " even if it's ungrateful, I am 
 rather glad he's going." 
 
 " ' Rather glad ' hardly seems to describe it ; you 
 looked overjoyed." 
 
 " Don't be severe, Millicent. Let me explain. Since 
 Lisle came over, nothing has been quite the same. He 
 got hold of you and Nasmyth and the others, and in a 
 way alienated you from me. I don't mean he did it 
 with deliberate intention, but he took up your time 
 and monopolized your interest. I've seen much less 
 of both of you." 
 
 " And, of late, of the Crestwicks." 
 
 " Oh," he returned in his most casual manner, " I 
 shouldn't have had much more of their company in 
 any case. Jim's going to Canada and Bella to Sus- 
 sex. I understand from Marple that it will be some 
 time before she visits us again." 
 
 Millicent was glad to hear it, but she made no com- 
 ment. 
 
 " It's unreasonable to blame Lisle," Gladwyne went
 
 GLADWYNE GAINS A POINT 219 
 
 on ; " though he did make some unpleasantness with 
 Batlcy ; but I have had so many annoyances and trou- 
 bles since he arrived. Everything has been going 
 wrong and I can't disassociate him from the unfortu- 
 nate tendency." 
 
 He sat where the light fell upon his face, and ]\Iilli- 
 cent, studying it, was stirred to compassion, which was 
 always ready with her. He looked harassed and nerv- 
 ous, as if he had borne a heavy strain, and she knew 
 that the accident had preyed upon his mind. That, 
 she thought, was to his credit. In addition to this, 
 she had suspected that he was threatened with financial 
 difficulties. The man had a dangerous gift of rous- 
 ing women's interest and sympathy. 
 
 " I'm sori'y," she said with sincere feeling. " You 
 should go away for a time. You need a change." 
 
 " I've thought of it ; but I'm afraid I've been neg- 
 lecting things lately and there's a good deal that needs 
 straightening up — farm buildings to be looked to, 
 the stream to dyke in the low ground, and that drain- 
 ing scheme." 
 
 It was not all acting; he had meant to give those 
 matters some attention when he found it convenient, 
 and she Avas far from suspicious and was quick to take 
 the most favorable view of any one. That he recog- 
 nized his duties and intended to discharge them grati- 
 fied her. 
 
 " I think," she told him, " that if you undertake 
 these things in earnest, you'll be better for the occupa- 
 tion ; and they certainly need looking after." 
 
 " I've been slack," he owned. " I seemed to lose in- 
 terest and, as I said, I've had difficulties to distract 
 me."
 
 220 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 He had struck the right note again. Anything of 
 the nature of a confession or appeal for sympathy sel- 
 dom failed to stir her. 
 
 " In fact," he resumed, " I'm not clear of troubles 
 now. If I do half that I'm asked to do, it will nearly 
 ruin me, and I don't know where to begin. I haven't 
 any great confidence in Grierson's advice ; he doesn't 
 seem to grip things readily." 
 
 " The trouble is that he has his favorites," she said 
 bluntly. " I don't think he suffers from any lack of 
 understanding." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 It was unpleasant, but she had courage and the 
 man was doing Clarence harm. 
 
 " Well, there are people who can get very much 
 what they ask Grierson for, in the shape of repairs and 
 improvements, whether they need it or not." 
 
 " At my expense, while the rest get less than they 
 should have.'' " 
 
 " A number of your tenants have got practically 
 nothing for some years. It's false economy ; you'll 
 have to lay out twice as much as would keep them 
 here satisfied, when they leave you in disgust." 
 
 She supplied him with several instances of neglect, 
 and a few clever suggestions, and he looked at her 
 in admiration which was only partly assumed. 
 
 " What an administrator you would have made ! " he 
 exclaimed. " The place would thrive in your hands 
 and everybody be content. It's obvious, quite apart 
 from his good qualities, why George was so popular." 
 
 Millicent did not suspect him of an intent to flatter 
 her, and she recognized that there was truth in what 
 he said. She knew everybody on the estate and knew
 
 GLADWYNE GAINS A POINT 221 
 
 their most pressing needs, and she undoubtedly pos- 
 sessed the power of management. She had a keen dis- 
 cernment and could arrive at a quick and just de- 
 cision. 
 
 " Clarence," she said, " I shouldn't advise you to 
 take the business altogether out of Grierson's hands. 
 He's honest, so far as you are concerned, and one or 
 two of the hardest things he did were by your orders." 
 
 " You mean the Milbuni and Grainger affair? " 
 He showed a little embarrassment. " Well, perhaps I 
 was hast}^ then, but they would have exasperated a 
 much more patient man. I sometimes feel that I can't 
 please these people, whatever I do." 
 
 She smiled at this. 
 
 " They're not effusive, but they're loyal once you 
 win their confidence. But, to go back to Grierson — 
 let him collect payments and handle the money, but 
 don't ask his advice as to how you will lay it out. 
 Look around, inquire into things, and trust 3'our o\vn 
 judgment." 
 
 He turned to her beseechingly. 
 
 " I can't trust it in these matters — it hasn't been 
 cultivated. If I'm to keep out of further trouble and 
 do any good, you must help me." 
 
 Millicent hesitated. It was not a little thing he 
 asked. To guide him aright would need thought and 
 patient investigation. Still, there was, as she had said, 
 so much to be done — abuses to be abolished, houses 
 to be made habitable, burdens to be lifted from shoul- 
 ders unable to carry them. There was also land the 
 yield from which could be increased by a verj' mod- 
 erate expenditure. She would enjoy the power to do 
 these things which the man's demand for help offered
 
 222 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 her, but she was more stirred bj' his desire to redeem 
 past neglect and set right his failures. 
 
 " Well," she promised, " you shall have my candid 
 advice whenever you need it." 
 
 He showed his gratitude, but he was conscious of a 
 satisfaction that had no connection with the welfare of 
 his estate. He would have a legitimate excuse for see- 
 ing her often; the work jointly undertaken would lead 
 to a closer confidence. He had always cherished a cer- 
 tain tenderness for her; he must marry somebody with 
 money before long ; and though Millicent's means were 
 not so large as Bella's, they were not contemptible. 
 He had not the honesty to let these thoughts obtrude 
 themselves, but they nevertheless hovered at the back 
 of his mind. It was more graceful to reflect that Milli- 
 cent possessed refinement, a degree of beauty, and 
 many most desirable qualities.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 MES. GLADWYNe's TEMPTATION 
 
 CLARENCE had gone away with Batley when 
 Lisle called on Mrs. Gladwyne. She was leav- 
 ing home for a visit on the following day and 
 he wished to say good-by, and, if an opportunity of- 
 fered, to ask her opinion upon a matter he had at 
 heart. She was not a clever woman, but there were 
 points on which he thought her judgment could be 
 trusted. He was told that she would bo occupied for 
 a few minutes and was shown into her drawing-room. 
 He sat down to wait and, though he was familiar with 
 the house, he looked about him with an interest for 
 which there was a reason. The room had always im- 
 pressed hira by its size and loftiness, and it did so 
 more than ever that afternoon. 
 
 The floor was of hardwood, polished to a glossy lus- 
 ter by the hands of several generations, and the rugs 
 scattered here and there emphasized its extent. ]\Iost 
 of the furniture was old, and the few articles ap- 
 parently bought in later times harmonized with it. 
 The faded ceiling had been painted with Cupid's trail- 
 ing ribands, he judged by some artist of the period 
 shortly preceding the French Revolution, and two or 
 three Arcadian figures hinted at the same date. There 
 were other things — a luster chandelier, quaintly- 
 wrought hearth-irons, a carved wood mantel — that 
 pointed to bygone days. 
 
 223
 
 224 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 It all impressed him with a sense of the continuity 
 of English traditions and mode of life, as applied to 
 such families as the Gladwynes. Cradled in a degree 
 of luxury which nevertheless differed from modern pro- 
 fusion and ostentation, steeped in a slightly austere 
 refinement, he could understand their shrinking from 
 sudden chance and clinging to the customs of the past. 
 They were all, so far as he had seen, characterized by 
 the possession of high qualities, with the exception of 
 Clarence, whom he regarded as a reversion to a baser 
 type ; but he thought that they would suffer if up- 
 rooted and transplanted in a less sheltered and less 
 cultivated soil. Inherited instincts were difficult to sub- 
 due; he was conscious of their influence. He came 
 from a new land where he had often toiled for a dollar 
 or two daily, but a love and veneration for the an- 
 cient English homes in which his people had lived was 
 growing strong in him. 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne did not appear, but he had a good 
 deal to think of and was content to wait. He had 
 grown fond of the stately lady and it was, indeed, 
 largely for her sake that he had decided not to reveal 
 for a while what he knew about the tragedy in British 
 Columbia. He could not absolutely prove his version 
 of the affair, and it would bring distress upon the 
 mother of the offender; he had already waited two 
 3^ears and, though he felt that his dead comrade had 
 a strong claim on him, he could wait a little longer. 
 Fate might place conclusive evidence in his hands or 
 remove some of his difficulties. Besides, he must go 
 back as soon as possible to the Canadian North, and in 
 one respect he was very loath to do this. 
 
 At last he heard a footstep and his hostess came in.
 
 MRS. GLADWYNE'S TEMPTATION S25 
 
 Her dress was not of the latest fashion, but it some- 
 how struck him as out of phicc ; she ought to have 
 been attired in the mode of a century ago, with powder 
 in her hair. Nevertheless, fragile as she was, with her 
 fine carriage and her gracious smile, she made an at- 
 tractive picture in the ancient room. 
 
 " I've come on an unpleasant errand — to say good- 
 by — and to thank you for many favors shown to a 
 stranger," he said. 
 
 " I think you were never that from the beginning," 
 she told him. " By and by we learned the reason — 
 you realU' belong to us." 
 
 He made a gesture of humorous expostulation. 
 
 " I like to believe that I belong here, but not be- 
 cause of the explanation you give. It doesn't seem 
 to be much to my credit that my forefathers lived in 
 this part of the country ; I'd rather be taken on my ac- 
 tual merits, if that isn't too egotistical." 
 
 " They did live here," she rejoined. " You can't 
 get over that — it has its influence." 
 
 It was the point of view he had expected her to 
 take. 
 
 " We are very sorry you are going," slie continued ; 
 " somehow we hardly anticipated it. Have you ever 
 thought of coming back for good? " 
 
 She was unconsciously giving him the lead he de- 
 sired, but he would not seize it precipitately ; he was 
 half afraid. 
 
 " No," he answered, smiling ; " my work's out 3-on- 
 der. I couldn't sit idle. I think Miss Gladwyne hit 
 it when she told me that I was one of the pioneers." 
 
 His hostess showed more comprehension than he had 
 looked for.
 
 226 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Yes ; I set you down as one of the men who prefer 
 heat and cold, want of food, and toil, to the comforts 
 they could have at home. I have met a few, sons of 
 my old friends, and heard of others. After all, we 
 have a good many of them in England." 
 
 " Troublesome people, aren't they ? What do you 
 do with them ? " 
 
 " Let them go. How do we rule India and hold so 
 much of Africa.'' How did we open up Canada for 
 you.'' " 
 
 He nodded. 
 
 " That's right. It doesn't matter that in respect 
 to Canada the sons of Highland peasants did their 
 share ; the Hudson Bay people and the Laurentian 
 Frenchmen showed us the way. We found out what 
 kind of men they were when we went in after them." 
 
 There was silence for a few moments and he glanced 
 at her with admiration. The honorable pride of caste 
 she had shown strongly appealed to him. She stood 
 for all that was fine in the old regime, and once more 
 he wondered how such a woman could have borne such 
 a son. 
 
 " I'm returning because business calls," he ex- 
 plained. " My means won't keep me in idleness, and 
 that fact has a bearing on the question as to whether 
 I'll ever come back again. It's a very momentous one 
 to me." 
 
 She waited, noticing with some surprise the sudden 
 tenseness of his expression, until he spoke again, hesi- 
 tatingly. 
 
 " You are the only person I can come to for ad- 
 vice. I'd be grateful for your opinion." 
 
 " I'll try to give it carefully," she promised.
 
 MRS. GLADWYNE'S TEMPTATION 227 
 
 " Well," he said, " the life you people lead here has 
 its attractions ; they must be strong to you. It would 
 be hard to break with all its associations, to face one 
 that was new and different ; I mean for a woman to 
 do so?" 
 
 " Ah ! " she exclaimed, seeing the drift of his re- 
 marks at last. " You had better tell me whom you are 
 thinking of." 
 " Milliccnt." 
 
 She started. This was a painful surprise, though 
 she now wondered why she had never suspected it. He 
 had met the girl frequently before his accident, and 
 she had since gone over to Nasmyth's to talk with him 
 now and then ; yet, for some not very obvious reason, 
 nobody seemed to have contemplated the possibility of 
 his falling in love with her. Mrs. Gladwyne had un- 
 doubtedly not done so, and she was filled with alann. 
 It was most desirable that ]Millicent should marry 
 Clarence. 
 
 " How long have you had this in your mind.'* " she 
 asked. 
 
 " That is more than I can tell you," he answered 
 thoughtfully. " I admired her greatly the first time I 
 saw her; I admired her more when we made friends, 
 but I don't think I went much farther for a while. In 
 fact, I believe it was only when I knew I must go back 
 soon that I realized how strong a hold she had on me, 
 and then I fought against yielding. The difficulties 
 to be got over looked so serious." 
 
 " Has IMilhcent any suspicion of your regard for 
 her? " It was an important question and IMrs. Glad- 
 wyne waited in suspense for his repl3^ 
 
 " Not the slightest, so far as I can tell. I tried
 
 g28 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 to hide my feelings until I could come to a decision as 
 to what I ought to do." 
 
 This was satisfactory, provided that his supposition 
 was correct, and his companion could imagine his exer- 
 cising a good deal of self-repression. 
 " What is your fear ? " she asked. 
 " Well, I'm rough and unpolished compared with 
 Nasmyth and the rest, but with her large mind she 
 might overlook that. I couldn't live here as Nasmyth 
 and Clarence do; I'm not rich enough. My wife, if 
 I marry, must come out West with me, and I might 
 have to be away from her for months now and then. 
 I don't know that I could even establish myself in Vic- 
 toria, where she would find something resembling your 
 Eno^lish society. Besides, mv small share of prosper- 
 ity might come to an end ; I'm going back now, sooner 
 than I expected, because there are business difficulties 
 to be grappled Avith." 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne nodded. She could follow his 
 thought, but after a pause he continued. 
 
 " What troubles me most is that Millicent seems so 
 much in harmony with her surroundings. We have 
 notliing like them in Canada — anyway, not in the 
 West. Whether ours are better or worse doesn't af- 
 fect the case ; they're widely different. There is much 
 she would have to give up; what I could offer her in 
 place of it would be new and strange, less finished, 
 less refined. Could a woman of your station stand it? 
 Would she suffer from being torn adrift from the asso- 
 ciations that surround her here.? " 
 
 His companion considered. Allowing for his gener- 
 osity in thinking first of Millicent, he was a little too 
 practical and dispassionate. She did not think he was
 
 MRS. GLADWYNE'S TEMPTATION 229 
 
 very greatly in love with the girl as yet, and that 
 was consoling. What ^Millicent thought she did not 
 know, but in many respects the man was eminently 
 likable. Mrs. Gladwyne had grown fond of him ; but 
 that must not be allowed to stand in her son's way. 
 Clarence came before an3'body else. 
 
 " I feel my responsibility," she said slowly. 
 " Would you act on my advice.'' " 
 
 " I think so — it might be hard. Anyway, I'd try." 
 
 She hesitated. The man had won her respect. Had 
 she been wholly free from extraneous influences she 
 might, perhaps, have counseled liim to make the ven- 
 ture, but half-consciously she tried to see only the 
 shadows in the picture he had drawn. 
 
 " Well," she answered him, " until two years ago 
 Millicent lived in this house — that must have had its 
 effect on her." 
 
 " Yes," he agreed ; " she shows it. These old 
 places set their stamp on people — it's very plain 
 on you." 
 
 Mrs. Gladwyne saw that he understood, but she felt 
 half guilty as she proceeded: 
 
 " You admit that 3'ou could not give her anything of 
 this kind in Canada? " 
 
 He laughed rather grimly. 
 
 " No ; our homes were built yesterday, and we move 
 on rapidly — they'll be pulled down again to-mor- 
 row. I'll own that our ideas and nip.nners are in the 
 same unfinished, transitory stage. We haven't been 
 able to sit down and learn how to be graceful." 
 
 She made a sign of comprehension, though her re- 
 luctance to proceed grew stronger. He was very hon- 
 est and there was pain in his face.
 
 230 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Millicent," she said, " is essentially one of us, used 
 to what v>e consider needful, bred to our ways. The 
 endless small amenities which make life smooth here 
 have always surrounded her. Can you imagine her, 
 for instance, living with the Marples? " 
 
 " No," he replied harshly ; " I can't." 
 
 " Then do you think it would be wise to take her 
 to Canada? " 
 
 " I have thought she would not mind giving up 
 many things she values, if one could win her affec- 
 tion." 
 
 " That is very true ; but it doesn't get over the diffi- 
 culty. It isn't so very hard to nerve oneself to make 
 a sacrifice, it's the facing of the inevitable results when 
 the reaction sets in that tells. She would continually 
 miss something she had been used to and she would 
 long for it." 
 
 He sat silent for nearly a minute, with his face set 
 hard, and then he looked up. 
 
 " If Millicent were your daughter, would you let 
 her go.^ " 
 
 Again ]Mrs. Gladwyne hesitated. His confidence 
 hurt her ; she shrank from delivering what she thought 
 would be the final blow, but she strove to assure her- 
 self that she was acting in Millicent's best interest. 
 
 " No," she answered, " not unless she was passion- 
 ately attached to the man who wished to take her 
 out, and then I should do my utmost to dissuade 
 her." 
 
 He made no answer for a few moments. Then 
 slowly he rose. 
 
 " Thank you," he said gravely. " I'm afraid 
 you're right. It's generally hard to do what one
 
 MRS. GLADWYNE'S TEMPTATION 231 
 
 ought. Well," — he took the hand she held out — 
 " I'm grateful to you in many ways and I'd like you to 
 remember me now and then." 
 
 She let him go, and crossing the room to a win- 
 dow, she watched him stride down the drive with a 
 swift, determined gait. He might be tried severely, 
 but there was little fear of this man's resolution desert- 
 ing him. She was, however, troubled by a recurrence 
 of the unpleasant sense of guilt when he disappeared ; 
 it was difficult to persuade herself that she had been 
 quite honest, and the difficulty was new to her. 
 
 In the meanwhile Lisle walked on rapidly, disre- 
 garding the ache that the motion started in his in- 
 jured ann and shoulder. In his dejected mood, the 
 twinge at every step was something of a welcome dis- 
 traction. Since a sacrifice must be made, it should, 
 he resolved, be made by him ; Millicent should not suf- 
 fer, though he admitted that he had no reason for 
 supposing that she would have been willing to do so. 
 She had never shown him more than confidence and 
 friendliness, and it was only during the past few weeks 
 that he had ventured to think of the possibility of win- 
 ning her. Even then, the thought had roused no ex- 
 cess of ardent passion ; much as he desired her, a strong 
 respect and steadfast affection were more in keeping 
 with his temperament. Nevertheless, h.ad he known that 
 she loved him and he could confer benefits upon her in 
 place of demanding a sacrifice, he would have been 
 strangel}' hard to deter. 
 
 On his return, Nasmyth met him at the door. 
 
 " Where have you been ? " he asked with some in- 
 dignation. 
 
 " To Mrs. Gladwjme's," Lisle informed him.
 
 232 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " You walked to the house, after what Irvine said 
 when you insisted on his taking the bandages off? " 
 
 " I took them off ; he only protested. Anyway, I 
 didn't break my leg." 
 
 Nasmyth noticed his gloomy expression. 
 
 " Well," he responded, " I suppose there was very 
 Httle use in warning you to keep quiet; but you look 
 as if you had suffered for your rashness." 
 
 " That's true," answered the Canadian with a grim 
 smile. " After all, it's what usually happens, isn't 
 it.?" 
 
 They went in, Nasmyth a little puzzled by his com- 
 panion's manner; but Lisle offered no explanation of 
 its cause.
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE LAST AFTERNOON 
 
 IT was a bright day when Lisle took his leave of the 
 Marples. They gave him a friendh^ farewell and 
 when he turned away Bella Crestwick walked with 
 him down the drive. 
 
 " I don't care what they think ; I couldn't talk to 
 you while they were all trying to say something nice," 
 she explained. " Still, to do them justice, I believe 
 they meant it. We are sorry to part with you." 
 
 " It's soothing to feel that," Lisle replied. " In 
 man}' ways, I'm sorry to go. I've no doubt you'll miss 
 your brother after to-morrow." 
 
 " Yes," she said with unusual seriousness. " ]\Iore 
 than once during the last two 3'ears I felt that it would 
 be a relief to let somebody else have the responsibility 
 of looking after him, but now that the time has come 
 I'm sorry he's going. I can't help remembering how 
 often I lost my temper, and the mistakes I made." 
 
 " You stuck to your task," commended Lisle. " I 
 dare say it was a hard one, almost beyond 3'ou now 
 and then." 
 
 He knew that he was not exaggerating. She was 
 only a 3'ear older than the wilful lad, who must at 
 times have driven her to despair. Yet she had never 
 faltered in her efforts to restrain and control him ; and 
 had made a greater sacrifice for his sake than Lisle 
 
 233
 
 234 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 suspected, though in the light of a subsequent revela- 
 tion of GladwjTie's character she was thankful for this. 
 
 " Well," she replied, " I suppose that one misses 
 a load one has grown used to, and I feel very down- 
 cast. It's hardly fair to pass Jim on to you — but I 
 can trust you to take care of him." 
 
 " You can trust the work and the country," Lisle 
 corrected her with a trace of grimness. " He's not 
 going out to be idle, as he'll discover. There's noth- 
 ing like short commons and steady toil for taming any 
 one. You'll see the effect of my prescription when I 
 send him back again." 
 
 " He has physical pluck. I'm glad to remember it ; 
 and he has shown signs of steadying since he found 
 Gladwyne out." 
 
 Lisle looked at her searchingly. 
 
 " Since he found Gladwyne out? " 
 
 " Oh," she answered, seeing that she had been in- 
 cautious, " he rather idolized the man, and I suppose 
 it was painful to discover by accident that he wasn't 
 quite all he thought him. Now, however, he has trans- 
 ferred his homage to you — I'm afraid Jim must al- 
 ways have somebody to prop him — but I've no mis- 
 givings." 
 
 Lisle laughed. 
 
 " I've seldom had the time to get into mischief ; 1 
 suppose that accounts for a good deal." 
 
 They were nearing the lodge and she stopped and 
 held out her hand. 
 
 " It's hard to say good-by ; you have helped me more 
 than you'll ever guess, and you won't be forgotten." 
 Then as he held her hand with signs of embarrassment 
 she laughed with something of her usual mocking man-
 
 THE LAST AFTERNOON 235 
 
 ner and suddenly drew away. " Good-by," she added. 
 " I was rather daring once and I suppose you were 
 shocked. I can't repeat tlie rashness — it would mean 
 more now." 
 
 She walked back toward the house, and he went on. 
 Half an hour later he met MilHcent, who stopped to 
 greet him. 
 
 " I was on my way to call on you for the last time," 
 he told her. 
 
 There was something in his voice that troubled her, 
 and, though she had expected it, she shrank from the 
 intimation of his departure. 
 
 " Then, will you come back with me.'' " she asked. 
 
 " If 3'ou're not pressed for time, I'd rather walk 
 across the moor, the way j^ou once took me soon after 
 I came. I'd like to look round the countryside again 
 before I leave, though it will be a melancholy pleas- 
 ure." 
 
 For no very obvious reason, she hesitated. It was, 
 however, hard to refuse his last request and she really 
 wished to go. 
 
 "" The views are unusually good," she said, as they 
 started on. " Wouldn't Nasmyth have gone with 
 you? " 
 
 " It wouldn't have been the same," he explained. 
 *' I'm storing up memories to take away with me and 
 somehow Nasmyth is most clearly associated with 
 Canada. When I think of him, it will be as sitting 
 in camp beside a portage or holding the canoe paddle." 
 And you can't picture my being occupied in that 
 
 « 
 
 way ? " 
 
 " No," he answered gravely ; " I associate you with 
 England — with stately old houses, with well-cared-for
 
 
 236 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 woods and quiet valleys. There's no doubt that your 
 place is here." 
 
 He spoke as if he were making an admission that was 
 forced from him, and she endeavored to answer in a 
 lighter manner. 
 
 " It's the only one I've had an opportunity for try- 
 mg." 
 
 But you love this place ! " 
 
 Yes," she said ; " I love it very well. Perhaps I 
 am prejudiced, and I've only had a glimpse at other 
 countries, but I feel that this is the most beautiful 
 land in the world." 
 
 He stopped and glanced round. From where they 
 stood he could look out upon leagues of lonely brown 
 moors running back into the distance under a cloudless 
 sky. Beyond them the Scottish hills were softly 
 penciled in delicate gray. There was a sense of space 
 and vastness in the picture, but it was not that which 
 spoke most plainly to him. Down on the far-spread 
 low ground lay such white homesteads, built to stand 
 for generations, as he had never seen in Canada ; parks 
 sprinkled with noble trees, amid which the gray walls 
 of some ancient home peeped out; plantations made 
 with loving care, field on field, fenced in with well- 
 trimmed hedges. 
 
 It was all eloquent of order, security and long-estab- 
 lished ease ; a strong contrast to the rugged wilderness 
 where, in the bush and on treeless prairie, men never 
 relaxed their battle with nature. In many ways, his 
 was a stern country ; a land of unremitting toil from 
 which one desisted only long enough to eat and sleep, 
 and he was one of the workers. Mrs. Gladwyne 
 had been right — it was no place for this delicately
 
 THE LAST AFTERNOON 237 
 
 nurtured girl with her sensitiveness and artistic fac- 
 ulties. 
 
 " For those who can live as you live, It would be 
 hard to find the equal of this part of England," he 
 said. " But I'm not sure you can keep it very much 
 longer as it is." 
 
 "Why?" she asked. 
 
 It was a relief to talk of matters of minor interest, 
 for he dare not let his thoughts dwell too much on the 
 subject that was nearest them. 
 
 " Well," he replied, " there's the economic pressure, 
 for one thing ; the growth of your cities ; the demand 
 for food. I see land lying almost idle that could be 
 made productive at a very moderate outlay. Our peo- 
 ple often give nearly as nmch as it's Avorth here for no 
 better soil." 
 
 " But how do they make it pay? " 
 
 He laughed. 
 
 " The secret is that they expect very little — enough 
 to eat, a shack they build with their own hands to 
 sleep in — and they're willing to work sixteen hours 
 out of the twent3'-four." 
 
 " They can't do so in winter." 
 
 " The hours are shorter, but where the winter's hard- 
 est — on the open middle prairie — the work's more 
 severe. There the little man spends a good deal of his 
 time hauline: home stove-wood or buildinfr-lofrs for 
 new stables or barns. He has often to drive several 
 leagues with the thermometer well below zero before 
 he can find a bluff with laro-e enough trees. In the 
 Pacific Slope forests, where it's wamier, Avork goes on 
 much as usual. The bush rancher spends his days 
 chopping big trees in the rain and his nights making
 
 238 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 odd things — furniture, wagon-poles, new doors for 
 his outbuildings. What you would call necessary 
 leisure is unknown." 
 
 This was not exaggeration ; but he spoke of it from 
 a desire to support his resolution by emphasizing the 
 sternest aspects of western life. It had others more 
 alluring: there were men who dwelt more or less at 
 their ease; but they were by no means numerous, and 
 the toilers — in city office, lonely bush, or sawmill — • 
 were consumed by or driven into a feverish activity. 
 As one of them, it was his manifest duty to leave this 
 English girl in her sheltered surroundings. There 
 was, however, one remote but alluring possibility that 
 made this a little easier — he might, after all, win 
 enough to surround her Avith some luxury and cultured 
 friends in one of the cities of the Pacific coast. 
 Though they differed from those in England, they 
 were beautiful, with their vistas of snow-capped moun- 
 tains and the sea. 
 ' " But you are not a farmer," she objected. 
 
 " No ; mining's my vocation and it keeps me busy. 
 In the city, I'm at work long before they think of 
 opening their London offices, and it's generally mid- 
 night before I've finished worrying engineers and con- 
 tractors at their homes or hotels. In the wilds, we're 
 more or less continuously grappling with rock or 
 treacherous gravel, or out on the prospecting trail, 
 while the northern summer lasts ; it's then light most of 
 the night. In the winter, we sometimes sleep in the 
 snow, with the thermometer near the bottom of its 
 register." 
 
 Millicent shivered a little, wondering uneasily why
 
 THE LAST AFTERNOON 239 
 
 he had taken the trouble to impress this upon her. It 
 was, she thought, certainly not to show what he was 
 capable of. 
 
 " Arc you glad to go back, or do you dread it.-^ " 
 she asked. 
 
 " I don't dread it — it's my life, and things may be 
 -easier by and by. Still, I'm very loath to go." 
 
 Milliccnt could believe that. His troubled expres- 
 sion confirmed it ; and she was strangely pleased. She 
 had never had a companion in whom she could have 
 so much confidence, and she had already recognized 
 that she was, in one sense of the word, growing fond of 
 him. Indeed, she had begun to be curious about the 
 feeling and to wonder whether it stopped quite short 
 at liking. 
 
 " Well," she told him, " I'm glad that you asked me 
 to come with you. I think I was one of your first 
 friends and I'm pleased that you should wish to spend 
 part of your last day in my companj^" 
 
 " You come first of all ! " 
 
 "That's flattering," she smiled. "What about 
 Nasmyth ? " 
 
 " An unusually fine man, but he has his limits. You 
 have none." 
 
 " I'm not sure I quite understand you." 
 
 " Then," he explained seriously, " what I think I 
 mean is this — j'ou're one of the people who somehow 
 contrive to meet any call that is made on them. You 
 would never sit down, helpless, in a trying situation; 
 you'd find some way of getting over the difficulties. 
 It's a gift more useful than genius." 
 
 " You're rating me too highly," she answered with
 
 240 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 some embarrassment. " You admitted that you 
 thought 1113'^ place was here — the inference was that I 
 shouldn't fit into a different one." 
 
 " No," he corrected her ; " you'd adapt yourself to 
 changed conditions ; but that Avouldn't prevent your 
 suffering in the process. Indeed, I think people of 
 your kind often suffer more than the others." 
 
 He v.as to some extent correct in his estimate of her, 
 but she shrank from the direct personal application of 
 his remarks. 
 
 " Aren't the virtues you have described fairly com- 
 mon? " she asked. " I think that must be so, because 
 they're so necessary." 
 
 " In a degree, I suppose they are. You see them, 
 perhaps, most clearly in such lands as mine. The 
 pioneer has a good deal against him — frost and floods, 
 hard rock and sliding snow ; he must face every dis- 
 comfort, hunger and stinging cold. The prospector 
 crawls through tangled forests, and packs his stores 
 across snowy divides ; shallow shafts cave in, rude dams 
 are swept away. A man worked to exhaustion on the 
 trail runs out of provisions and goes on, starving; he 
 lames himself among the rocks, sets his teeth and limps 
 ahead. I've thought the capacity to do so is human- 
 ity's greatest attribute, but after all it's not shown in 
 its finest light battling with material things. When 
 the moral stress comes, the man who would face the 
 other often fails." 
 
 " Yes," she asserted ; " there are barriers that can't 
 be stormed. Merely to acquiesce is the hardest thing 
 of all, but in that lies the victory." 
 
 " It's a bitter one," he answered moodily. 
 
 There was silence for a few minutes while they
 
 THE LAST AFTERNOON 241 
 
 strolled on through the heather. Afterward, Milllcent 
 understood where his thoughts had led, but now she 
 was chiefly conscious of a slight but perplexing re- 
 sentment against the fact that he should discourse 
 rather crude philosophy. Indeed, the feeling almost 
 amounted to disappointment — it was their last walk, 
 and though she did not know what she had expected 
 from him, it was something different from this. Walk- 
 ing by her side, with his fine poise, his keen eyes that 
 regarded her steadily when she spoke, and his resolute 
 brown face, he appealed to her physically, and in other 
 ways she approved of liim. It was borne in upon her 
 more clearly that she would miss him badly, and she 
 suspected that he would not find it easy to part from 
 her. In the meanwhile he recognized that she had, no 
 doubt unconsciously, given him a hint — when the 
 moral difficulties were unsurmountable one must quietly 
 submit. 
 
 The}- stopped Avhen the}^ reached the highest strip 
 of moor. The sun was low, the vast sweep of country 
 beneath them was fading to neutral color, woods, low 
 ridges, and river valleys losing their sharpness of 
 contour as the light left them. A faint cold wind 
 sighed among the heather, emphasizing the desolation 
 of the moorland. 
 
 Millicent shivered. 
 
 " We'll go down," Lisle said quietly ; " the bright- 
 ness has gone. I've had a great time here — some- 
 thing to think of as long as I live — but now it's over." 
 
 "But you'll come back some dav?" she suggested. 
 
 " I may ; I can't tell," he answered. " I've schemes 
 in view, to be worked out in the North, that may make 
 my return possible ; but even then it couldn't be quite
 
 242 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 the same. Things change; one mustn't expect too 
 much." 
 
 His smile was a little forced; his mood was infec- 
 tious, and an unusual melancholy seized upon Millicent 
 as they moved down-hill across the long, sad-colored 
 slopes of heather. Then they reached a bare wood 
 where dead leaves that rustled in the rising wind lay 
 in drifts among the withered fern and the slender birch 
 trunks rose about them somberly. The light had al- 
 most gone, the gathering gloom reacted upon both of 
 them, and there was in the girl's mind a sense of some- 
 thing left unsaid. Once or twice she glanced at her 
 companion; his face was graver than usual and he 
 did not look at her. 
 
 It was quite dark when they walked down the dale 
 beneath the leafless oaks, talking now with an effort 
 about indifferent matters, until at last Milhcent stopped 
 at the gate of the drive to her house. 
 
 " Will you come in ? " she asked. 
 
 " No ; Nasmyth's waiting. I'm glad you came with 
 me, but I won't say good-by. I'll look forward to the 
 journey we're to make together through British Co- 
 lumbia." 
 
 She held out her hand ; in another moment he turned 
 away, and she walked on to the house with a strange 
 sense of depression.
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 STARTLING NEWS 
 
 IT was snowing in the northern wilderness and the 
 bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which 
 whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of 
 a fire. A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a 
 frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of wil- 
 lows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely 
 distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few 
 birches. So far the uncertain radiance reached when 
 the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a 
 dense curtain of falling snow. 
 
 It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was get- 
 ting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, 
 in a hollow beside a boulder. A straining tent stood 
 near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, 
 and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly. 
 The effort to do so was unpleasant as well as some- 
 what risky, for he had to turn back the old fur cap 
 from his tingling ears ; and he shivered at ever}'^ varia- 
 tion of the stinging blast. There was nothing to be 
 heard except the soft swish of the snow as it swirled 
 among the stones and the hollow rumble of the river 
 pouring down a rapid beneath a rent bridge of ice. 
 
 The man had spent the early winter, when the snow 
 facilitates traveling, in the auriferous regions of the 
 North, arranging for the further development of the 
 
 243
 
 244 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 mineral properties under his control. That done, he 
 had, returning some distance south, struck out again 
 into the wilds to examine some alluvial claims in which 
 he had been asked to take an interest. It was difficult 
 to reach the first of them ; and then he had spent sev- 
 eral weeks in detemiined toil, cutting and hauling in 
 wood to thaw out the frozen surface sufficiently to 
 make investigations. Crestwick had accompanied him, 
 but during the last few days he had gone down to a 
 Hudson Bay post with the owners of the claim, who 
 were returning satisfied with the arrangements made. 
 His object was to obtain any letters that might have 
 arrived, and Lisle, going on to look at another group 
 of claims, had arranged to meet him where he had 
 camped. 
 
 It would be difficult to miss the way, for it consisted 
 of the frozen river, but Crestwick should have arrived 
 early in the afternoon and Lisle felt uneasy. On the 
 whole, the Canadian was satisfied with the conduct of 
 his companion. Deprived during most of the time of 
 any opportunity for dissipation, scantily fed, and 
 forced to take his share in continuous labor, the lad's 
 better qualities had become manifest and he had re- 
 sponded pluckily to the demands on him. Abstinence 
 and toil were already producing their refining effect. 
 Still, he had not come back, and v*'ith the snow thicken- 
 ing, it was possible that he might not be able to keep to 
 the comparatively plain track of the river. There was 
 also the risk that by holding on too far when he saw 
 the fire he might blunder in among the fissured ice at 
 the foot of the rapid. 
 
 Rising at length. Lisle walked toward the dangerous 
 spot, guiding himself by sound, for once he was out
 
 STARTLING NEWS 245 
 
 of the firelight there was nothing to be seen but a 
 white driving cloud. He knew when he had reached 
 the neighborhood of the rapid by the increased clamor 
 of the stream, and he crept on until he decided that he 
 was abreast of the pool below. The rapid was partly 
 frozen, but the ice was fissured and piled up at the tail 
 of it. 
 
 Lisle could not remember how long he waited, beat- 
 ing his stiffened hands and stumbling to and fro to 
 keep his feet from freezing, but at last, though he 
 could see nothing, he heard a crunching sound, and he 
 called out sharply. 
 
 '• I've got here ! " came the answer. " WTiere shall 
 I leave the ice.'' Seems to be an opening in front of 
 me!" 
 
 It was difficult to hear through the clamor of the 
 water and the crash of drifting ice ; but Lisle caught 
 the words and called again : 
 
 " Turn your back on the wind and walk straight 
 ahead ! " 
 
 He supposed that Crestwick was obeying him, but 
 a few moments later he heard a second shout : 
 
 " Brought up by another big crack ! " 
 
 The voice was hoarse and anxious, and Lisle, deciding 
 that the lad was worn out by his journey and probably 
 confused, bade him wait, and hurrying down-stream a 
 little he moved out upon the frozen pool. He pro- 
 ceeded along it for a few minutes, calHng to Crestwick 
 and guiding himself by the answers ; and then he 
 stopped abruptly with a strip of black water close be- 
 neath Ills feet. On the other side was a ridfre of 
 rugged Ice ; but what lay beyond it he could not 
 see.
 
 246 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 *' I'm in among a maze of cracks ; can't find any 
 way out ! " Crestwick cried, answering his hail. 
 
 Lisle reflected rapidly as he followed up the crevasse, 
 which showed no sign of narrowing. The snow was 
 thick, the bitter wind increasing, and a plunge into 
 icy water might prove disastrous. It was obvious that 
 he must extricate his companion as soon as possible, 
 but the means of accomplishing it was not clear. Crest- 
 wick was somewhere on the wrong side of the crack, 
 which seemed to lead right across the stream toward 
 the confusion of broken ridges and hummocks which, 
 as Lisle remembered, fringed the opposite bank. He 
 must endeavor to find the place where the lad had got 
 across ; but this was difficult, for fresh breaches and 
 ridges drove him back from the edge. Presently the 
 chasm ended in a wide opening filled with an inky 
 flood, and Lisle, turning back a yard or two, braced 
 himself and jumped. 
 
 He made out a shapeless white object ahead, and 
 coming to another crack he scrambled to the top of 
 an ice-block and leaped again. There was a sharp 
 crackle when he came down, the piece he alighted on 
 rocked, and Crestwick staggered. 
 
 " Look out ! " he cried. " It's tilting under 1 " 
 
 Lisle saw water lapping in upon the snow, but it 
 flowed back, and the cake he had detached impinged 
 upon the rest with a crash. 
 
 "Come on!" he shouted. "The stream will jamb 
 it fast ! " 
 
 They reached the larger mass and moved across it, 
 but Lisle, clutching his companion's arm, bewildered 
 and almost blinded by the snow, doubted if he were 
 retracing his steps. He did not remember some of the
 
 STARTLING NEWS 247 
 
 ridges and ragged blocks over which they stumbled, and 
 the smaller rents seemed more numerous. It was evi- 
 dent that Crestwick was badly worn out and they must 
 endeavor to reach the bank with as little delay as possi- 
 ble. 
 
 At last they came to the broad crevasse, farther up 
 the stream, and Lisle turned to Crestwick. 
 
 " Better take off your skin-coat. You'll have to 
 jump." 
 
 "I rtin't," said the other dejectedly. "It's not 
 nerve — the thing's clean beyond me." 
 
 His slack pose — for he was dimly visible amid the 
 haze of driving snow — bore out his words. The long 
 march he had made had brought him to the verge of 
 exhaustion ; his overtaxed muscles would respond to no 
 further call on them. For a moment or two Lisle 
 stood gazing at the dark water in the gap. 
 
 " Then we'll look for a narrower place," he decided. 
 " Where did you get across.? " 
 
 " I don't know. Don't remember this split, but the 
 ice was working under me. Perhaps the snow had 
 covered it and now it's fallen in." 
 
 They scrambled forward, following the crevasse, 
 but could find no means of passing it and now and then 
 the ice trembled ominously. At last, when the opposite 
 side projected a little. Lisle suddenly sprang out from 
 the edge and alighted safely. 
 
 " It's easy ! " he called, stripping off his long skin 
 coat and flinging one end of it across the chasm to 
 Crestwick. " Get hold and face the jump! " 
 
 It was not a time for hesitation ; the exhausted lad 
 dare not contemplate the gap, lest his courage fail him, 
 and nerving himself for an effort, he leaped. Strik-
 
 2i8 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 ing the edge on the other side, he plunged forward as 
 Lisle dragged at the coat, and then rolled over in the 
 snow. He was up in a moment, gasping hard, almost 
 astonished to find himself in security, and Lisle led him 
 back to the snow-covered shingle. 
 
 " It strikes me as fortunate that I came to look for 
 you," he observed. " You'd probably have ended by 
 walking into the river." 
 
 " Thanks," said Crestwick simply. " It isn't the 
 first hole you've pulled me out of." 
 
 They reached the camp and the lad, shaking the 
 snow off his furs, sat down wearily on a few branches 
 laid close to the sheltering boulder, while Lisle took a 
 frying-pan and kettle off the fire, and aftenvard filled 
 his pipe again and watched his companion while he ate. 
 Crestwick had changed since he left England ; his face 
 was thinner, and the hint of sensuality and empty self- 
 assurance had faded out of it. His eyes were less bold, 
 but they were steadier ; and, sitting in the firelight, clad 
 in dilapidated furs, he looked somehow more refined 
 than he had done in evening dress in Marple's billiard- 
 room. When he spoke, as he did at intervals, the con- 
 fident tone which had once characterized him was no 
 longer evident. He had learned to place a juster esti- 
 mate upon his value in the icy North. 
 
 " I was uncommonly glad to see the fire," he said at 
 length. " Another mile or two would have beaten me ; 
 though I spent nearly twice as long in coming up from 
 the Forks as the prospectors said it would take. I was 
 going light, too." 
 
 " They've been doing this kind of thing most of 
 their lives. You couldn't expect to equal them. 
 Where did you sleep last night.'' "
 
 STARTLING NEWS 249 
 
 " In some withered stuff among a clump of willows ; 
 I scraped the snow off it. That is, I lay down there, 
 but as the fire wouldn't bum well, I don't think I got 
 much rest. Part of the time I wondered what I was 
 staying in this country for. I didn't seem to find any 
 sensible answer." 
 
 " You could get out of it when the freightei's go 
 dorwn with tlie dogs and sledges," Lisle suggested. " It 
 would be a good deal more comfortable at Marplc's, for 
 instance." 
 
 " Do you want to get rid of me.'' I suppose I'm not 
 much help." 
 
 " Oh, no ! " Lisle assured him. " It only struck me 
 that you might find the novelty of the experience 
 wearing off. Besides, you're improving; in a year 
 or two you'll make quite a reliable prospector's 
 packer." 
 
 " That's something," replied Crestwick, grinning. 
 " Not long ago I thought I'd make a sportsman ; one 
 of Gladwyne's kind. The ambition doesn't so much 
 appeal to me now. But I want to be ratlier more than 
 a looker-on. Can't you let me put something into one 
 of these claims? " 
 
 " Not a cent ! In the first place, you'd have some 
 trouble in raising the money ; in the second, I might be 
 accused of playing Batley's game." 
 
 " The last's ridiculous. But if I'm not to do any- 
 thing, it brings me back to the question — why am I 
 staying here? " 
 
 " I can't tell you that. I'll only suggest that if you 
 hold out until you come into your property, you'll go 
 back much more fit in several ways to look after it. I 
 should imagine 3'ou'd find less occasion to emulate
 
 250 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 people like Batley and Gladwyne then. Of course, 
 I don't know if that's worth waiting for." 
 
 It was the nearest approach to seriousness he con- 
 sidered advisable, for precept was obnoxious to him 
 and apt to be resented by his companion. 
 
 " Now," he added, " what about the mail? " 
 
 Crestwick produced a packet of letters which he had 
 not opened yet and Lisle glanced at two business com- 
 munications. The boulder kept off most of the snow, 
 and the glare of the snapping branches, rising and 
 falling with the gusts, supplied sufficient light. 
 
 " Mine's from Bella ; there's news in it," Crestwick 
 remarked. " She says Carew — I don't think you've 
 seen him — is anxious to marry her, and if she's con- 
 vinced that I'm getting on satisfactorily, she'll prob- 
 ably agree. He's — I'm quoting — about as good as 
 she's likely to get ; that's Bella all over." 
 
 " What's he like.? " Lisle asked with interest. 
 
 " To tell the truth, in one way I think she's right — 
 the man's straight ; not the Marple crowd's style. In 
 fact, I found him decidedly stand-offish, though I'll 
 own there might have been a reason for that. Any- 
 how, I'm glad ; she might have done a good deal worse. 
 I suppose you won't mind giving me a testimonial that 
 will set her doubts at rest.'' " 
 
 " You shall have it. Since the man's a good one, 
 I'm nearly as glad as you are. I've a strong respect 
 for your sister ; she stood by you pluckily." 
 
 " That's true," asserted Crestwick. " I was a bit 
 of an imbecile, and she's really hard to beat. She says 
 if the life here's too tough for me I'm to come back 
 and live with them. That's considerate, because in a 
 way she can't want me, though I haven't the least doubt
 
 STARTLING NEWS 251 
 
 she'd make Carew put up with my company. It. de- 
 cides the question — I'm not going." 
 
 " A little while ago you'd have taken Carew's delight 
 for granted, wouldn't you.'' " 
 
 " I'm beginning to see things," Crestwick answered 
 with a wave of his hand. Then he paused and looked 
 confused. " After all, though she says I'm to give 
 you the message, Bella really goes too far now and 
 then." 
 
 " She doesn't always mean it. You may as well 
 obey her." 
 
 " It's this — if it's any consolation, she has no in- 
 tention of forgetting you, and Arthur — that's the 
 fellow's name — is anxious to make your acquaintance. 
 She says there are men who're not so unresponsive as 
 you are, but Arthur has never been into the North to 
 get frozen." 
 
 Lisle laughed — it was so characteristic of Bella. 
 
 " Here's something else," Crestwick proceeded ; 
 " about jNIiss Gladwyne. Bella thinks you'd be inter- 
 ested to hear that there's a prospect of — " 
 
 " Go on ! " cried Lisle, dropping his pipe. 
 
 " I can't see," said Crestwick. " You might stir 
 the fire." 
 
 Lisle threw on some fresh wood and poked the fire 
 savagely with a branch, and the lad continued, reading 
 with difficulty while the pungent smoke obscured the 
 light. 
 
 " It seems that she saw Gladwyne and his mother 
 and ]\Iilliccnt together in town, and she afterward 
 spent a week with Flo Marple at somebody's house. 
 Flo told her that it looks as if the long-deferred ar- 
 rangement was to be brought about at last." He laid
 
 252 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 down the letter. " If that means she's to marry Glad' 
 wyne, it ought to be prevented ! " 
 
 They looked at each other curiously, and Lisle, 
 struggling to command himself, noticed the lad's 
 strained expression. 
 
 " Why? " he asked with significant shortness. 
 
 Crestwick seemed on the verge of some vehement out- 
 break and Lisle saw that it was with an effort he re- 
 frained. 
 
 *' Oh, well," he answered, " the man's not half good 
 enough. He's a dangerous rotter." 
 
 " Dangerous ? " 
 
 *' Yes," returned Crestwick dryly ; " I think that 
 describes it." 
 
 There was an impressive silence, while each wondered 
 how far he might have betrayed himself. Then Lisle 
 spoke. 
 
 " Read the rest of the letter. See if Bella says any- 
 thing further." 
 
 " No announcement made," Crestwick informed him 
 a little later. " All the same, Flo's satisfied that the 
 engagement will be made known before long." He 
 looked up at Lisle with uncertainty and anger in his 
 face. " It almost makes me forget Bella's other news. 
 What can be done? " 
 
 " What do you want to do ? " 
 
 " Don't fence ! " said Crestwick. " I'm not smart at 
 it. Don't you know a reason why Miss Gladwyne 
 shouldn't marry the fellow ? " 
 
 " Yes. It has nothing to do with you." 
 
 " Perhaps not," replied Crestwick. " I can only 
 say that the match ought to be broken off. It isn't 
 to be contemplated ! "
 
 STARTLING NEWS 253 
 
 *' Well," Lisle responded with forced quietness, " if 
 it's any relief to you, I'll write to Nasmyth the first 
 chance I get, asking what he's heard. Now we'll drop 
 the subject. Is there anything else of general interest 
 in your letter.? " 
 
 " Bella says her wedding won't be until the early 
 summer and she's thinking of making Carew bring 
 her out to Banff or Glacier — he came out shooting or 
 climbing once before. Then she'll endeavor to look 
 us up." 
 
 He lighted his pipe and they sat in silence for a 
 while. Then Crestwick rose and bringing a blanket 
 from the tent wrapped it about him and lay down in 
 the lee of the boulder near the fire. A few minutes 
 later he was sound asleep ; but Lisle sat long awake, 
 thinking hard, while the snow drove by above him.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 A FORCED MARCH 
 
 WHEN Crestwick awakened, very cold, and 
 cramped, a little before daylight the next 
 morning, it was still snowing, but Lisle was 
 up and busy preparing breakfast. 
 
 " That looks like marching ; I thought we were going 
 to lie off to-day," observed the lad. 
 
 *' How do you feel? " Lisle inquired. 
 
 ** Horribly stiff ; but that's the worst. Why are you 
 going on.'* " 
 
 " Because the freighters should leave the Hudson 
 Bay post to-morrow with their dog-teams. It's the 
 only chance of sending out a letter I may get for a 
 long while, and I want to write to Nasmyth." 
 
 Crestwick shivered, glancing disconsolately at the 
 snow ; he shrank from the prospect of a two days' hur- 
 ried march. Had Lisle suggested this when he first 
 came out, the lad would have rebelled, but by degrees 
 the stem discipline of the wilds had had its effect on 
 him. He was learning that the weariness of the flesh 
 must be disregarded when it is necessary that anything 
 shall be done. 
 
 " Oh, well," he acquiesced, " I'll try to make it. If 
 I can't, you'll have to drop me where there's some 
 shelter." 
 
 He ate the best possible breakfast, for as wood was 
 scarce in parts of the country, and making a fire dif- 
 
 254
 
 A FORCED MARCH 255 
 
 ficult, it was very uncertain when he would get another 
 meal. Then he slipped the pack-straps over his stiff 
 shoulders, and got ready to start with a burden he did 
 not think he would have been capable of carrying for 
 a couple of hours when he left England. 
 
 " Now we'll pull out," he said. " But wait a mo- 
 ment : I'd better look for a dry place to put this paper 
 currency." 
 
 " Where did you get it? You told me at the last 
 settlement that you had hardly a dollar left." 
 
 Crestwick grinned. 
 
 " Oh, some of the boys offered to teach me a little 
 game they were playing when we thawed out that claim. 
 I didn't find it difficult, though I must own that I had 
 very good luck. It was three or four months since I'd 
 touched a card, and there's a risk of reaction in too 
 drastic reform. Anyhow, I'm glad I saw that game; 
 one fellow had a way of handling trumps that almost 
 took me in. If I can remember, it should come in use- 
 ful." 
 
 Lisle made no comment; restraint, he thought, was 
 likely to prove more effective if it were not continually 
 exercised. They started and for several hours plodded 
 up the white highway of the river, leaving it only for 
 a while when the ice grew fissured where the current ran 
 more swiftly. White hills rose above them, relieved 
 here and there by a somber clump of cedars or leafless 
 willows and birches in a ravine. The snow crunched 
 beneath their feet, and scattered in a fine white powder 
 when they broke the crust ; more of it fell at intervals, 
 but blew away again ; and they held on with a nipping 
 wind in their faces and a low gray sky hanging over 
 them.
 
 256 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 Lisle, however, noticed little ; he pushed forward 
 with a steady and apparentl}"^ tireless stride, thinking 
 bitterly. Since his return to Canada, his mind had 
 dwelt more or less continuously on jNIillicent. He 
 recognized that in leaving her with his regard for her 
 undeclared he had been sustained by the possibility 
 that he might by determined effort achieve such a suc- 
 cess as would enable him to return and in claiming her 
 to offer most of the amenities of life to Avhich she had 
 been accustomed. Though it had not been easy, he had 
 to some extent accomplished this. On reaching Vic- 
 toria, he had found his business associates considering 
 one or two bold and risky schemes for the extension of 
 their mining interests, which he had carried out in the 
 face of many difficulties. The new claims he had taken 
 over promised a favorable yield upon development ; he 
 had arranged for the more profitable working of others 
 by the aid of costly plant ; and his affairs were generally 
 prospering. 
 
 Then, when he was satisfied with the result of his 
 exertions, Crestwick's news had struck him a crushing 
 blow. He was wholly unprepared for it. Nasmyth 
 had spoken of a match between Millicent and Gladwyne 
 as probable, but the latter had devoted himself to Bella, 
 who had openly encouraged him. The change in the 
 girl's demeanor had escaped Lisle's notice, because he 
 had been kept indoors by his injury. Now the success 
 he had attained counted for almost nothing; he had 
 nobody to share it with. 
 
 The subject, however, had another aspect; he could 
 have borne the shock better had Millicent yielded to a 
 worthy suitor, but it was unthinkable that she should 
 marry Gladwyne. She must be saved from that at any
 
 A FORCED MARCH 25T 
 
 cost, tliougli lie thought her restored hberty would 
 promise nothing to him. Even if her attachment to 
 Gladwync were free from passion, as Nasmyth had 
 hinted, she must cherish some degree of affection and 
 regard for the man. His desertion of her brother 
 could not be forgiven, but the revelation of his base- 
 ness would not incline her favorably toward the person 
 who made it, as it would seem to be merely for the pur- 
 pose of separating her from him. 
 
 Lisle set his lips as he looked bade on what he now 
 considered his weakness in withholding the story of 
 Gladwyne's treachery. Had he declared it at the be- 
 ginning, Mrs. Gladwyne would have suffered no more 
 than she must do, and it would have saved Millicent 
 and himself from the pain that must fall upon them. 
 He bitterly regretted that he had, for once, departed 
 from his usual habit of simply and resolutely carrying 
 out an obvious task without counting the cost. Still, 
 he could write to Nasmyth, and to do that he must 
 reach the Hudson Bay post on the morrow. He 
 trudged on over the snow at a pace that kept Crestwick 
 breathless. 
 
 The bitter wind chilled them through in spite of 
 their exertion, and it had increased by noon, Avhen 
 Lisle halted for a minute or two to look about him. 
 
 They Mere in the bottom of a valley walled in by 
 barren hills ; the bank of the frozen river was marked 
 out b^- snow-covered stones, but none of them was large 
 enough to rest behind, and one could not face the wind, 
 motionless, in the open. While he stood, a stinging icy 
 powder lashed his cheeks, and his hands grew stiff in 
 their mittens. 
 
 " There's not even a gulch we could sit down in," he
 
 258 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 said. " We'll have to go on ; and I'm not sorry, for 
 one reason. There's not much time to spare." 
 
 Crestwick's eyes were smarting from the white glare ; 
 having started when weary from a previous journey, 
 his legs and shoulders ached ; but he had no choice be- 
 tween freezing and keeping himself slightly warm by 
 steady walking. It Avould, he knew, be harder by and 
 by, when his strength began to fail and the heat died 
 out of his exhausted body. 
 
 " We'll have to find a shelter for the tent by night- 
 fall, or dig a snowpit where there's some wood," he de- 
 clared. " I'll try to hold out." 
 
 They proceeded and the afternoon's march tried him 
 severely. Aching all over, breathing hard when they 
 stumbled among the stones to skirt some half-frozen 
 rapid, he labored on, regretting the comforts he had 
 abandoned in England and yet not wholly sorry that 
 he had done so. His moral fiber was toughening, for 
 after all his faults were largely the result of circum- 
 stances and environment. Of no great intelligence, 
 and imperfectly taught, he had been neglected by his 
 penurious father who had been engaged in building up 
 his commercial prosperity; his mother had died when 
 he was young. 
 
 One of his marked failings was an Inability to esti- 
 mate the true value of things. He possessed something 
 of the spirit of adventure and a desire to escape from 
 the drab monotony of his early life, but these found 
 expression in betting on the exploits of others on the 
 football field and the turf, a haunting of the music- 
 halls, and the cultivation of acquaintances on the lowest 
 rung of the dramatic profession. All this offered him 
 some glimpses of what he did not then perceive was
 
 A FORCED MARCH 259 
 
 merely sham romance. Later when, on the death of 
 his father, wealth had opened a wider field, deceived by 
 surface appearances, he liad made the same mistake, 
 selecting wrong models and then chiefly copying their 
 failings. Even his rather generous enthusiasm for 
 those whom he admired had led him farther into error. 
 
 Now, however, his eyes had been partly opened. 
 Thrown among men who pretended nothing, in a land 
 where pretense is generally useless, he was learning to 
 depreciate much that he had admired. Called upon to 
 make the true adventure he had blindly sought for, he 
 found that little counted except the elemental qualities 
 of couraffe and steadfastness. Dear life was the stake 
 in this game, and the prizes were greater things than 
 a repute for cheap gallantry, and pieces of money ; 
 they were the subjugation of rock and river, the con- 
 version of the wilderness to the use of man. Crestwick 
 was growing in the light he gained, and in proof of it 
 he stumbled forward, scourged by driving snow, 
 throughout the bitter afternoon, although before the 
 end of it he could scarcely lift his weary feet. 
 
 It was getting dark, when the}' found a few cedars 
 clustered in the shelter of a crag, and Lisle set to work 
 hewinfj off the lower branches and cuttin^r knots of the 
 resinous wood. Crestwick could not rouse himself to 
 assist, and when the fire was kindled he lay beside it, 
 shivering miserably. 
 
 " There's the kettle to be filled," suggested Lisle. 
 *' You could break the ice where the stream's faster 
 among those stones ; we'd boil water quicker than we'd 
 melt down snow." 
 
 Crestwick got up with an effort that cost him a good 
 deal and stumbled away from the fire. Then a gust of
 
 260 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 wind met him, enveloping him in snow-dust and taking 
 the power of motion momentarily away. He shook 
 beneath his furs in the biting cold. Still, the river was 
 near, and he moved on another few yards, when the 
 kettle slipped from his stiffened hands and rolled down 
 a steep slope. He stopped, wondering stupidly whether 
 he could get down to recover it. 
 
 " Never mind ; come back 1 " Lisle called to him. 
 " I'll go for the thing." 
 
 The lad turned at the summons and sank down again 
 beside the fire. 
 
 " I think I'm done," he said wearily. " I may feel 
 a little more fit in the morning." 
 
 Lisle filled the kettle and prepared supper, and after 
 eating voraciously, Crestwick lay down in the tent. It 
 was in comparative shelter, but the frost grew more 
 severe and the icy wind, eddying in behind the rock, 
 threatened to overturn the frail structure every now 
 and then. He tried to smoke, but found no comfort in 
 it after he had with difficulty lighted his pipe ; he did 
 not feel inclined to talk, and it was a relief to him 
 when Lisle sank into slumber. 
 
 Crestwick long remembered that night. His feet 
 and hands tingled painfully with the cold, the branches 
 he lay upon found out the sorest parts of his aching 
 body, and he would have risen and walked up and down 
 in the lee of the rock had he felt capable of the exer- 
 tion, but he was doubtful whether he could even get 
 upon his feet. At times thick smoke crept into the 
 tent, and though it set him to coughing it was really a 
 welcome change in his distressing sensations. He was 
 utterly exhausted, but he shivered too much to sleep. 
 At last, a little while before daybreak. Lisle got up
 
 A FORCED MARCH 261 
 
 and strode away to the river after stirring tlie fire, and 
 then, most cruel thing of all, the lad became sensible 
 of a soothing drowsiness when it was too late for him 
 to indulge in it. For a few moments he struggled 
 hard, and then blissfully yielded. He was awakened 
 by his companion, who was shaking him as he laid a 
 plate and pannikin at his feet. 
 
 " We must be off in a few minutes," he announced. 
 
 Crestwick raised himself with one hand and blinked. 
 
 *' I don't know whether I can manage it." 
 
 " Then," responded Lisle, hiding his compassion, 
 " you'll have to decide which of two things you'll do — 
 you can stay here until I come back, or you can take 
 the trail with me. I must go on." 
 
 Crestwick shrank from the painful choice. He did 
 not think that he could walk ; but to prolong the ex- 
 perience of the previous night for another twenty-four 
 hours or more seemed even worse. He ate his break- 
 fast ; and then with a tense effort he got upon his feet 
 and slipped the straps of the pack over his shoulders. 
 Moving unevenly, he set off, lest he should yield to his 
 weariness and sink down again. 
 
 " Come on ! " he called back to Lisle. 
 
 He sometimes wondered afterward how he endured 
 throughout the day. He was half dazed ; he blundered 
 forward, numbed in body, with his mind too dulled to 
 be conscious of more than a despairing dejection. As 
 he scarcely expected to reach the post, it did not mat- 
 ter how soon he fell. Yet, b}' instinctive effort stronger 
 than conscious volition, the struggle for life continued; 
 and Lisle's keen anxiety concerning him diminished as 
 the hours went by. Every step brought them nearer 
 warmth and shelter, and made it more possible that help
 
 262 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 could be obtained if the lad collapsed. That was the 
 only course that would be available because they were 
 now crossing a lofty wind-swept elevation bare of tim- 
 ber. 
 
 It was afternoon when they entered a long valley, 
 and Lisle, grasping Crcstwick's arm, partly supported 
 him as they stumbled down the steep descent. Stunted 
 trees straggled up toward them as they pushed on 
 down the hollow, and Lisle surmised that the journey 
 was almost over. That was fortunate, for he had some 
 trouble in keeping his companion upon his feet. At 
 length a faint howl rose from ahead and Lisle stopped 
 and listened intently. The sound was repeated more 
 plainly, and was followed by a confused snarling, the 
 clamor of quarreling dogs. 
 
 " Malamutes ; the freighters can't have started yet 
 with their sledges," he said to Crestwick, who was hold- 
 ing on to him. " I don't think they can be more than, 
 half a mile off." 
 
 " I'll manage that somehow," replied the lad. 
 
 They went on through thickening timber, until at 
 last a log house came into sight. In front of it stood 
 two sledges, and a pack of snapping, snarling dogs 
 were scuffling in the snow. Lisle was devoutly thank- 
 ful when he opened the door and helped the lad into a 
 log-walled room where four men, two of whom wore 
 furs, were talking. The air was dry and strongly 
 heated, besides being heavy with tobacco smoke and 
 Crestwick sank limply into a chair. Gasping hard, he 
 leaned forward, as if unable to hold himself upright; 
 but Lisle was not alarmed: he had suffered at times, 
 when exhausted, from the reaction that follows the
 
 A FORCED MARCH 263 
 
 change from the bitter cold outside to the stuffiness of 
 a stove-heated room. 
 
 " Played out ; I'd some trouble to get him along," he 
 explained to the men. " We're going on to the claims 
 at the gulch to-morrow." Then he addressed the two 
 in furs : " I guess you'll take me out a letter? " 
 
 " Why, of course ; but you'll have to hustle," said 
 one of them, and Lisle tumed to a man in a deerskin 
 jacket whom he took for the agent. 
 
 " Can you give me some paper? " 
 
 " Sure ! Sit down right here." 
 
 It was not easy to write with stiffened fingers or to 
 collect his thoughts with his head swimming from the 
 change of temperature, but he infonned Nasmyth 
 briefly of what he had heard and asked how much truth 
 there was in it. He added that he would have started 
 for England forthwith, only that he could not be sure 
 that this was necessary, and to leave his work unfinished 
 might jeopardize the interests of people who had staked 
 a good deal of money on the success of his schemes. 
 Nevertheless he would come at once, if Nasmyth con- 
 sidered the match likely to be brought about and 
 would cable him at Victoria, from whence a message 
 would reach him. In the meanwhile, Nasmyth could 
 make such use of their knowledge of Gladwyne's treach- 
 ery as he thought judicious. 
 
 Shortly after he had written the letter the two men 
 in furs set out, and when the sound of their departure 
 had died away the agent addressed his guests. 
 
 " I'll fix you some supper ; you look as if you needed 
 it. Rustle round, Larry, and get the frying-pan on." 
 
 They ate an excellent meal and shortly afterward
 
 264! THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 Crestwick crawled into a wooden bunk, where he reveled 
 in the unusual warmth and the softness of a mattress 
 filled with swamp-hay. He had never lain down to rest 
 in England with the delicious sense of physical comfort 
 that now crept over his worn-out body. 
 
 \
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 MILLICENT SUMMONS HEB, GUIDE . 
 
 LISLE was living luxuriously in Victoria when 
 Nasmyth's answer reached him by mail. 
 Though it was still winter among the ranges 
 of the North, the seaboard city had been bathed in 
 clear sunshine and swept by mild west winds during the 
 past few da3's, and after the bitter frost and driving 
 snow Lisle rejoiced in the genial warmth and bright- 
 ness. There are few more finely situated cities than 
 Victoria, with its views across the strait of the white 
 heights of Mount Baker and the Olympians on the 
 American shore, even in the Pacific Province where 
 the environment of all is beautiful. 
 
 Lisle was sitting in the hotel lounge after dinner 
 when three English letters were handed to him. The 
 sight of them affected him curiously, and leaning back 
 in his chair he glanced round the room. Like the rest 
 of the great building in which he had his quarters, it 
 was sumptuously furnished, but ever^'thing was ag- 
 gressively new. There was, he felt, little that sug- 
 gested fixity of tenure and continuity in the West ; the 
 times changed too rapidly, people came and went, alert, 
 feverishly bustling, optimistic. In the old land, his 
 friends among the favored few dwelt with marked Eng- 
 lish calm in homes that had apparently been built to 
 stand forever. Yet he was Western, by deliberate 
 
 265
 
 266 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 choice as well as by birth ; while there was much to He 
 said for the other life which had its seductive charm, 
 the strenuous, eager one that he led was better. 
 
 He opened the letters — one from Bella, announcing 
 her engagement and inquiring about her brother; a 
 second from Millicent, stating that it was decided that 
 she would visit British Columbia in the early summer; 
 and a third from Nasmyth, which, dreading its con- 
 tents, he kept to the last. 
 
 He was, however, slightly reassured when he opened 
 it. Nasmyth's remarks were brief but clear enough. 
 There was no actual engagement between IMlllicent and 
 Clarence, though Mrs. Gladwyne was doing her ut- 
 most to bring one about and Millicent saw the man 
 frequentl}'. In the meanwhile, he did not think there 
 was an3'thing to be done ; Lisle could not conclusively 
 prove his story, though he could make a disastrous sen- 
 sation, which was to be avoided, and it would be wiser to 
 defer the disclosure until the engagement should actu- 
 ally be announced. Millicent's attachment to Clarence 
 was not likely to grow very much stronger in a month or 
 two. In conclusion, he urged Lisle to wait. 
 
 On the whole. Lisle agreed with him. Somehow 
 he felt that Millicent would never marry Gladwyne. 
 Apart from his interference, he thought that her in- 
 stincts would, even at the last moment, cause her to 
 recoil from the match. Furthermore, turning to an- 
 other aspect of the matter, he could not clear his dead 
 comrade's memory by telling a tale that was founded 
 merely on probabilities. There was nothing for It 
 but to await events, though he was still determined to 
 start for England the moment Nasmyth's letter made 
 this seem advisable.
 
 MILLICENT SUMMONS HER GUIDE 267 
 
 Shortly afterward, one of his business associates 
 came in : a j'oung man with a breezy, restless manner 
 who would not have been trusted in England with the 
 responsibilities he most efficiently discharged. In the 
 West, a staid and imposing air carries no great weight 
 with it and eagerness and even rather unguided activ- 
 ity are seldom accounted drawbacks. There dulness 
 is dreaded more than rashness. 
 
 " I've seen Walthew and Slyde," he announced. 
 " It will be all right about the money ; we'll put the 
 hydraulic plant proposition through at the next Board 
 meeting. You'll have to go back right away." 
 
 " I've only just come down ; the frost's not out of 
 me yet," Lisle grumbled. " Besides, you seem to be 
 going ahead rather fast here in the city. Walthew's 
 a little too much of a hustler ; I'd rather he'd stop to 
 think. You're almost as bad, Garnet." 
 
 The young man laughed. 
 
 " I guess you can't help it, it's the English streak in 
 you ; but in a way you're right. Fact is Walthew and 
 I have hustled the rest of the crowd most off their 
 feet, and we mean to keep them on the jump. Last 
 meeting old ]Macalan's eyes were bulging with horror, 
 he could hardly stammer out his indignation — said 
 our extravagance was sinful. Anyway, you've got to 
 go." 
 
 Lisle made an acquiescent grimace. His face was 
 strongly darkened by exposure to the frost and the 
 glare of the snow ; his hands were scarred, with several 
 ugly recently-healed wounds on them. 
 
 " Well," he complied with some reluctance, " if it's 
 necessary." 
 
 " It is," Garnet explained. " Think we're going to
 
 268 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 have washing plant worth a good many thousand dol- 
 lars left lying in the bush or dropped into rivers? 
 You'll have to arrange for transport and break new 
 trails. You can do it best when the snow's still on 
 the ground, and that plant must start working soon 
 after the thaw comes. We've got to justify our ex- 
 penditure while the season's open." 
 
 " You haven't got your authority to buy the plant 
 
 yet." 
 
 Garnet chuckled. 
 
 " It was ordered, provisionally, the day you came 
 down ; the makers are only waiting for a wire from 
 the Board meeting. In fact, I shouldn't be astonished 
 if some of the work isn't in progress now." 
 
 Lisle was quick of thought and prompt in action, 
 but he sometimes felt as if Garnet took his breath 
 away. 
 
 " If you have it all arranged, I may as well agree," 
 he laughed. " I'll take Crestwick back." 
 
 " That reminds me ; he said something about taking 
 an interest — asked if I could get him shares at a 
 moderate premium, though he owned that his trustees 
 might make trouble about letting him have the money." 
 
 " He's not to have them 1 " Lisle replied emphat- 
 ically. " What's more, the trustees won't part with a 
 dollar unless I guarantee the project — I've been in 
 communication with them. Rest assured that the idea 
 won't get my endorsement." 
 
 " I could never get at the workings of the English 
 mind," Garnet declared. " Now if my relatives had 
 any money, I'd rush them all in. This is the safest 
 and best-managed mining proposition on the Pacific
 
 MIIXICENT SUMMONS HER GUIDE 269 
 
 Slope. What kind of morality is it that gathers in 
 the general investor and keeps your friends out ? " 
 
 " I don't know ; it doesn't concern the point. I'm 
 actuated by what you may call a prejudice. You 
 can't remove it." 
 
 " Well," Garnet responded good-humoredly, " It's 
 a pretty tougli country up yonder and I suppose the 
 lad's of some service. You're saving us a pile of 
 money in experts' fees and I don't see why you 
 shouldn't put him on the company's payroll. I men- 
 tioned the thing to Walthew ; he was agreeable." 
 
 They talked about other matters and presently 
 Crestwick came in, smartly dressed and looking re- 
 markably vigorous and clear-skinned. There were 
 many points of difference between his appearance now 
 and when Lisle had first met him. 
 
 " Mr. Garnet has a proposition to make," Lisle in- 
 formed him ; and the Canadian briefly stated it. 
 
 Crestwick did not seem surprised, nor did he dis- 
 play much appreciation. 
 
 " To tell the truth, I thought you might have men- 
 tioned tlie matter before," he remarked. " Still, if 
 you want my services, you'll have to go up twenty 
 dollars." 
 
 " A week.'' " Garnet asked ironically. " You prom- 
 ise well ; if you stay here a year or two you'll make 
 a useful and enterprising citizen. We could get an 
 experienced boss packer for what I offered you." 
 
 *' Down here, yes. When he got to where the claims 
 are, he'd almost certainly drop you and turn miner, 
 and 3'ou couldn't blame him. A man deserves a hun- 
 dred dollars a day merely for living up yonder. But
 
 2T0 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 it's a month I was speaking of. If you want me, you'll 
 have to come up." 
 
 Garnet laughed. 
 
 " I guess I can fix it ; but we'll get our value out 
 of you." 
 
 " That's a compliment, if you look at it in one 
 way," Crestwick grinned in reply. 
 
 When Garnet had left them, he turned to Lisle. 
 
 " Thanks awfully. Of course, it was your idea." 
 
 " Garnet suggested the thing ; that's more flattering, 
 isn't it?" 
 
 Crestwick looked at him, smiling. 
 
 " I'm not to be played so easily as I was when I 
 first met you," he said. " Of course, in a sense, the 
 pay's no great inducement to me; it's the idea of be- 
 ing offered it. I'm going to advise old Barnes, my 
 trustee ; he was fond of saying that I was fortunate 
 in being left well off because I'd never earn sixpence 
 as long as I lived, until I stopped the thing by offer- 
 ing him ten to one I'd go out and make it in a couple 
 of hours by carrying somebody's bag from the sta- 
 tion. Anj^how, this is the first move." 
 
 " Then you're going farther? " 
 
 " Quite so," was the cheerful answer. " I'll be a 
 director of this company before I've finished. You 
 can't stop my buying shares when I come into my 
 property." 
 
 Lisle was conscious of some relief. It was a laud- 
 able ambition and Crestwick promised to be much less 
 of a responsibility than he had once anticipated. 
 
 " I've a letter from Bella," Lisle told him. " She 
 still desires to be informed if you're getting along
 
 MILLICENT SUMMONS HER GUIDE 271 
 
 satisfactorily. I think I can tell her there's no cause 
 for uneasiness." 
 
 " Bella's a good sort," returned Crestwick. " She'll 
 stop asking such questions by and by. At least, I 
 think she'll have some grounds for doing so.'* 
 
 They went out into the city and a week afterward 
 they sailed together for the North. It was still winter 
 in the wilds, and though that made Lisle's work a 
 little easier, because rivers and lakes and muskegs 
 were frozen, he found it sufficiently arduous. He had 
 to survey and break new trails suitable for the convey- 
 ance of heavy machinery, up rugged valleys and over 
 high divides, and to arrange for transport — canoes 
 here, a log-bridge there, relays of packers farther on. 
 No man's efforts could be wasted, for time was precious 
 and wages are high in the wilderness. Then, when at 
 last the frost relaxed its grip and rock and snow and 
 loosened soil came thundering down the gullies in huge 
 masses, the work grew more difficult as he began to 
 build a dam. 
 
 Some of the men sent up to him, artizans from the 
 cities, sailor deserters, dismayed by the toils of the 
 journey and the nature of their tusks, promptly 
 mutinied on arrival. Others dispatched after them 
 failed to turn up, and Lisle never discovered what be- 
 came of them. The camp-site was a sea of puddled 
 mire with big stones in it ; tents and shacks were al- 
 most continuously dripping; and every hollow was 
 filled with a raging torrent. Nobody had dry clothes, 
 even to sleep in ; the work was mostly carried on knee- 
 deep in water, and at first things got little better as 
 the days grew warmer. The hill-benches steamed and
 
 272 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 clammy mists wrapped the camp at night; the down- 
 ward rush of melting snow increased, and several times 
 wild floods swept away portions of the dam and half- 
 built flume. 
 
 In spite of it all, the work went on : foot by foot the 
 wall of pile-bound rock rose and the long wooden 
 conduit curved away do\v^l the valley ; and when at 
 length the hydraulic plant began to aiTive, piecemeal, 
 Lisle found Crestwick eminently useful. He superin- 
 tended the transport, patrolling the trails and keeping 
 them repaired. His skill with shovel and ax was 
 negligible, but he could send a man or two to mend 
 the gap where the path had slipped away down some 
 gully or to fling a couple of logs across a swollen 
 creek that could not be forded. He got thinner and 
 harder from constant toil and from sleeping, often 
 scantily fed, unsheltered in the rain. 
 
 After a while, however, there was a pleasant change : 
 the days grew hot, the nights were clear and cold, 
 and the short, vivid summer broke suddenly upon the 
 mountain land. Then it seldom rained, as the high 
 seaward barrier condensed most of the Pacific moisture, 
 but at times the clouds which crossed the summits 
 unbroken descended in a copious deluge, and it was in 
 the midst of such a downpour that Crestwick returned 
 to camp one evening after a week's absence on the 
 trail. His dripping garments were ragged, his boots 
 gaped open, and his soft felt hat had fallen shape- 
 less about his head. He found Lisle in a similar guise 
 sitting at his evening meal. 
 
 " Plave they got the pipes and those large castings 
 across the big ravine?" Lisle asked. 
 
 " Yes, that has been done," Crestwick answered.
 
 MILLICENT SUMMONS HER GUIDE 273 
 
 " By the way, one of the packers told me that the 
 man who's coming up to run the plant — Carsley, isn't 
 it? — has arrived. I^iere were some fittintrs or some- 
 thing wrong and he stopped behind to investigate, but 
 the packer seemed to think he'd get through soon 
 after I did. That turns us loose, doesn't it? " 
 
 " I dare say I could hand things over to him in 
 about a week," replied Lisle. " Then we'll clear out. 
 I suppose you won't be sorry? " 
 
 Crestwick stretched out his feet to display his 
 broken boots and rent trousers. 
 
 *' Well," he said, " since I left here, I've spent a 
 good deal of my time in an icy creek, and it's nearly 
 a week since I had any sleep worth speaking of. We 
 had to make a bridge for the freighters to bring those 
 castings over and we'd no end of trouble to get the 
 stringers fixed — the stream was strong and we had to 
 build a pier in it. Not long ago, I'd have considered 
 anybody who did this kind of thing without compul- 
 sion mad, but in some mysterious way it grows on 
 you. I don't pretend to explain it, but it won't be 
 with unmixed delight that I'll go back to the city." 
 
 He paused and fumbled in his pocket. 
 
 " I was forgetting vour mail. I'm afraid it's rather 
 pulpy, but I couldn't help that. By the way, I'd a 
 letter from Bella, written at the Frontenac, Quebec. 
 She's brought Carcw out ; they're going to Glacier 
 very soon, and she still intends to look me up." 
 
 Lisle opened the letters handed him and managed 
 to read them, though their condition fully bore out 
 Crestwick's description. Two or three were on busi- 
 ness matters, but there was one from Millicent, and 
 he started at the first few lines.
 
 274 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Miss Gladwyne and Miss Hume have sailed — they 
 must have landed a week ago," he announced. " She 
 wants to go over the ground her brother traversed — 
 you have heard of that project. Nasmyth sailed a 
 week earlier to aiTange matters at this end ; but I don't 
 know how INIiss Hume Avill get along." 
 
 " It's merely a question of transport," asserted 
 Crestwick with the air of an authority on the subject. 
 *' So long as you provide sufficient packers, with re- 
 lays from supply bases, you can travel in comparative 
 comfort, though it's expensive." Then an idea oc- 
 curred to him. " They're pretty sure to run across 
 Bella ; Miss Gladwyne knows Carew." 
 
 Lisle sat silent a few minutes, conscious of a strong 
 satisfaction. Millicent was in Canada, and there was 
 no mention of Gladwyne ! Then it struck him as curi- 
 ous that Bella should have come over at the same time. 
 As Millicent knew Carew, it was very probable that 
 Bella would insist on joining the expedition, which 
 Millicent might agree to, if, as seemed likely, her 
 rather elderly companion had to be left behind. 
 Nasmyth had, no doubt, already reached British 
 Columbia ; and it looked as if those indirectly brought 
 together by George Gladwyne's tragic death would be 
 reunited at the scene of it. This was, Lisle reflected, 
 merely the result of a natural sequence of events, but 
 there was for all that something strangely significant 
 about it. 
 
 " Well," he said, " it has been arranged that I'm to 
 act as guide, and Miss Gladwyne says they'll wait for 
 me. As that's the case, I don't see why I shouldn't 
 start as soon as Carsley gets through. I shouldn't 
 :?ronder if he brings a letter from Nasmyth. It will be
 
 MILLICENT SUMMONS HER GUIDE 275 
 
 a tough journey, and I'll have to break a new trail. 
 Are you coming, or will you head for Vancouver to 
 join Bella? " 
 
 " We'll stick together," replied the lad. " Bella's 
 to stay over here some months, and if she decides to 
 join Miss Gladwj'ne she'll leave Glacier long before I 
 could reach the place." 
 
 Lisle rose and shook out his pipe. 
 
 " Then," he responded, " I'll take a look around, and 
 you had better start off the first thing to-morrow and 
 hurry those castings on. There's a good deal to be 
 done if we're to get away when Carsley turns up."
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 A RELIABLE MAN 
 
 THE sun had just dipped behind a black ridge 
 of hills, and the lake lay still, mirroring the 
 tall cedars on its farther shore. A faint chill 
 "was creeping into the mountain air, which was scented 
 with resinous smoke, and somewhere across the water 
 a loon was calling. A cluster of tents stood upon the 
 shingle, and in front of the largest Millicent reclined 
 in a camp-chair. Near her Miss Hume sat indus- 
 triously embroidering; and Nasmyth lay upon the 
 stones. Bella occupied another camp-chair, a young 
 man with a pleasant brown face sitting at her feet; 
 and farther along the beach a group of packers in blue 
 shirts and duck trousers lay smoking about a fire. By 
 and by one rose and when he began to hack at a drift- 
 log the sharp thudding of his ax startled the loon 
 which departed with a peal of shrieking laughter. 
 
 The party had reached the fringe of the wilderness 
 after a long stage journey from the railroad through 
 a rugged country. They had met with no mishaps 
 beyond a delay in the transport of some of their bag^ 
 gage, and everything had been made comparatively 
 easy for them ; but they knew that henceforward there 
 might be a difference. Man must depend largely upon 
 his own natural resources in the wilds, where, after 
 furnishing the traveler with the best equipment and 
 
 276
 
 A RELIABLE MAN 277 
 
 packers to carry it, the power of wealth is strictly 
 limited. A recognition of the fact hovered more or 
 less darkly in all their minds, but ]Milliccnt was the 
 first to hint at it. 
 
 " So far we have had absolutely nothing to complain 
 of except a little jolting in the stage," she said. " I'm 
 beginning to understand why adventurous sight-seers 
 are coming out here — it's a glorious country ! " 
 
 " It's my duty to point out that it won't be quite 
 the same as we go on," Nasmyth remarked. *' What 
 do you say, Carew ? " 
 
 "It doesn't matter; he's said it all before," Bella 
 broke in. " I've had to listen to appalling accounts 
 of his previous adventures in Canada, which were, no 
 doubt, meant to deter me; but the reality is that the 
 hotels at Banff and Glacier are remarkably comfort' 
 able, and I haven't the least fault to find with this 
 camp. We ought to be grateful to i\Iilliv.cnt for let- 
 ting us come, and though Arthur hinted that it would 
 be a rather sociable honeymoon, I said that was a 
 safeguard. One's illusions might get sooner shattered 
 in a more conventional one." She stooped and 
 ruffled her husband's hair. " Still, he hasn't deteri- 
 orated very much on closer acquaintance, and perhaps 
 I'm fortunate in this." 
 
 Millicent sat silent for a few moments. She knew, 
 to her sorrow, one man who did not improve the more 
 one saw of him, and that was the man she had tacitly 
 agreed to marry. She could not tell why she had 
 done so — she had somehow drifted into it. Interest, 
 family associations, a feeling that could best be de- 
 scribed as liking, even pity, had placed their part in 
 influencing her, and now she realized that she could
 
 278 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 not honorably draw back when he fonnally claimed 
 her. She laughed as one of the packers who had a 
 good voice broke into a song. 
 
 " That's the climax ; it needs only the cockney ac- 
 cent to make the thing complete," she said. " When 
 I was last in London, one heard that silly jingle every- 
 where. I suppose it's a triumph of the music-halls." 
 
 " Or of modern civilization — a rendering of dis- 
 tance of no account," suggested Carew. " There's a 
 good deal to be said for the latter achievement, as we 
 are discovering." 
 
 " Distance," declared Bella, " still counts for some- 
 thing here. I've been thinking about Jim all day; 
 imagining him dragging his canoe through the timber 
 beyond those hills, and wondering whether he'd find 
 us when he got to the other side." 
 
 " She has been doing more," her husband broke 
 in. " Though she hasn't confessed it, she has been 
 looking out for him ever since this morning. In fact, 
 I discovered that our cook is keeping a supper ready 
 that would satisfy four or five men." 
 
 Bella turned to Millicent with a smile. 
 
 " Do you think the meal will be wasted.'' " she asked. 
 
 " No ; I can hardly believe it." 
 
 " Mark the assurance of that answer," commented 
 Carew. *' A man couldn't feel it ; it's irrational. 
 Miss Gladwyne speaks with a certainty that our guide 
 will come, though she has nothing to base her calcula- 
 tions on — she doesn't know the distance or the diffi- 
 culties of the way." 
 
 " What does that matter.? " Bella retorted. " She 
 knows the man."
 
 A RELIABLE MAN 279 
 
 Carew made a grimace. 
 
 " A woman's reasoning. As we've notliing better to 
 do, I'll try to show the absurdity of it. A man, so 
 far as he concerns this discussion, consists of a certain 
 quantity of bones, with muscles and tendons capable 
 of setting them in motion — " 
 
 " Be careful," Bella warned him. " It's safer to 
 avoid these details. Besides, you're leaving something 
 out ; I don't mean the nerve-cells, but the inner person- 
 ality, whatever it is, that commands them." 
 
 " I'm trying to show that, as a mechanical structure, 
 he is capable of moving his own weight and so much 
 extra a limited distance in a given time, so long as 
 he can secure the necessary food and sleep. Neither 
 the weight nor the distance can be increased except 
 by an effort which, if continued, will soon reduce them 
 below their former level." 
 
 Bella laughed. 
 
 " Yes," she said, " that's how you reason — mechan- 
 ically. We're different." 
 
 " I'll take quite another line," Nasmyth intei'posed. 
 " Lisle's traversing a country new to him ; he can't 
 tell what rapids, ranges, or thick timber may cause 
 delay. No amount of determination will enable one, 
 for instance, to knock more than a few minutes off 
 the time needed to carry a canoe round a portage, nor 
 by any effort can one cross a range as quickly as one 
 can walk up a valley. Isn't that clear, ^lillicent.'' " 
 
 There was a smile in the girl's e^'^es. 
 
 " Yes," she replied, " but, all the same, Lisle's sup- 
 per's waiting." 
 
 " Such confidence makes one jealous," grumbled
 
 280 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 Carew. " Lisle, whom I haven't met, is evidently a 
 man who keeps his promise. That means a good 
 deal." 
 
 " A very great deal," Bella assured him. " Since 
 one's bound to meet with difficulties one can't foresee, 
 it proves that one man has resource, resolution, and 
 many other eminently useful qualities ; but all this is 
 getting too serious. I'd better point out that Lisle 
 hasn't even promised to meet us here at any particu- 
 lar time." She paused and laughed mischievously. 
 " Millicent merely sent for him, mentioning to-morrow 
 as the day she would like to start." 
 
 A little color crept into Millicent's face, but Bella 
 went on: 
 
 *' She called and I haven't the least doubt that our 
 guide set out, over ranges, up rapids, across wide lakes. 
 One can't imagine that man taking it easily, and 
 there's the obvious fact that Jim will have to keep up 
 with him. He will find it hard, but I dare say it will 
 do him good." 
 
 Nasmyth laughed and strolled away with Carew. 
 The sunset green grew dimmer behind the hills and a 
 pale half-moon appeared above the shadowy woods. 
 It was very still, except for the lapping of the water 
 upon the stones. 
 
 Bella leaned back lazily in her chair. 
 
 " This is delightful," she exclaimed. " Didn't 
 Clarence want to come.'* " 
 
 The unexpectedness of the question startled Milli- 
 cent into answering: 
 
 " He didn't know." 
 
 "Ah! Then you didn't teU him? Why didn't 
 you.'* "
 
 A RELIABLE MAN 281 
 
 It was difficult to reply, but there was something in 
 Bella's voice that disarmed Millicent's resentment. 
 Bella had grown gentler since her marriage and less 
 often indulged in bitterness. 
 
 " I think," said Milliccnt, " I didn't want any one 
 to distract me; I'm going to make photographs and 
 sketches for the book, 3'ou know." 
 
 " But you let us come ! " 
 
 " Yes," assented Milliccnt ; *' you're different." 
 
 " That's true. We won't disturb 3'ou ; and Nasmyth 
 wouldn't count. He's an unobtrusive person, only to 
 the front when he is wanted, which is a good deal to 
 say for him ; he doesn't expect anything. No doubt, 
 the same applies to Lisle." 
 
 Milliccnt made no answer and Bella wondered 
 whether she had gone too far. 
 
 "But didn't Clarence hear that you were going?" 
 she asked. 
 
 " He was in Switzerland with his mother. She had 
 been recommended to try a change." 
 
 Bella asked no more questions and Milliccnt sat 
 wondering how far she had been influenced by the 
 reason she had given for leaving Clarence behind. 
 She had undoubtedly desired to be free to devote her- 
 self to the gathering of material for her book, but that 
 was not quite all. She had also half-consciously 
 shrunk from the close contact with Clarence which 
 would have been one result of their life in camp, but 
 this she refused to admit. It was clearer that she de- 
 sired an extension of the liberty which she must some- 
 time relinquish. Taking it all round, she was rather 
 troubled in mind. 
 
 There's one thing," remarked Bella. " He can't 
 
 <(
 
 £82 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 write you any reproachful letters for stealing away. 
 At least, if lie does so, you won't get them." 
 
 This, as Millicent recognized, was a relief, but Miss 
 Plume broke in upon her reflections with some trifling 
 request and soon afterward the men strolled back to- 
 ward the fire. The packers had already gone to sleep ; 
 the dew was heavy, but Nasmyth lay down on the 
 shingle and Carew took a place beside his wife's chair. 
 Suddenly Millicent leaned forward with her face turned 
 toward the lake. 
 
 " Listen ! " she cried sharply. " Can't you hear 
 something? " 
 
 No sound reached the others for a moment ; and then 
 Nasmyth jumped up. 
 
 " Yes," he exclaimed ; " canoe paddles." 
 
 A measured beat stole out of the silence, increasing 
 until it broke sharply through the tranquil lapping of 
 the water. Then, far up the glittering lake, a dim 
 black bar crept out into the moonlight and by de- 
 grees grew plainer. 
 
 " Of course, they may be Indians," Bella suggested 
 mischievously. 
 
 Carew included Millicent in his answering bow. 
 
 " No ; I believe I'm beaten. You and Miss Glad- 
 wyne were right." 
 
 The moonlight was on Millicent's face, and Bella, 
 watching her, read something that roused her interest 
 in its expression — it was stronger tlian satisfaction, 
 a deeper feeling not unmixed with pride. She had 
 called and the man she had summoned from the depths 
 of the wilderness had responded. 
 
 A few minutes later the canoe grounded noisily on 
 the shingle and Crestwick leaped out; Bella, regardless 
 
 /
 
 A RELIABLE MAN 283 
 
 of the others, flung her arms about his neck and kissed 
 him ; and then slie held him off so that she might see 
 him. His garments were rent and tattered, his face 
 was very lean, and one of his hands was bleeding from 
 continuous labor with the paddle. 
 
 " Oh ! " she cried ; " you disreputable scarecrow ! 
 You're not fit for select society. And how long is it 
 since 3'ou had anything to eat.'' '* 
 
 " We had a rather rough time getting through ; there 
 was thick scrub timber in some of the valleys," Crest- 
 wick explained. " We might have made things easier 
 by spending another few days on the trail, but Lisle 
 wouldn't listen when I suggested it." 
 
 " Then you did suggest it," said Bella reproach- 
 fully. " Of course, I'm merely your sister." 
 
 " I don't want a better one," Crestwick rejoined, 
 grinning. " It strikes me you're looking prettier than 
 you did; but that's perhaps because you have taken to 
 wearing more lad^'like clothes. As regards my ap- 
 pearance, I'll venture to say that yours will be very 
 much the same before you've finished this journey." 
 
 Lisle had walked toward Miss Hume and had shaken 
 hands with her before he turned to Millicent. That 
 pleased the girl, 
 
 " We ran it rather close, but the day isn't quite 
 finished yet," he laughed. " We had some little 
 trouble once or twice which prevented our turning up 
 earlier." 
 
 Millicent smiled in a manner that sent a thrill 
 through him. 
 
 " I can only say that we kept your supper ; but 
 that's significant, isn't it.'' " Then she called to 
 Nasmyth.
 
 ^84 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Will you see if the cook's awake ? " 
 She had no opportunity for saying anything further, 
 for Carew came up Avith Bella, who was voluble, and 
 some time later Lisle and Crestwick sat down to a 
 bountiful meal, while IMillicent and Bella waited on 
 them. Lisle was slightly embarrassed by their minis- 
 trations, but Crestwick openly enjoyed them. 
 
 " Put the plate where I can reach it easily," he bade 
 his sister. " Look how you have placed that cup ; if 
 I move, it will spill 1 " 
 
 " You have more courage than I have, Jim," Carew 
 remarked with a smile. 
 
 " Pve needed it," the lad declared. " Fve borne 
 enough from Bella in my time. She'll no doubt say 
 that I desei-ved it, and there may be some ground for 
 the notion." 
 
 When the meal was finished they all gathered round 
 the replenished fire. Lisle lying back in the shadow 
 because of the state of his clothes. With the exception 
 of Jim, the others were dressed much as they had 
 been at home ; their conversation was light and easy, 
 and their manner tranquil. If he could have blotted 
 out the background of tall straight trunks and 
 shadowy rocks, he could have imagined that they were 
 lounging on a sheltered English lawn. Double-skinned 
 tents, camp-chairs, and other signs of a regard for 
 physical comfort bore out the idea in his mind. 
 These English people with their quiet confidence that 
 what they needed — and that was a good deal — would, 
 as had always happened, somehow be supplied, were at 
 once exasperating and admirable. They were the 
 same everywhere, unmoved by change, claiming all that 
 was choicest as by right, and very much at ease on
 
 A RELIABLE MAN 285 
 
 the fringe of the wilderness. They did not belong to 
 it ; one could have inuigincd that it belonged to them. 
 Their journey, however, had only begun, and there 
 were alterations that must obviously be made on the 
 morrow. 
 
 Then Lisle yielded to a strong sense of satisfaction. 
 For the next month or two he would be almost con- 
 stantly in Milllcent's company ; her companions were 
 his friends, and he thought that he would not be 
 troubled by Gladwyne's presence. Desiring to assure 
 himself on the latter point, he turned to Bella. 
 
 " Nobody has mentioned Clarence. I was wonder- 
 ing if he would join us? " 
 
 " No," she answered, smiling at him meaningly ; 
 *' he wasn't invited." Then she moved away, leaving 
 Lisle more deeply content. 
 
 Presently the party broke up, and when they reached 
 the tent they jointly occupied, Miss Hume remarked 
 to Millicent: 
 
 " You look unusually pleased, mj" dear." 
 
 " I dare say I do," Millicent smiled. " It's some- 
 thing to feel that one's confidence has been justified, 
 and perhaps rather more to rest assured that every- 
 thing will now go as smoothly as possible." 
 
 " I suppose you mean since Mr. Lisle has come.'' 
 Apart from his practical abilities, I'm fond of that 
 man. No doubt 3'ou noticed that he came first to me, 
 as the eldest, though he is aware that I'm only a de- 
 pendent. In a way, of course, he wasn't altogether 
 right, Bella Carew being married and 3'ou the actual 
 hostess." 
 
 " I wonder if such points are of any importance in 
 the bush," Millicent answered, laughing. " But I'm
 
 286 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 glad Mr. LIsle's action won your good opinion. I 
 like my friends to be graceful." 
 
 Miss Hume, faded, gray-haired and formal, looked 
 reflective. 
 
 " The word you used is not quite the one I should 
 have chosen. Clarence Gladwyne is graceful ; I think 
 this Canadian is something better. To-night he was 
 actuated by genuine chivalry. My esteem may not be 
 worth much, but it is his." 
 
 Moved by some impulse, Milllcent kissed her. 
 
 " I've no doubt he'd value it. But I can't have ' ^ 
 Clarence depreciated ; and it's getting very late." 
 
 Miss Hume noticed a slight change in the girl's 
 voice as she mentioned Gladwyne. She put out the 
 lamp but it was some time before she went to sleep. 
 She loved MilHcent, and she believed there was trouble 
 awaiting her.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 LISLE TURXS AUTOCRAT 
 
 ON the morning after his arrival, Lisle called 
 the company together and first of all ad- 
 dressed Millicent. 
 
 " It's your wish that I should act as guide to this 
 expedition ? " 
 
 Millicent answered in the affirmative and he went ont 
 
 " The guide must be commander-in-chief, with un- 
 disputed authority. Before we start, I must ask if 
 any one objects to that? " 
 
 They gave him full power, with acclamation, and 
 he nodded. 
 
 " Well," he continued, " I'd better explain that the 
 main difficulty attending any expedition into an al- 
 most uninhabited region is to keep it supplied with food 
 and means of shelter; it's a question of transport. 
 There are two ways of getting over the difficulty — 
 by reducing the weight, or by increasing the number 
 of packers : and the latter are useful only when each 
 man can transport more than will satisfy his personal 
 requirements. I think that's clear? " 
 
 They assented with some curiosity mixed with a 
 slight uneasiness. 
 
 " Then," he proceeded, " I'll exercise my authority 
 by asking you to lay out in front of each tent every- 
 thing you have brought with you." 
 
 *' Including our clothes? " Bella asked. 
 
 287
 
 288 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 a 
 
 Assuredly," said Crestwick. " You can put them 
 in a heap ; it's the quantity and not the cut that 
 counts." 
 
 It was evident that the leader's first instructions 
 were received with little favor. Millicent looked du- 
 bious and Miss Hume alarmed ; but the orders were 
 can'ied out, and Lisle accompanied by Crestwick made 
 a tour of inspection. Stopping in front of Bella's 
 and Carew's tent, he pointed to their rather imposing 
 pile of baggage. 
 
 " Two-thirds of this will have to be left behind, 
 though we'll try to pick it up again. You can make 
 your selection." He went on to Millicent's and Miss 
 Hume's collection. " We can't take more than half 
 of this," he informed them. Then he addressed the 
 company in general. " The three ladies must occupy 
 Miss Gladwyne's tent, and the men Carew's ; Nasmyth's 
 must be abandoned. Each man's outfit must be cut 
 down to one change of clothes and his blanket." 
 
 The announcement was received with open murmurs. 
 They had all been accustomed to every comfort with 
 which a high civilization could provide them ; they had 
 already cut down their belongings to the lowest limit 
 at which, in their estimation, life could be made en- 
 durable ; and many of the articles they were told must 
 be left behind were costly and artistic. It was a 
 severe test of obedience and even Nasmyth, who knew 
 the wilderness, desiring to safeguard the women, was 
 not inclined to yield. Lisle had only Crestwick to sup- 
 port him until Bella touched his arm. 
 
 " Stand fast," she urged, somewhat to his surprise. 
 *' If you give way an inch now, you'll be sorry." 
 
 Lisle smiled and then raised his voice.
 
 LISLE TURNS AUTOCRAT 289 
 
 " I'm afraid I must insist. Since you object, Carew, 
 are you willing to carry forty pounds upon your back 
 while you break a trail through thick timber, where we 
 find it needful to leave the water? " 
 
 " Certainly not," said Carew decidedly. 
 
 " Then," Lisle advised dryl}', " you had better leave 
 as much as possible of the weight behind ; there's no 
 likelihood of our getting more packers. You have to 
 choose between a camp-chair or a suitcase, for example, 
 and your daily dinner." 
 
 For a moment or two they hesitated. Lisle had, 
 straining his new authority to the utmost, asked them 
 a very hard thing, for in their regard some degree of 
 luxur}^ was less an accidental favor than a prescriptive 
 right. Then Bella took up a long garment and with a 
 little resolute gesture flung it from her. 
 
 " That," she laughed, " is the first sacrifice to the 
 stem guardians of the wilds. It ought to satisfy 
 them, considering who made it and what it cost." 
 She seized a small valise and hurled it after the dress. 
 *' There's the next ; I'm thankful my complexion will 
 stand the weather." 
 
 Millicent looked up at Lisle, indicating a small easel, 
 a bulky sketch-book, and a box of water-colors. 
 
 " Are these to go ? " she asked with indignant eyes. 
 
 " No," he answered gravely ; " they're the reason 
 for the whole expedition, and their transport is pro- 
 vided for. But jou'll have to jettison something else." 
 
 The selections were made and Lisle summoned one of 
 the packers. 
 
 " Roll these things up in Mr. Nasmyth's tent, 
 Pete," he bade him. " You'll have to make a cache 
 of them."
 
 290 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Like burying money, isn't it? " remarked the man, 
 regarding the pile of sundries with a grin. " Guess 
 they won't be worth much when they're dug up again." 
 
 Half an hour later, three deepl3^-laden canoes left 
 the beach ; and all day the party paddled up the gleam- 
 ing lake and crept with poles going up a slow, green 
 river. Sunset was near when they landed and ate 
 supper among a clump of cedars ; and after the meal 
 most of them, cramped with the canoe journey, 
 climbed the steep hill-bench or strolled away along the 
 shingle. Lisle was lying, smoking, beside the fire when 
 Millicent sauntered toward him and sat down upon a 
 neighboring stone. 
 
 " You were right, of course," she apologized. " Am 
 I forgiven? It was only a momentary revolt." 
 
 He smiled, though his bronzed coloring deepened, 
 for there was an unusual gentleness in her voice. 
 
 " It was very natural," he replied. " I had ex- 
 pected more determined opposition ; but I didn't go 
 farther than was necessary." 
 
 " No ; I think the others realize that now." 
 
 " They'll be more convinced of it later," he re- 
 sponded with a trace of grimness. 
 
 " I don't think they'll give you any trouble ; but 
 since you got rid of Nasmyth's tent, where will you 
 and Crestwick sleep? " 
 
 " Jim and I can make a shelter of some kind ; we're 
 used to the bush." 
 
 " What have you done to the lad? " Millicent asked. 
 " I can hardly realize the change in him ; he's a dif- 
 ferent being." 
 
 " I've merely given him a chance he would hardly 
 have had in England. The country has done the rest.
 
 LISLE TURNS AUTOCRAT 291 
 
 You can ask him how much advice or admonishment 
 he got." 
 
 " Oh," she explained, " I shouldn't expect you to 
 give him advice ; it's cheap ! " 
 
 lie made no reply, and her eyes rested with quiet 
 approval on his rather embarrassed face. She had no 
 doubt that close contact with this man had had more 
 to do with the change in Crestwick than the influence 
 of the country ; and then she recollected that the lad's 
 degeneration had been marked and rapid while he had 
 taken Clarence for a model. It was a troublesome 
 thought and she banished it with an effort. 
 
 " You didn't get here without difficult}' ; and our 
 journey will keep you away from your business for 
 some time," she observed. 
 
 " As to that, I've earned a little leisure ; and I've 
 been looking forward to this trip ever since I left Eng- 
 land. Now it's almost like being back there again, 
 only that in some ways it's even better." 
 
 So far as their surroundings might explain his satis- 
 faction, Millicent could frankly agree with him. The 
 black spires of the cedars, towering far* above them, cut 
 in rigid tracery against the splendors of the sunset 
 sky ; one stretch of the river still shone with a saffron 
 light; the rest, which had grown dim, flowed through 
 deepening shadow. Filmy mist trails streaked the 
 rugged hills and the hoarse clamor of a rapid quivered 
 in the cool air. Behind it all, there was something that 
 set the lonely scene apart from any other that the girl 
 had looked upon — one could realize that this was as 
 yet an untamed and unsullied region. But her compan- 
 ion was accustomed to the wilderness, so there must be, 
 she thought, another cause for his content.
 
 292 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 a 
 
 I am glad you do not grudge the time you may 
 have to spend with us," she said. 
 
 *' Grudge it ! " he exclaimed ; and then, restraining 
 himself, he broke into a soft laugh. " You may ac- 
 cuse me of that feeling when you hear me grumble." 
 
 The ring in his voice had its meaning and it left 
 her thoughtful. The revelation was not altogether 
 new; she had guessed his regard for her, but she im- 
 agined that she ccyuld hold him at arm's length if it 
 were necessary. It was with him as it was with 
 Nasmyth, and they were alike in their self-restraint. 
 Nasmyth had quietly accepted his dismissal when she 
 had shown him that it was irrevocable ; and the Cana- 
 dian would not trouble her with futile complaints. 
 She wondered if out of three suitors she had not chosen 
 the least desirable in some respects ; but this could 
 not be admitted and she resolutely thrust the idea 
 aside. 
 
 " There's a point I'd better mention," Lisle resumed 
 in a matter-of-fact tone. " I'm not going to follow 
 the route of the first expedition from the beginning. 
 I'\e thought of a shorter and easier one ; we'll strike 
 the other by the big portage and then follow it down." 
 
 " Are you afraid of wearing out your untried fol- 
 lowers? " 
 
 " Well," he admitted, '' J'm taking no risks that can 
 be avoided this journey." 
 
 She smilingly commended his caution, though she 
 was conscious of a desire, which must be held in check, 
 to see what he would do if he could be shaken out of 
 his self-control. She approved of his restraint, be- 
 cause only while it was exerted could she meet him 
 on friendly terms ; but, as had happened on his last
 
 LISLE TURNS AUTOCRAT 293 
 
 afternoon in England, it piqued her. She wondered 
 how much it cost him. 
 
 " After all," she said with a forced laugh, " it's 
 better to keep carefully clear of danger." 
 
 " Yes," he agreed ; " but there's now and then a 
 temptation to face the hazard. One feels that it's 
 worth while." 
 
 " Never mind that. I think I'd rather enjoy the 
 wildness of this scene than to philosophize. Tell me 
 about the bear and deer we are likely to come across." 
 
 He discoursed at length, and she sat listening while 
 the light faded and the cedars grew blacker. Then the 
 others approached and they went back to camp. 
 
 " Breakfast will be at seven prompt," he informed 
 them. " The packers will strike tents while you eat, 
 so have everything ready. There are two awkward 
 portages to be tackled to-morrow." 
 
 They started in a clammy mist which clung about 
 them until they reached the foot of the first wild rapid, 
 where the green and white flood came roaring over 
 ledges and between huge boulders, with wisps of spray 
 tossing over it. This was jNIillicent's first sight of the 
 river in anger, and she watched, at first almost ap- 
 palled and then thrilled with strong excitement, when 
 Lisle and one packer took the leading canoe up the 
 lowest rush. They stood upright in the unloaded, 
 unstable craft, long pole in hand, guiding her with 
 what seemed wonderful skill across madly-whirling ed- 
 dies and through tumbling foam, while Nasmyth and 
 another man, floundering deep in water, assisted them 
 at intervals with the tracking-line. Once Nasmyth's 
 companion lost his footing and disappeared, but he 
 rose and Millicent saw that instead of cHnging to the
 
 294. THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 line for safety he loosed it, and swimming down a wild 
 white tumult, came dripping ashore. This, she 
 thought, was bracing work that made for more than 
 physical vigor; but she could not imagine Clarence 
 indulging in it. It was too elemental, too barbarous 
 for him. He was fond of exertion in the form of 
 sport, but he required somebody to saddle and lead out 
 his horse and to load his second gun. There was a 
 difference between him and those wlio delighted to 
 grapple at first hand with nature. 
 
 She was astonished to see Crestwick get a heavy 
 flour bag upon his back and move away with it over 
 very rough stones, and she joined in Bella's laugh 
 when Carew attempted to shoulder another and 
 dropped it. 
 
 " It's the first time he's ever tried such a thing in 
 his life," Bella remarked. " There's nothing like per- 
 sonal experience. You don't realize that it isn't easy 
 when you give a porter sixpence to lift your biggest 
 trunk at a station." 
 
 " The difference is that the porter's used to it," 
 Carew, who was red-faced and breathless, pointed out. 
 
 " It looks as if that would apply to you before we've 
 finished," Bella retorted. " If you can't do anything 
 else, why don't you help those men in the river.'' " 
 
 Carew made a gesture of resignation and resolutely 
 plunged in. 
 
 " That," laughed Bella, to Milllcent and Miss 
 Hume, " is excellent discipline ; after a little of it, I 
 believe he'll do me credit. I can think of a few over- 
 fed men that I'd like to put through a drastic course 
 of it, only in their case I'd go in the canoe and take 
 my heaviest luggage with me." 
 
 i
 
 LISLE TURNS AUTOCRAT 295 
 
 " It wouldn't be wise," asserted Millicent. " When 
 they reached broken water they'd probably let you 
 go." 
 
 Slie collected an armful of odds and ends and set 
 off up-stream over the portage. The men spent sev- 
 eral hours bringing the canoes and stores across, and 
 there followed some laborious poling before they 
 reached the second rapid, which was safely passed. 
 The party was quieter than usual after supper that 
 night. They had had their first glimpse of the strenu- 
 ous life of the wilderness and it had impressed them. 
 The effect passed off, however, as they pushed on day 
 after day without mishap. ]Millicent, in particular, 
 delighted in all she saw — the fresh green of the 
 birches among the somber cedars, the lonely heights 
 that ever surrounded them, the gleaming lakes, the 
 broad green flood that here and there filled the gorges 
 with its thunder. 
 
 She suffered no discomfort she could not laugh at; 
 there was something that braced her in mind and body 
 in the mountain air; and Clarence no longer held a 
 leading place in her memory. She realized now that 
 the thought of him had hitherto occasioned her a vague 
 uneasiness. Indeed, she was almost glad that he was 
 far away ; liberty was unexpectedly sweet, and though 
 she had a few misgivings, she meant to enjoy it while 
 it lasted. 
 
 Then one afternoon when they were stopped by a 
 fall, she slipped away from the others with her sketch- 
 book, and wandering back through straggling bush, 
 climbed a rock}' ridge. The ascent was steep, but by 
 clambering up a gully she reached the summit, and 
 after strolling along it she sat down to sketch the
 
 296 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 gorge below. The work absorbed her attention and 
 some time had passed when the lengthening shadows 
 warned her that she would better retrace her steps to 
 camp. 
 
 It proved difficult. She could not find the gully 
 she had climbed up and the side of the ridge was al- 
 most precipitous and was clothed with brushwood. 
 At last, however, she reached a spot from which it 
 seemed possible to make the descent ; but after scram- 
 bling and sliding for some distance she was suddenly 
 stopped by a sheer drop of several yards to a ledge. 
 Being agile, she might have reached the ledge by 
 lowering herself by her hands, but it was narrow and 
 slanted outwards, so that she feared to slip off in 
 alighting and fall over the crag below. She attempted 
 to climb back to the summit and found it impossible, 
 for the stones she seized were loose and came away 
 when she disturbed them. She could only stay where 
 she was and call for assistance, though the clamor of 
 the fall, ringing up the valley, almost drowned her 
 voice. 
 
 By and by the sunlight faded off the rocks above, 
 the trees below grew shadowy, and Millicent began to 
 feel anxious and to envy the others who would, no 
 doubt, be sitting down to their evening meal. They 
 would miss her and set out in search ; but they might 
 not reach her until it was dark, when it would be dif- 
 ficult to extricate her, and she had no desire to spend 
 the night among the rocks. She made another de- 
 termined attempt to get up, but slid back, nearly 
 slipping over the edge, while her sketch-book went 
 clattering far below. Then she sat still, calling out 
 at intervals.
 
 LISLE TURNS AUTOCRAT 297 
 
 The light grew dimmer, white mists began to trail 
 about the heights aijove, and ^lillicent was getting 
 cold. She was also getting angry — it looked as if 
 the others were too busy eating or talking to care 
 what had become of her; some of them ought to have 
 come in search. She felt a grievance against Lisle in 
 particular. Why she should blame him more than 
 Nasmyth or Carew was not very clear, except that he 
 was more used to the country ; but she felt that he 
 ought to have come to her rescue. Then, fearing 
 that she would have to spend the night on the hillside, 
 she carefully crept toward a small level space near a 
 jutting rock and sat down, shivering, while dusk slowly 
 crept across the bush.
 
 CHAPTER XXVn 
 
 AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE 
 
 MILLICENT had no intention of going to sleep 
 among the rocks, but after a while she grew 
 drowsy, and when at length she raised her head 
 with a start the moon hung over the hills across the 
 river, flooding the heights above her with a silvery 
 light. The trees below were sharper in form, but 
 everything was very still ; only the thunder of the fall 
 seemed to have increased in depth of tone. Millicent 
 shivered from the cold as she sent a sharp cry ringing 
 across the woods. 
 
 This time it was answered, and she recognized the 
 voice. Looking down, she could see Lisle's black fig- 
 ure moving cautiously along the ledge, for although 
 the lower rocks were wrapped in shadow it is never al- 
 together dark in the northern summer. Coming out 
 into the moonlight, he examined the slab of rock which 
 had arrested her descent, but when he spoke she was 
 not quite pleased with his very matter-of-fact tone. 
 It left something to be desired — she thought he 
 might have displayed more satisfaction at finding her 
 safe. 
 
 " Is there anything you could catch hold of at the 
 top? " he asked. " If so, you'd better lower yourself 
 until I can reach you." 
 
 Anxious as she was to get down, Millicent hesitated ; 
 
 298
 
 AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE 299 
 
 if she did as he suggested slie would descend into his 
 arms. She was not unduly prudish, and indeed, after 
 being left alone in the impressive solitude of the wilds, 
 she would have been glad of the reassuring grasp of 
 a human being. But an obscure feeling, springing, 
 perhaps, from primitive instincts, made her shrink 
 from close contact with this particular man. 
 
 " No," she answered coldly ; " the rock is loose. Be- 
 sides, the ledge is narrow, and if I came down heavily, 
 we might both fall over." 
 
 He again examined the slabj and then stood still, 
 considering. 
 
 " Well," he decided, " there's a crack some way up 
 that should give me a hold, and a bit of a projection 
 you could rest a foot on yonder. Then if you gave 
 me one hand, I could lower you down." 
 
 He came up, thrusting his fingers into a fissure near 
 the summit and finding a tiny support for his toes. 
 Lowering herself cautiously, she clutched the hand he 
 extended. 
 
 " Now," he cautioned, " as gently as possible ! " 
 
 Loosing her hold above, she hung for a moment or 
 two, half afraid to let go his hand, while his arm and 
 body grew tense with the strain and she could hear his 
 labored breath. Summoning her courage she relaxed 
 her grasp. In another second she was safe upon the 
 ledge, and, scrambling down, he stood beside her with 
 a set, flushed face, the veins protruding on his fore- 
 head. 
 
 " I'm glad that's over ; I was badly scared," he ac- 
 knowledged. 
 
 She thrilled at the confession, though she thought 
 there had been no serious risk ; his concern for her
 
 300 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 safety was strangely pleasant and the strenuous grasp 
 of his fingers had stirred her. 
 
 " Oh," she replied, *' I believe I was quite safe after 
 you got hold of me." 
 
 He glanced at the steep face of broken rock that 
 ran down into the shadow. 
 
 " If we'd gone over, we might not have brought up 
 for a while," he said. " But what's that resting on 
 yonder jutting stone .^^ " 
 
 " I'm sorry it's my sketch-book," Millicent answered 
 unguardedly. " It's nearly filled." 
 
 " Then wait here a little." 
 
 " You can't get it ! " Millicent cried sharply. 
 " You mustn't try ! " 
 
 " It's quite easy." 
 
 Millicent could not resist the temptation to make a 
 rather dangerous experiment. 
 
 " And yet you were afraid a minute or two 
 ago ! " 
 
 " Yes," he answered, looking at her steadil3^ " But 
 that was different." 
 
 She felt her heart-beats quicken and her face grow 
 hot, but she laid a restraining hand on his arm. 
 I won't let you go." 
 
 You must be reasonable," he urged, moving a pace 
 away. " That book stands for a good deal of high- 
 grade work. If you lose it, you will have wasted all 
 the first part of your journey. Besides, I should feel 
 very mean if I left it lying there." 
 
 He lowered himself over the edge, and moving from 
 cranny to cranny and stone to stone, went cautiously 
 down, while she watched him with her hands closed 
 tight. What the actual peril was she could not esti- 

 
 AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE 301 
 
 mate; but it looked appallingly dangerous, particu- 
 larly when in one place he had to descend from a 
 slightly overhanging stone. He reached the book, 
 however, and came up, and when at length he stood 
 beside her his expression was quite nonnal and he was 
 only a little breathless. Again she felt a disconcerting 
 thrill which was accompanied by a confused sense of 
 pride. What he had done was in her service, and this 
 time he had shown no sign of fear or strain. 
 
 " Thank you," she said. " But I'm a little angry 
 — you shouldn't have gone. I should never have for- 
 given myself if you had got hurt." 
 
 There was light enough to show that the blood crept 
 into his face ; but he turned and glanced at the descend- 
 ing ledge. 
 
 " You had better put your hand on my shoulder 
 where it's steep," he suggested. " Still, we're not go- 
 ing to have much trouble in getting down." 
 
 They had reached level ground before anything 
 more was said, and then she turned to him with a 
 smile. 
 
 " Why didn't you come before.'' You left me an 
 unpleasantly long while among the rocks." 
 
 " We didn't miss you until supper," he explained. 
 " Then I set off at once, but I didn't know which way 
 to look and the bush was pretty thick." Stopping in 
 the moonlight, he indicated his rent attire. " I think 
 this speaks for itself," he added humorously. 
 " There's one consolation — the things belong to 
 Carew." 
 
 Millicent was glad that he was not going to be 
 serious. 
 
 " I remember that you didn't bring much of an out-
 
 S02 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 fit," slie replied. " I suppose you had one. What 
 became of it.'' " 
 
 *' I left it behind, in pieces, on the thorns and rocks 
 along a good many leagues of trail; but it wasn't ex- 
 tensive — when you travel in this country you have 
 often to choose between food and clothes. It was ob- 
 viously impossible to bu}^ any more, but the day before 
 we reached camp I made Crestwick cut my hair. After 
 a look at myself in Nasmyth's pocket-glass, I'm in- 
 clined to think he was unwarrantably proud of his suc- 
 cess." 
 
 After that they chatted lightly, until they walked 
 into the glow of the camp-fire, and while Bella and 
 Miss Hume plied Millicent with questions and con- 
 gratulations. Lisle took up Nasmyth's repeating rifle 
 and fired it several times. 
 
 That will bring the boys in," he explained. 
 Now I'll get Miss Gladwyne's supper." 
 
 During the meal the others came back and when they 
 had all assembled, looking the worse for their scramble 
 through the bush, Crestwick, who had occasional lapses 
 from good behavior, addressed them collectively. 
 
 " Wasn't I right.? " he asked. " I off^ered anybody 
 three to one that Lisle would be the first to find her." 
 
 " Then you ought to be ashamed of it, after the 
 expensive way in which your confidence in your opin- 
 ions has often been shown to be mistaken," declared 
 Bella. " Besides, you promised me you wouldn't 
 waste 3'our money that way again ! " 
 
 " This time I was backing a moral certainty," 
 Crestwick rejoined. "That isn't gambling; if you're 
 not convinced, you can ask the others on what grounds 
 they were so unwilling to take me. 
 
 SI 
 
 jj
 
 AN UNPLEASANT SURrillSE 303 
 
 Receiving no encouragement, he addressed Millicent, 
 who was extremely vexed with him. 
 
 " I suppose you know that you have given us all 
 a good deal of anxiety. You ought to feel con- 
 trite." 
 
 " I'm not sorry if I've given j'ou a good deal of 
 trouble," Millicent retorted. " You were a long time 
 in coming to my rescue." 
 
 " That," he exclaimed, " is just the kind of thing 
 Bella used to delight in saying, though I'll own that 
 she's been much more civil lately. It's possible that 
 Carew's patience is not so long as mine." 
 
 " Aren't you getting rather personal? " Carew 
 hinted. 
 
 Crcstwick subsided with an indulgent grimace, but 
 when they retired to their shelter Lisle turned upon 
 him. 
 
 " It struck me that those jokes of yours were in 
 what you would call uncommonly bad form," he said. 
 " It would be better if you didn't make any more of 
 them." 
 
 " Bella doesn't mind ; she's used to me," Crestwick 
 grinned. 
 
 " I wasn't referring to Bella — she has somebody to 
 take care of her." 
 
 " And Miss Gladwyne hasn't? Still, that's her own 
 fault, isn't it? In my opinion, she has only to say 
 the word." He paused, seeing his companion's face 
 in the moonlight, for its expression was not encourag- 
 ing. " Oh, well ! " he added, " you needn't lose your 
 temper. There are people who can never see when a 
 thing's humorous ; I'll wind up." 
 
 In the meanwhile Millicent sat in the entrance of her
 
 304 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 tent, looking out between the dark trunks of the cedars 
 on the ghttering river. It sluiced by, lapping noisily 
 upon the shingle, lined with streaks of froth, and the 
 roar of the neighboring fall filled the lonely gorge. 
 The wildness of her surroundings had its charm; 
 she had been happier among them than she had been 
 at any time during the last twelve months in England, 
 and now she was uneasily conscious of the reason. 
 Lisle's constant watchfulness over her comfort, his 
 cheery conversation, even the sight of him when he 
 was too busy to talk, were strangely pleasant. She 
 realized why she had made him take the harder way 
 in helping her down from the rock and the knowledge 
 was disconcerting. She had been afraid to trust her- 
 self to the clasp of his arms, but not because of any 
 want of confidence in him. 
 
 Then she saw Carew kiss Bella among the cedars 
 before she left him to walk toward the tent, and the 
 sight stirred her blood. It was clear that she must be 
 on her guard ; her guide must be kept firmly at a dis- 
 tance, though this promised to be diflicult. She was, 
 to all intents and purposes, pledged to Clarence ; and 
 until Bella joined her she tried to fix her thoughts on 
 him, wondering where he was and what he was doing, 
 without being able to find much interest in the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 As it happened, Clarence was then sitting in a lux- 
 urious parlor-car as a big west-bound train sped 
 through the forests of Ontario, but his face was 
 troubled and he felt ill at ease. A little more than 
 a fortnight earlier he had met Marple at a Swiss hotel, 
 and the man had informed him that Miss Gladwyne 
 and Miss Hume had sailed for Canada. Nasmyth, he
 
 AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE 305 
 
 added, had gone by a previous steamer, to make ar- 
 rangements for some journey they wished to under- 
 take. This was the first intimation Clarence had 
 received. ^lillicent had written to him on the day be- 
 fore she sailed, but the letter, following him to one 
 of the Italian valleys, had not yet reached him, and 
 he was filled with consternation. She had stolen away, 
 as if she did not wish to be burdened with his com- 
 pany ; she was going to visit the scene of her brother's 
 death, no doubt under the guidance of Lisle, who had 
 strong suspicions concerning it. He might communi- 
 cate them to Alillicent; perhaps he had done so already, 
 which would account for her silent departure. With 
 an effort Gladwyne roused himself to action. He made 
 up his mind to follow her and, if necessary, attempt 
 some defense. Perhaps, he thought, he could manage 
 to destroy any evidence of his treachery which the 
 Canadian had discovered. 
 
 Still, he was tormented by doubts as he lounged in 
 the parlor-car, and, growing restless, he went out on 
 the rear platform and lighted a cigar. There was 
 faint moonlight, and dim trees fled past him; the rat- 
 tle of wheels and the rush of the cool wind was sooth- 
 ing. He could not think while he stood holding on 
 by the brass rail to protect himself against the lurch- 
 ing, and he found a relief in the roar as the great train 
 swept across a foaming river. They had been de- 
 tained at a junction during the afternoon, and the 
 engineer was evidently bent on making up the wasted 
 time. 
 
 Presently the door of the next car opened, and 
 Gladwyne started violently as a dark figure came out 
 on to the platform.
 
 306 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Batley ! " he cried. " What In the name of won- 
 der has brought you here ! " 
 
 Batley,- .moving forward into the moonhght, re- 
 garded him with a mocking smile. 
 
 " Nothing very remarkable ; I'd several motives. 
 For one thing, I felt I'd hke the trip — had a stroke 
 of luck not long ago which justified the expense. 
 British Columbia's nowadays almost as accessible as 
 parts of Norway, where I've generally gone to, and I 
 understand it's wilder.'* 
 
 " But how is it I haven't seen you on the train,? " 
 Gladwyne asked, In no way reassured by the man's 
 careless explanation. 
 
 " I only got on at the last junction." Batley's tone 
 was significant as he proceeded. " I was too late for 
 your Allan boat ; when I Inquired about you in London 
 I found that you had gone; but I caught the next 
 New York Cunarder and came on by Buffalo. I sup- 
 pose you stopped a day or two in Montreal, which ex- 
 plains how I've overtaken you." 
 
 " We were held up by ice off Newfoundland." 
 
 " Well," suggested Batley, " suppose we go into 
 the smoking end of the car. I dare say you'd like a 
 talk and it's rather noisy here. Besides, the cinders 
 are a little too plentiful." 
 
 They went in and Batley, lounging in a seat, lighted 
 a cigar and waited with an amused expression for the 
 other to begin. Gladwyne was intensely uneasy. It 
 had been a vast relief to be free from his companion, 
 and the last thing he desired was that Batley, who was 
 a remarkably keen-witted man, should go over the track 
 of George's expedition in company with Lisle. 
 
 " Now," he said, " I'd be glad if you would tell me
 
 AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE 307 
 
 exactly why you followed me. The reason you gave 
 didn't seem sufficient." 
 
 " Then my other object ought to be clear. You're 
 carrying a good deal of my money ; I felt it would be 
 wiser to keep an eye on you. As I said, I'd had a 
 stroke of luck that enabled me to get away." 
 
 " I suppose that means somebody has suffered ! " 
 Gladwyne, in his bitterness, could not help the in- 
 judicious sneer. 
 
 " Oh, no," returned Batley good-humoredly. " In 
 this case, I'd set a man on his feet — it's now and 
 then as profitable as pulling one down, and my methods 
 aren't always destructive. The fellow was straight 
 and I'm inclined to believe he was grateful. I don't 
 think he could have found anybody else to back him, 
 but I'm not afraid of a risk." He paused and smiled 
 at his companion. " Sometimes I make mistakes ; I 
 did so with you." 
 
 Gladwyne flushed, but Batley proceeded: 
 
 *' I may remind you that when I financed you I 
 was led to believe that you would succeed to a hand- 
 some property ; not one that was stripped of its work- 
 ing capital. I'll give you credit for misleading me 
 rather cleverly. All this is to the point, because it 
 explains my watchful attitude. You're the kind of 
 man I prefer to keep in sight." 
 
 Disgust, humiliation and anger possessed Gladwyne, 
 but he knew that he was in his companion's hands, 
 and he did not think that Batley had stated all of his 
 reasons yet. It was possible that he expected to dis- 
 cover something in British Columbia that would 
 strengthen his hold on his victim. 
 
 " Well," he replied with an attempt at calmness,
 
 308 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " we needn't quarrel, since it looks as if we'd have to 
 put up with each other for some time. Have you 
 finished what you have to say? " 
 
 " Not quite. There's one question yet. When do 
 you expect to marry Miss Gladwyne.'' " 
 
 " What is that to you ? " Clarence broke out. 
 
 *' Just this — I'm anxious to form some idea as to 
 when I'm likely to get my money back. Since Miss 
 Crestwick dropped you, there's only Miss Gladwyne 
 available, so far as I know, and you have got to 
 marry money and do so pretty soon. I'm willing to 
 do anything that may help on the match." 
 
 Gladwyne's face burned, he looked savage, but 
 Batlev continued to watch him with an ironical smile. 
 
 *' I don't want to drive you too hard, but I'm only 
 stating an obvious fact," he concluded. " Now I'll 
 leave you to think it over while I interview the porter 
 of the sleeping-car."
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 CLARENCE REACHES CAMP 
 
 THE evening was dull and gloomy, a gray sky 
 hung over the desolate hills, and Millicent, sit- 
 ting alone on a rocky slope, felt troubled and 
 depressed. Beneath her, the long hollow that crossed 
 the biir divide stretched back, colored in cheerless 
 neutral tints, into drifting mist. It was sprinkled 
 with little ponds, and banded here and there with belts 
 of stunted trees, small birches and willows, and ragged 
 cedars that hid the oozy muskegs under them. 
 
 The girl was worn with travel, for Lisle had 
 abandoned the canoes some time ago, and the party 
 had followed, by what he called easy stages, the trail 
 he and the packers had broken, though the women 
 had found the way hard enough. This, he had in- 
 formed them, would shorten the journey a good deal, 
 and he expected to fall in with some Indians, from 
 whom canoes could be obtained, once they had crossed 
 the divide; failing this, they might be compelled to 
 retrace their steps. 
 
 It was up the foi'bidding hollow they had lately 
 reached that George Gladwyne had doggedly plodded, 
 faint with hunger, on his last journey. Millicent had 
 followed his trail for the past two days and she had 
 found them filled with painful memories. All that 
 Lisle had shown her had brought back her brother and 
 
 309
 
 310 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 once more she mourned for him. But that was an old 
 wound that had partly healed and she could face the 
 sorrowful story of George's last struggles with a cer- 
 tain pride; he had endured with unwavering courage, 
 and the manner of his death became him. The girl 
 had other troubles which clouded the present and filled 
 her with misgivings for the future. 
 
 During her first few weeks in the wilderness, lying 
 all day under clear sunshine and cloudless skies, it 
 had seemed to her an enchanted land. Snow-peaks, 
 and crystal lakes that mirrored ranks of climbing firs, 
 struck her as endowed with an almost unearthly 
 beauty and as wonderful a tranquillity ; and when she 
 pushed on through the savage portals of the moun- 
 tains there was something that stirred her nature in 
 the sight of the foaming rivers and the roar of the 
 spray-veiled falls. Now, however, the glamour had' 
 gone, it had been rudely banished on the night when 
 Lisle had helped her down the rocks. She, who had 
 allowed Clarence to believe that she would marry him, 
 had found a strange delight in the company of an- 
 other man ; one whom she might have loved had she 
 been free, she tried to convince herself, in a determined 
 attempt to hide the fact that her heart cried out for 
 him. 
 
 Lisle had pushed on with a single companion on the 
 previous night to see if he could obtain canoes ; the 
 packers were breaking a trail, and the others were 
 resting in camp. Millicent was glad of this, for she 
 wanted to be alone. Suddenly, as she looked down the 
 hollow, two indistinct figures appeared out of the mist. 
 The packers had gone up the valley, but there was 
 no doubt that it was two men she saw, and they were
 
 CLARENCE REACHES CAMP 311 
 
 apparently making for the camp. As the party liad 
 met nobody since entering the wilderness, she felt curi- 
 ous about the strangers. There was something in the 
 carriage of one of them that seemed familiar; and 
 then the uneasiness of which she had already been 
 conscious became intensified as she recognized that he 
 walked like Clarence. 
 
 A few minutes later the men were hidden by a 
 growth of willows and she sped back to camp, scram- 
 bling among the rocks with a haste that was bom of 
 nervous tension. She did not see the men again — 
 it was needful to pick a path down the steep descent 
 very carefully — and when she came, breathless, upon 
 the clump of birches among which the tents were pitched 
 it was evident from the hum of voices that the 
 strangers had already" arrived. Pushing in among the 
 trees, she stopped, with her heart beating unpleasantly 
 fast, face to face with Clarence. 
 
 "Ah!" he exclaimed, moving forward to meet her; 
 " now I'm rewarded for my journey. How fit and 
 brown you look, Millicent ! " 
 
 She stood still a moment, with an expressionless 
 face, finding no words to say ; then with an eflPort 
 she roused herself and shook hands with him. 
 
 " You must have had a trying march if you fol- 
 lowed our trail," she said. " But how did you get 
 here — I mean why did you leave Switzerland.'*" 
 
 Crestwick chuckled. 
 
 " That's xery nmch what we all asked him," he 
 broke in. " In one way, it's hardly civil ; if we'd 
 kno%v'n he was coming, we'd have been better prepared 
 lo express our delight." 
 
 The lad was not, as a rule, considerate and he suf-
 
 312 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 fered from want of tact, but there was truth behind 
 what he said. It is given to only a few to be sure 
 of a warm and sincere welcome when they take their 
 friends by surprise. Nasmyth frowned at Crestwick, 
 Avho had rashly hinted at the feeling of constraint that 
 had seized upon the party. Millicent, however, was 
 looking at Gladwyne and her heart grew softer as she 
 noticed his weariness and his strained expression. 
 
 " Well," she said when he had answered her, " you 
 must sit down and rest. Nasmyth and Crestwick will 
 get you something to eat as soon as possible." 
 
 It was not what she would have wished to say — it 
 sounded dreadfully commonplace — but Batley came 
 forward with an easy laugh. 
 
 " I'm afraid our young friend " — he indicated 
 Crestwick — " is not a diplomatist, but on the whole 
 his fault's a good one ; he's more or less honest. You'll 
 forgive us for surprising you ; it was quite impossible 
 to send you a warning." 
 
 Millicent smiled, the tension suddenly slackened, and 
 as the packer who cooked was away with his comrade, 
 they all set about preparing a meal which, thanks to 
 Batley, was eaten amid a flow of lively conversation. 
 The man was weary, but he could rise to an occasion 
 and summon to his aid a genial wit. Clarence was glad 
 of this ; fatigue had reacted on him, increasing his 
 anxiety, and he had been chilled by the coldness of his 
 reception. Even the cordiality his companions now 
 displayed was suspicious, because it suggested that 
 they wished to atone for something that had previously 
 been lacking. He ate, however, and talked when he 
 found an opportunity, and afterward acquiesced when 
 Millicent declined to be drawn away from the others.
 
 CLARENCE REACHES CAMP 313 
 
 When the meal was finished, they sat close together 
 about the fire, for coldness came with the dusk, but by 
 degrees the conversation languished. The increasing 
 chill, the gloom and the desolation of their surround- 
 ings affected them all ; and nobody had been quite at 
 ease since Gladwyne's arrival. He was too tired to 
 make more than spasmodic attempts to talk, and 
 though Milliccnt was sorry for him she could not help 
 contrasting him with Lisle. She had seen the latter 
 almost worn, out with severe labor, but even then he 
 had been cheerful, ready to encourage his companions 
 with lively badinage. He seemed to take pleasure in 
 forcing his body to the utmost strain it could bear. 
 
 The light had died away into the partial obscurity 
 which would last until sunrise when Lisle walked into 
 camp. The fire had burned up, and ]Millicent saw his 
 start and his face set hard at the sight of Gladwjme. 
 
 " This is a surprise," he said. " When did you get 
 here.?" 
 
 " About two hours ago. We found where you left 
 the water and followed up your trail," Gladwyne an- 
 swered. 
 
 " How many packers and what stores did you 
 bring.'* " 
 
 " Two packers," replied Gladwyne. " There were 
 no more available at the last settlement. Batley has a 
 list of the provisions — we cut them down as much as 
 possible. As we were anxious to ovei-take you, we 
 traveled light." 
 
 '•■ Lisle took the list Batley gave him and examined it 
 by the glow of the fire. 
 
 " It looks as if vou didn't mind ondangerinff the 
 safety of the whole party," he broke out. " This
 
 814 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 expedition is already quite large enough, and you add 
 four people to it with less than half the necessary 
 stores, so that you could save yourself a little trouble 
 on the journey! What's more important, we can't 
 make up for the shortage by better speed. Only two 
 of you can pack an average load, though all four must 
 be fed." 
 
 Millicent had listened, hot with anger and a little 
 surprised. Lisle had his faults, including a short- 
 ness of temper, but he was now showing a strain of 
 what she considered primitive barbarism which he had 
 hitherto concealed. A cultured Englishman would 
 have led Clarence aside or waited for an opportunity 
 before remonstrating with him ; and then her face 
 burned as she wondered whether Lisle had been actu- 
 ated by savage jealousy. It was, however, insuffer- 
 able that he should display it in this fashion. 
 
 " I must point out that I organized the expedition," 
 she said. " Everybody here is my guest." 
 
 " Did you invite Gladwyne and Batley? " 
 
 " I did not," Millicent was compelled to own. " For 
 all that, they are now in the same position as the rest. 
 I must ask you to remember it." 
 
 Lisle had some trouble in controlling himself, but he 
 nodded. " Well," he responded, " I'll have to alter 
 several of our arrangements and I'll go along and talk 
 it over with the packers. I've got the canoes required, 
 and we'll take the trail at seven to-morrow." 
 
 He strode away toward the packers' fire, quite aware 
 that he had not behaved in a very seemly way, but 
 still consumed with indignation against Gladwyne. 
 When he had disappeared, Clarence looked up. 
 
 " I'm sorry if we have given you unnecessary trou-
 
 CLABENCE REACHES CAMP 315 
 
 ble ; but docs your guide often adopt that rather 
 hectoring tone? " 
 
 His languid contempt roused Crestwick. 
 
 " Lisle's responsible for the safety of all of us," 
 the lad broke out, " and you haven't shown much re- 
 gard for it in making your loads as light as you 
 could ! " 
 
 Millicent raised her hand. 
 
 " We'll talk about something else for a few minutes 
 and then break up. It's an early start to-mon'ow." 
 
 They dispersed shortly afterward, but Batley sought 
 Lisle before retiring to rest. 
 
 " I regret that we have added to your anxiety," he 
 began. " Of course, transport is a serious difficulty 
 — I've had some little experience of this kind of 
 thincf, 
 
 »> 
 
 " In the field? " Lisle asked bluntly. " I've had a 
 suspicion of it. Then why didn't you remember? " 
 He saw Batley's smile, for they were standing by the 
 packers' fire. " Oh," he added, " you needn't trouble 
 to shield Gladwyne. I formed my opinion of him 
 some time ago — he's a mighty poor specimen." 
 
 " I'm inclined to agree with you," replied Batley 
 dryly. 
 
 They set off early the next morning, and after his 
 forced march, Gladwyne found the load given him 
 sufficiently heavy. He was badly jaded, aching all 
 over, and disturbed in mind, when they camped near 
 the summit of the divide late in the afternoon without 
 his having been able to secure a word with jMillicent 
 alone. He felt that he must gain her consent to a 
 formal engagement before Lisle let fall any hint of 
 his suspicions, which he did not believe had been done
 
 316 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 so far. Afterward, knowing Milllcent, he thought 
 she would staunchly refuse to listen to anything to 
 his discredit, and he could, if it were needful, ascribe 
 Lisle's attack to jealousy. He must, however, also 
 contrive to push on ahead of the party, on some 
 excuse, and obliterate any remaining trace of the 
 former expedition's provision caches ; then he would 
 be safe. 
 
 Millicent had strolled away from the others and was 
 standing among the rocks when he overtook her. The 
 signs of fatigue and tension in his face softened her 
 toward him. Still, it was only compassion ; she felt 
 no thrill, but rather an involuntary shrinking and a 
 sense of alarm. She was to be called upon to fulfil a 
 duty to which she had somehow pledged herself. 
 
 *' Millicent," he began, " things can't go on as they 
 have been doing — pleasant as it was. I have waited 
 patiently, but you can't expect too much. Now I 
 have come a long way to claim my reward. I want 
 the right to look after you, and to tell the others so." 
 
 His abruptness and hoarseness were expressive, but 
 she felt that there was something lacking and she an- 
 swered with a flippancy she seldom indulged in. 
 
 *' You thought it needful to bring your privy 
 counselor with you ? " 
 
 *' No ; he came without even asking my permission." 
 
 " Well," she said, sitting down with forced calmness, 
 " it doesn't matter ; but are you quite sure now that 
 you really want me? " 
 
 There was no doubt that he was desperately anxious 
 for her formal word ; there was a feverish eagerness 
 in his eyes. It puzzled her, but it left her unmoved 
 and cold.
 
 CLARENCE REACHES CAMP 317 
 
 " Want you ! " he cried. " Can you ask? Haven't 
 I constantly shown my devotion? " 
 
 " For the last few months — I mean after Lisle 
 went back to Canada," she replied with gathering 
 color. " Before then, for a time, I think one could 
 reasonably have doubted it." 
 
 He looked confused ; that Bella had attracted him 
 had been obvious, and there was no way of getting 
 over the fact gracefully. 
 
 " I'm afraid I have mj^ weaknesses — want of bal- 
 ance, impulsiveness, and a capacity for being easily 
 piqued," he confessed. " Well, though perhaps I de- 
 served it, you were cold and aloof enough to madden a 
 more patient man, and I suppose I slackly yielded to 
 wounded vanity. All the time, you were the one I 
 had chosen ; tlie only woman who had ever really 
 stirred or could influence me. Nearly as long as I 
 can remember I have loved and respected you. Oc- 
 casionally you unbent enough to show me that you 
 recognized it." 
 
 There was some tinith in this, and seeing the change 
 in her expression, he went on : 
 
 *' You can't cast me off and fling me back upon 
 mj'self — I couldn't face that. During those last few 
 months in England, you helped me fonvard far more 
 than you suspected — sliowcd me my duties, enabled 
 me to carry them out. I can't go on alone ; I'm your 
 responsibility ; having taken it up, you can't deny it 
 now," 
 
 Millicent smiled faintly. 
 
 " No," she admitted ; " I suppose that would be 
 hardly fair." 
 
 He would have thrown his ami about her, but she
 
 318 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 laid a hand on his shoulder and with gentle firmness 
 held him back. 
 
 " No," she said, with a deep color in her face ; " not 
 yet. We have been associated as cousins ; I must get 
 used to the new position." 
 
 He had wit enough to 3'ield, but he kissed her hands 
 exultantly. 
 
 " It's a pledge ! I may tell the others ? " 
 " Yes," she consented quietly, " I think you may." 
 For a while he sat at her feet, with her hand on 
 his shoulder, talking about the future, and she was 
 sensible of a certain calm satisfaction which had in it 
 more than a trace of resignation. She had not shirked 
 her duty, she was safe from temptation, and she had 
 after all a sincere, half-pitying tenderness for the 
 man. Her liking for him would, she thought, grow 
 stronger, and the passion which Lisle had once or twice 
 half awakened in her was a thing to be subdued and 
 dreaded. Though Gladwyne saw that she was but 
 lightly moved, he was content, and some time had 
 passed when they went slowly back together to the 
 camp. 
 
 Miss Hume was the first to notice them and when 
 Millicent smiled she went hastily forward and kissed 
 her. Then Bella joined them and Batley offered his 
 good wishes in fitting terms. When Lisle and Nas- 
 myth came up, a word from Bella was sufficient 
 for them. For a moment the girl was startled by 
 what she read in the Canadian's face. It was, however, 
 invisible to Millicent. Turning suddenly round with- 
 out speaking he strode away, followed by Nasmyth. 
 Stopping when he was hidden from the camp among 
 the rocks Lisle turned savagely to his companion.
 
 CLARENCE REACHES CAMP 319 
 
 " You heard what Bella said ! " 
 
 "I did!" replied Nasmjth. "The hound! It 
 must be stopped ! " 
 
 " Yes," asserted Lisle, more coolly, " that's a sure 
 thing. Still, there are difficulties — she may not be- 
 lieve my story now. I almost think I'll wait until we 
 reach the two caches ; then with something to back my 
 statements, I might force the truth from him." 
 
 " In that case, you had better watch him," warned 
 Nasmyth, looking deeply disturbed. " He may try 
 to reach them first." 
 
 The next moment Crestwick joined them. 
 
 " What's to be done, Vernon ? " he exclaimed. 
 ** Miss Gladwyne's engagement's formally announced 
 — it can't go on ! " 
 
 " Why.? " Lisle's voice was stern. " What has it to 
 do with you.f" " 
 
 " Well," explained Crestwick, hesitating, " the man's 
 not to be trusted, he's dangerous. He simply can't 
 be allowed to make this match ! " He paused and 
 spread out his hands. " I'm horribly troubled about 
 it — I'd better tell you that I know — " 
 
 " You know nothing that need be mentioned," Lisle 
 interrupted him. " That's positive ; you have to re- 
 member it. As to the rest, you'll leave the matter 
 entirely in my hands." 
 
 " Oh, well," agreed Crestwick, " if you order it. 
 That relieves me of my responsibility. I'm uncom- 
 monly glad to get rid of it." 
 
 Lisle abruptl}' strode awaj^, and Crestwick saw that 
 Nasmyth was regarding him curiously. 
 
 " Lisle was quite right," Nasmyth said. " He only 
 forestalled me in instructions I meant to give you."
 
 320 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " Then 3'ou understand what I was referring to ? " 
 exclaimed Crestwick. 
 
 " I've a good idea," Nasmyth answered dryly. " In 
 my opinion, so has Lisle." 
 
 " But you were on the far side of the hedge on the 
 morning we tried the horse, and Lisle was down. He 
 wasn't conscious when I broke through the thorns." 
 
 *' Quite correct ; but it's most unlikely he lost con- 
 sciousness from the fall, and he was lying with his 
 face turned toward the jump — it wasn't until the 
 chestnut came down on his shoulder that he was badly 
 hurt. The doctor agreed with me on that point." 
 
 "That might have struck me," Crestwick rejoined. 
 " But you owned that you had an idea of what hap- 
 pened at the jump. How did you get it.'' Did Lisle 
 tell you.?" 
 
 Nasmyth smiled grimly. 
 
 " I'm firmly convinced that he'll never mention what 
 he saw or suspects to anybody, unless it's to Glad- 
 wyne. As to the rest, the hedge wasn't thick enough 
 to prevent my seeing through it." 
 
 " He's an unusual man," declared Crestwick in an 
 admiring tone. " I haven't met his equal. But I'll 
 keep my eye on Gladwyne — there's risk enough at 
 some of the rapids — the hound shan't have another 
 chance if I can help it." 
 
 They turned and went back to camp, but on reach- 
 ing it they sat down among the packers, avoiding 
 Gladwyne and Millicent.
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 A BOLD SCHEME 
 
 THE sense of security which Milhcent experienced 
 on announcing her engagement was not penna- 
 nent and in a few days the doubts that had 
 troubled her crept back into her mind. She had never 
 entertained any marked illusions about Clarence and 
 although, now that she was irrevocably pledged to 
 him, she endeavored to fix her thoughts on his most 
 likable qualities, even these appeared in a less favor- 
 able light than they had formerly done. The growth 
 of the warmer attachment she had expected to feel 
 was strangely slow, and though it was early to in- 
 dulge in regrets her heart sometimes grew heavy as 
 she looked foi'ward to the future. Clarence was con- 
 siderate, attentive and deferential in a polished way, 
 but he lacked something one looked for in a lover. 
 Besides, she was anxious about him ; he looked worn, 
 his manner suggested that he was bearing a strain, 
 but this was in his favor, for it roused her compas- 
 sion. She fancied that the cause of it was financial, 
 and this in a sense was encouraging, because this was 
 a trouble from which she could purchase him im- 
 munity. 
 
 In the meanwhile she was stirred by mournful 
 memories as she followed the last stages of her 
 
 Q 
 
 brother's journey and visited the lonely spot where 
 
 321
 
 322 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 he had met his end. Somehow the thought of him 
 encouraged her — George had quietly done his duty, 
 regardless of the cost, and even if her burden proved 
 heavy, which it was premature to admit, she must bear 
 it cheerfully. 
 
 At length they stopped one evening at a portage, 
 and Lisle examined the stores. 
 
 " The food's getting short," he announced. " One 
 or two of you had better take out your rifles the first 
 thing to-morrow, while the rest go fishing. I'll tackle 
 the portage with two packers." 
 
 He began his work at sunrise the next morning and 
 it was toward evening when Crestwick came back ex- 
 ultant with a blacktail buck. Nasmyth was fishing 
 near the camp and Lisle was busy with a canoe near by. 
 
 "Where are the rest.'' How have they got on.''" 
 Lisle asked. 
 
 " I think Batley went back to the last reach with 
 Carew's rod," Crestwick answered. " I met Gladwyne 
 and one of the packers on the low range back yonder ; 
 they'd only got a blue grouse." 
 
 " I could have done with the man here," said Lisle. 
 " Which way were they heading? " 
 
 " Back up-river, the way we came." 
 
 Lisle made no comment, but Crestwick thought he 
 found the information reassuring, and thrusting out 
 the canoe he was swept away down the easiest part 
 of the rapid, while Crestwick assisted Nasmyth to 
 land a trout. Lisle had returned to the camp when 
 the packer who had accompanied Clarence came in 
 alone, bringing a couple of grouse. 
 
 "What's become of Mr. Gladwyne.''" Lisle asked 
 him.
 
 A BOLD SCHEME 323 
 
 " Plasn't he got back? " replied the other, glancing 
 about. " I lost him on the far slope of the bluff 
 about noon, but as he could see the river most any- 
 where from the top I went right on. There was a 
 deer trail I was trying to follow." 
 
 Lisle said nothing more to the packer but walked 
 rapidly toward where the cook was getting supper 
 ready. Nasmyth followed him. 
 
 *' Did you give ]Mr. Gladv'3'ne any lunch to carry 
 with him when he left camp ? " Lisle asked the man. 
 
 " I was busy when he came along and I told him to 
 look around for himself. I think he took some canned 
 stuff and there was quite a big loaf missing." 
 
 " Bring the box ^^ou keep the canned goods in ! " 
 
 The cook produced it. 
 
 *' There's two meat cans gone, anywa}'," he re- 
 marked. " Looks as if ]Mr. Gladwj^ne figured on get- 
 ting mighty hungry." 
 
 Lisle nodded. 
 
 " Put me up enough bread and fish for two of us 
 for two days." 
 
 He moved away with Nasmyth, and they had left the 
 fire behind when he spoke, his voice hoarse with anger. 
 
 " Gladwyne's gone to the cache ! He's got half a 
 day's clear start of us and he knows the country. 
 It's pretty open and he'll make quite a good pace 
 on a straight trail, while tlie river bends. Get the 
 stuff I asked for while I give the others a few in- 
 structions." 
 
 " You mean to start after him at once? " 
 
 " As soon as you're ready," Lisle said shortly. 
 
 He turned back toward where the others were sit- 
 ting waiting for supper.
 
 324) THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " As Gladwyne hasn't turned up, Nasmyth and I 
 are going to look for him," he announced. " There's 
 nothing to be alarmed about, but it's quite likely we 
 may not be back in the morning. If we don't turn 
 up by noon, you had better start down-river and we'll 
 pick you up farther on. I don't want to waste an- 
 other day." 
 
 " Do you think he has got lost altogether.'^ " Mil- 
 licent asked anxiously. 
 
 " No," answered Lisle, in a reassuring manner. 
 " Still, some of these ridges are bad to climb and quite 
 a lot of things may happen to delay him." 
 
 He called to a packer and gave him definite orders to 
 take the party down-river and wait at a spot agreed 
 upon; and a few minutes later he and Nasmyth left 
 the camp. 
 
 Shortly afterward Batley came in. 
 
 *' Where are the others ? " he asked. 
 
 They told him and he looked thoughtful. 
 
 " So Lisle started at once ! Which way did he and 
 Nasmyth go.'' " 
 
 " Up the ridge behind us, but they turned down- 
 stream when they reached the top," Carew replied. 
 
 Batley scented a mystery. 
 
 "Well," he said, "I think I'll go after them; I 
 might be useful. Of course, you'll start to-morrow 
 as Lisle told you, and if I'm not back by then, I'll 
 follow the river to the rendezvous he mentioned." 
 
 He disappeared, as did Crestwick, who came in for 
 supper later on, and as the packers had pitched their 
 tent lower down, there was now only Carew left with 
 the women in camp. They were all a little uneasy as 
 dusk grew near ; the haste v/ith which the men had set
 
 A BOLD SCHEME 325 
 
 out one after another struck them as ominous. Bella's 
 mind was unusually active, for she had promptly de- 
 cided that there was something behind all this, and 
 when at last Millicent strolled away from the others 
 she followed her to the edge of the water. A ridge 
 of rock cut them off from view of the camp and 
 though she fancied that Millicent was not pleased to 
 see her, Bella sat down upon a stone. 
 
 " In a way, the anxiety that Lisle and the rest have 
 shown to find Clarence is flattering," she began, ex- 
 pressing part of her thoughts. " I wonder if they'd 
 all have gone off in such a hurry if Jim had got lost." 
 
 " Your brother knows the bush," returned Milli- 
 cent, hiding her fears. 
 
 Bella did not respond to this. She had decided that 
 Millicent must not be allowed to marry Gladwyne, but 
 she could not bring herself to denounce the man. If 
 that must be done, somebody else would have to under- 
 take the task. At the same time, she felt it incumbent 
 on her to give the girl some warning, or at least to find 
 out how far her confidence in her lover went, in order 
 to determine how advice could best be offered. 
 
 " I wonder if you feel quite sure you will be happy 
 with Clarence.?" she ventured. 
 
 " You have provoked the retort — were 3'ou con- 
 vinced that you would be happy with Arthur Carew, 
 w^hen you made up your mind to mai-ry him so sud- 
 denly? " 
 
 Bella's smile expressed forbearance. It was get- 
 ting dark, but she could see the hot flush in her com- 
 panion's checks and the sparkle in her eyes. Neither 
 was encouraging, but Bella was not easily daunted, 
 and she felt that her persistence was really meritorious,
 
 326 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 considering that until lately Millicent had never been 
 cordial to her. 
 
 " Perhaps I'd better answer," she said sweetly. " I 
 was sure of Arthur, and that means a good deal more 
 than that I kneAv he was in love with me — I don't 
 suppose you heard that he'd proposed to me once 
 before ? " 
 
 "Why didn't you take him then.?" Millicent asked 
 coldly. " Remember you have justified my being 
 personal." 
 
 Bella grew rather hot — when Carew had made his 
 first offer she had been in eager pursuit of Gladwyne 
 — but she sternly suppressed a desire to retaliate. 
 
 " I don't think we need go into that," she replied. 
 " As I said, I was sure of Arthur — I knew his char- 
 acter, knew he was better than I am, that he could be 
 depended on. He's the kind of man one is safe with ; 
 I felt that the more I saw of him, the more I could 
 trust him. Perhaps the feeling's a safer guide than 
 passion — it stands longer wear — and now I'm get- 
 ting to like him better every day." 
 
 Her voice dropped to a tender note and Millicent 
 felt a little astonished, and ashamed of her harshness. 
 This was a new Bella, one in whose existence she could 
 hardly have believed. 
 
 " I haven't quite finished, though I don't often talk 
 like this," Bella went on. " I feel that without the 
 confidence I've tried to describe marriage must be a 
 terrible risk — one might find such ugly qualities in 
 the man ; even defects you could forgive beforehand 
 would become so much worse when you had to suffer 
 because of them. Of course, one can't expect perfec- 
 tion, but there ought to be something — honor, a good
 
 A BOLD SCHEME 327 
 
 heart, a generous mind — that one can rely on as a 
 sure foundation. When you have that, you can build, 
 and even then the building may be difficult." She 
 paused before she concluded : " ^ly dear, I'm hap- 
 pier than I deserve to be ; I have chosen wisely." 
 
 Nothing more was said for a few minutes, but Bella, 
 studying her companion's face, was more or less con- 
 tent. Millicent's faith in Clarence was weak, she was 
 forcing herself to believe in him ; it might be possible 
 to make her see her lover in his true character, though 
 Bella had not yet determined on the exact course she 
 would adopt. Then Carew called from the camp and 
 she went back, while jMillicent sat still with grave 
 doubts in her heart. Bella's faith in her husband was 
 warranted, and jNIillicent was enough of an optimist 
 to believe that such men were not uncommon — there 
 was Lisle, for example, and Xasmyth. With them one 
 would undoubtedly have something to build a happy 
 and profitable life upon — but what could be done 
 with one in whom there was no foundation, only the 
 shifting sands of impulses, or, perhaps, unsounded 
 depths of weakness into which the painfully-raised 
 edifice might crumble? She stove to convince herself 
 that she was becoming wickedly hypercritical, thinking 
 treasonably of her lover, particularly in contrasting 
 him with her guide. There must be no more of that, 
 and she rose and walked back to her tent with a resolu- 
 tion that cost her an effort. 
 
 In the meanwhile Lisle and Nasmyth were pushing 
 on as fast as possible along the stony summit of the 
 ridge. There was moonlight, which made it a little 
 easier, but they stumbled every now and then. Here 
 and there they were forced to scramble down the sides
 
 828 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 of a gullj and on reaching the bottom to plunge into 
 water, and once they had to scramble some distance 
 shut in by the rocks before they could find a means of 
 ascending. Still, they were hard and inured to fa- 
 tigue, and they never slackened the pace. When 
 striding along a stretch of smoother ground Nasmyth 
 gathered breath to speak. 
 
 " We were easily taken in," he declared ; " though 
 the thing was cunningly planned. Gladwyne took the 
 packer with him and headed back at first, to divert 
 suspicion. It would be easy enough to lose the man 
 and turn down-stream again ; and that he intended 
 something of the kind is proved by his taking so 
 much food with him. No doubt, he'd rather have 
 avoided that, in case it looked suspicious, but he's had 
 one hungry march over the same ground, and I dare 
 say it was quite enough. Besides, he could defy us 
 once he'd emptied and obliterated the caches." 
 
 " You understand the way your people's minds work 
 better than I do," Lisle returned dryly. 
 
 " That's natural, isn't it.? The idea that I'm most 
 impressed with just now is that Millicent might be- 
 lieve it her duty to stick to Clarence more closely be- 
 cause of a tale that was merely damaging. She would 
 never allow herself or anybody else to credit it, unless 
 she had absolutely convincing proof." 
 
 " Yes," agreed Lisle ; " I guess you're right. That's 
 precisely why we have got to get there first." 
 
 A thicket of thorny vines and canes barred his wa}'^, 
 but he went straight at the midst of it and struggled 
 through, savagely smashing and rending dowTi the 
 brush. The clothes he had borrowed from Carew 
 looked considerably the worse for wear when he came
 
 A BOLD SCHEME 329 
 
 out ; and then he recklessly- leaped across a dark cleft 
 the bottom of which he could not see. Presently they 
 loft the ridge and headed away from the river, which 
 flowed round a wide curve, and toward dawn they were 
 brought up by a ravine. The roar of water rose 
 hoarsely from its depths. The moon was getting low 
 and the silvery light did not reach far down the op- 
 posite side, but they could see a sheer, smooth wall of 
 rock, and the width of the chasm rendered any at- 
 tempt to jump it out of the question. 
 
 " No way of getting across here," decided Lisle. 
 " At the same time, it looks as if Gladwyne must be 
 held up on the same side that we arc. We'll follow 
 the canon ; down-stream, I think." 
 
 The moonlight was getting dimmer, but, at some 
 risk of falling into the rift, they pushed on along 
 the brink, looking down as they went. They could 
 see no means of descending, but at length, when rocks 
 and trees were getting blacker and a little more dis- 
 tinct in the chilly dawn, they made out a fallen trunk 
 with broken white branches lying upon a tall mass 
 of rock below. 
 
 " I've an idea that the top of that tree reached 
 across to this side when it first came down," Lisle 
 said. "Have you got a match?" 
 
 Nasmj'th had brought a few carefully-treasured 
 wax matches with him, and he lighted one. It was 
 very still, except for the roar of the hidden torrent, 
 and the pale flame burned steadily in the motionless 
 cold air. It showed a couple of hollows, where some- 
 thing had rested, close to the edge of the rift, and 
 one or two fresh scratches on a strip of rock. Lisle 
 stooped down beside them.
 
 330 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 *' Hold the thing lower ! " he exclaimed sharply. 
 " It's as I suspected — this is where Gladwyne got 
 across ; though he has better nerves than I thought 
 he had. The broken end of a branch or two rested 
 right here, and he was smart enough to heave the butt 
 off the other bank, after he'd crawled over. Looks to 
 me as if it had broken off yonder stump. Guess 
 there'll be light enough to look for a way across in 
 half an hour." 
 
 Sitting dow^l he filled his pipe, and shortly after- 
 ward he raised one hand as if listening. For a while, 
 Nasmyth could hear nothing except the roar of water ; 
 there was not a sound that he could catch in the thin 
 straggling bush behind them where few trails of mist 
 were stretched athwart the trees. Then he started as 
 a faint crackling and snapping began in the distance. 
 
 " Can it be a bear? " he asked. 
 
 " No ; it's a man ! " 
 
 Nasmyth was somewhat astonished. They had not 
 seen a human being except those of their party for 
 a long while, and it seemed strange that they should 
 come across one now in the early dawn in those remote 
 wilds. 
 
 " He's wearing boots," he said diffidently, as the 
 crackling drew nearer. 
 
 " Yes," Lisle responded ; " he's making a good deal 
 more noise than a bushman would." 
 
 The sound steadily approached them. Nasmyth 
 found something mysterious and rather eerie in it, and 
 he was on the whole relieved when a dark figure mate- 
 rialized among the trees near by. He could barely see 
 it, but Lisle called out sharply : 
 
 " What has brought you on our trail, Batley.'' "
 
 A BOLD SCHEME 331 
 
 The man came toward them with a breathless laugh 
 and sat down. 
 
 " It isn't your trail but Gladwyne's I'm interested 
 in, and I can't say that I've succeeded in following 
 that. I merely pushed on, until I struck this canon 
 and as I couldn't get across, I followed it up." 
 
 " You're not easily scared," Lisle commented. 
 " You might have got lost. Guess you had some 
 motive tliat made you take the risk." 
 
 " I felt pretty safe. You see, I knew I could strike 
 the river, if necessary. At the same time you were 
 right about the motive — in fact, there's no use in 
 trying to hide it. I may as well confess that I'd 
 sooner keep Gladwyne in sight." 
 
 " Out of regard for his welfare F " Nasmyth asked. 
 
 Batley laughed. 
 
 " Not altogether. The fact is, he's carrying a good 
 deal of my money." 
 
 " One should have imagined that you'd have had 
 him well insured." 
 
 " That's quite correct. If he came to grief in 
 England, I shouldn't anticipate any trouble, but it 
 would be different out here and, everything considered, 
 I'd rather avoid complications with the insurance com- 
 panies. Now that I've been candid, do 3'ou feel in- 
 clined to reciprocate.'' " 
 
 " Not in the least," Lisle replied shortly-. " I'm not 
 sure I even sympathize. But since you've turned up 
 you'll have to stick to us ; I don't want to waste time 
 in leading another search party. As soon as there's 
 a little more light, we'll try to get across the canon." 
 
 " Thanks for the permission," smiled Batley, light- 
 ing a cigar.
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 THE END OF THE PURSUIT 
 
 Y degrees the light got clearer, the scattered 
 black cedars grew into definite form, and a 
 strip of foaming water showed in the depths 
 of the chasm. Lisle walked some distance along the 
 edge, searching for an easier place to cross, but the 
 rocks were smooth and almost perpendicular except 
 where they overhung the torrent. He went back to 
 where the others were sitting and found that they had 
 been joined by Crestwick, who briefly explained that 
 having set out on their trail he had been stopped by 
 the canon and had followed it up until it led him to 
 them. 
 
 " It looks worse farther along ; we'll have to try it 
 here," Lisle announced. " Can you get down, Nas- 
 myth.? " 
 
 Nasmyth glanced into the rift. It was, he judged, 
 nearly sixty feet in depth, but part of the bank on 
 which he stood had slipped down into the stream, leav- 
 ing an uneven surface by means of which an agile man 
 might descend. A tall slab of rock, evidently part of 
 the fallen mass, rose in a pinnacle from the water, 
 and on top of it rested the branches of the tree that 
 Gladwyne had used as a bridge and had afterward 
 dislodged. The rock behind it on the opposite bank 
 was absolutely smooth, but the thicker end of the log, 
 
 332
 
 THE END OF THE PURSUIT 333 
 
 which had fallen against the face, reached to within 
 about nine feet of the summit. 
 
 " Yes," he said, answering Lisle's question ; " but 
 I'm very doubtful whether I can get up the other side. 
 The last bit looks particularly awkward ; there's an 
 outward bulge just beneath the top." 
 
 " We might manage it by giving the leader a lift, 
 if we got so far," Batley suggested, pointing to the 
 sharp slab. " That pike should help us ; I think it 
 would go." 
 
 " You think it would go ? " queried Nasmyth mean- 
 ingly. "Aren't you mixing idioms? Pike's what 
 we'd say round Wasdale, and your other expression's 
 not uncommon in Switzerland." 
 
 Batley laughed. 
 
 " I'll own that I've done some rock work in both 
 districts, though I was thinner then. But I've an 
 idea that time's precious to our leader." 
 
 He lowered himself over the edge and finding foot- 
 hold, went down cautiously by crack and fissure, while 
 the others followed with some trouble. Alighting 
 waist-deep in a frothing rush of water, he was driven 
 for a few yards down-stream, and it was only by seek- 
 ing the support of the rock that he slowly made head 
 against the torrent. Lisle joined him when he reached 
 the foot of the pinnacle, where they stopped to gather 
 breath with a thin shower of spray whirling about 
 them. The light was still dim down in the bottom of 
 tlie chasm, and the mass of rock ran up above them, 
 shadowy, black and almost smooth. 
 
 Wasting no time in examination, Lisle flung himself 
 upon it, seeking for a grip with elbows and knees. 
 He had ascended a vard or two when he lost hold and
 
 334 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 coming down with a run fell Avith a splash Into the 
 stream. 
 
 " I didn't think you'd manage It that way," Batley 
 remarked. " The edge appears a little more promis- 
 ing." 
 
 He went up, with Lisle following, finding hold for 
 knees and fingers, while Nasmyth and Crestwick, pant- 
 ing heavily, encouraged each other below. On reach- 
 ing the top of the pinnacle, Batley lay upon It av.d 
 gave Lisle his hand ; and when he had drawn him up 
 he pointed to the tree. 
 
 " I'll go first, for reasons that will become apparent 
 later," he explained. " Hold on to the log; It doesn't 
 seem firmly fixed." 
 
 The tree was small and when Lisle shook It the butt 
 moved against the face of the rock, which was sepa- 
 rated by a broad gap from the top of thje fallen mass. 
 Batley was heavy, but he ascended cautiously, while 
 Lisle leaned upon the log to steady It. Then, calling 
 Nasmyth to take his place. Lisle went up. When he 
 was near the top, It looked as If their progress must 
 abruptly cease. The butt was narrow and the summit 
 of the rock above it projected somewhat. There was 
 not the smallest knob or crevice one could grasp, and 
 below them In the shadowy rift the torrent boiled 
 furiously among massy stones. It was not a place 
 to slip In. 
 
 Batley, however, rose very carefully, with his feet 
 upon the shattered butt and his hands pressed against 
 the rock, until he stood almost upright. 
 
 " You'll have to climb up over me until you can get 
 your fingers on the top," he said. " Take time when 
 you get up and feel for a good hold."
 
 THE END OF THE PURSUIT 335 
 
 Reaching his shoulders, Lisle stood on them while 
 Nasmyth and Crestwick on the pinnacle beneath looked 
 up at a somewhat impressive spectacle. Lisle's head 
 and shoulders were now above the edge, but he was 
 forced to bend backward and outward by the project- 
 ing bulge which pressed against his breast, and his 
 cautious movements suggested that he could find no 
 hold. It appeared impossible for him to descend, un- 
 less he did so accidentally, and in that event nothing 
 could save him from a fall to the bottom of the ravine. 
 For a while, they watched his tense figure moving 
 f utilely ; and then Batley, standing most precariously 
 poised, bent his ann and seized one of Lisle's feet. 
 He spoke in a breathless gasp as he thinist it upward; 
 Lisle's legs swung free and he disappeared beyond 
 the edge. The two below were conscious of a vast 
 relief. It was tempered, however, by the knowledge 
 that they must shortly emulate their companion's 
 exploit. 
 
 " Take off your pack ! " Batley called to Lisle. 
 " Split the bag, if it's necessary, and lower the end 1 
 But be quick ! This isn't a comfortable position." 
 
 The pack in which the small bush rancher conveys 
 his provisions from the nearest store as a rule con- 
 sists of a cotton flour bag with a pair of suspenders 
 fastened to its corners, and Nasmyth had provided the 
 party with a few receptacles of similar pattern but 
 more strongly made before entering the wilds. The 
 straps, when Lisle let them down, reached several feet 
 from the top, and Batley bade Nasmj'th and Crest- 
 wick ascend. They managed it with assistance from 
 Lisle, who seized them from above. Tlien Batley 
 called up to them.
 
 
 336 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " I'm going to test the tackle. Give me a hand up 
 as soon as I'm over the bulge ! " 
 
 It was difficult to hear him, as he was still beneath 
 the projecting edge, and they watched the straining 
 straps with keen anxiety until a hand that felt for a 
 hold upon the rock appeared. Lisle seized it, with 
 Nasmj'th ready to assist, and Batley came up, gasp- 
 ing, with the perspiration streaming from his face. 
 
 " I'd have managed it easily at one time," he said. 
 This is what comes of civilization and soft living." 
 You brought us across ; we owe you a good deal 
 for it," declared Lisle. 
 
 Batley smiled at him as they set off again. 
 
 " In this case, I won't be an exacting creditor. In 
 fact, it's rather curious how we've hit it off, consider- 
 ing that you wouldn't hear of a compromise and our 
 interests are opposed." 
 
 " I don't know what your interests are," Lisle re- 
 turned dryly. 
 
 " Then, in one way, I'm ahead of you. I know 
 your wishes, and Nasmyth's — you don't want Clar- 
 ence to marry Miss Gladwyne. It's your motive I'm 
 not sure about. Do you want the girl yourself.'* " 
 
 They were some distance in front of the others, who 
 were too far behind to hear them. Lisle looked at 
 his companion steadily. The man was engaged in a 
 business that was regarded with general disfavor, but 
 there was something he liked about him and he did 
 not resent his bluntness. 
 
 " Well," he answered, " it isn't for the reason you've 
 given that I mean to stop the match.' 
 
 " Can you do so.? " 
 
 " I'm going to try.'* 
 
 jj
 
 THE END OF THE PURSUIT SSI 
 
 Batley smiled reflectively. 
 
 " And the present journey is somehow connected 
 with the attempt? Now I believe I might have left 
 you held up on the wrong side of the canon ; the 
 idea was in my mind and you can give me credit for 
 not yielding to it. I suppose there would be no use 
 in my asking you for a hint as to the relation between 
 my rather tricky companion's expedition and his 
 cousin's death.'* " 
 
 " None in the least," said Lisle decidedly. 
 
 Batley made a gesture of acquiescence. 
 
 " Oh, well ! We must try to be friends as long as 
 possible." 
 
 Nothing more was said about the matter, and they 
 spent the day forcing a passage through scrub timber, 
 up precipitous hillsides, and across long stony ridges. 
 
 There was no sign of Gladwyne's trail, but that did 
 not trouble Lisle, for he knew where the man was 
 heading for. On the second day Batley showed signs 
 of distress, and Nasmyth and Crestwick were walking 
 very wearily, but Lisle held on at a merciless pace. 
 It was essential that he should reach the cache before 
 Gladwyne could interfere with it. Toward evening, 
 Nasmyth made an effort and caught up with Lisle. 
 
 " How Avould Clarence get across to the second 
 cache on the other side of the water.'* " he asked. " It's 
 a point I've been considering; I suppose it's occurred 
 to 30U." 
 
 " I don't know," Lisle confessed. " The Indians 
 near the divide said there was another party with canoes 
 somewhere lower down ; but, as the packer who was 
 with me didn't talk to them, so far as I noticed, I 
 don't see how Gladw3'ne could have heard of it ; but
 
 338 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 that's as far as I can go. If he destroyed the first 
 cache, it would help to clear him, unless you can 
 vouch for the correctness of the list I made ; but he 
 may have some further plan in his mind." He paused 
 and raised his hand. "Listen! Isn't that the river? 
 We can't be far from the cache." 
 
 The day, like the two or three preceding it, had 
 been hot and bright, and now that evening was draw- 
 ing on, the still air was heavy with the smell of the 
 cedars in a neighboring hollow. A high ridge stood 
 cut black against a vivid green glow, and from be- 
 yond it there rose a faint, hoarse murmur. Nasmyth 
 vv'clconied it gladly as announcing the end of the 
 march. 
 
 " The rest of the party can hardly be down until 
 to-morrow; there's a couple of portages," he said. 
 " It looks as if we'll have to go without our sup- 
 per." 
 
 " I don't want to see them before morning," Lisle 
 returned grimly. 
 
 They pushed on, the light growing dimmer as they 
 v\ent, until at length the moon rose from behind the 
 ridge ; and when they had skirted the ridge they saw 
 the river glimmer beneath them in a flood of silvery 
 radiance. It filled the gorge with its deep murmur, 
 for the hot sunshine for three days had melted the 
 snow, which had poured down to swell the flood by 
 every gully. Not far below the neck the broken sur- 
 face was flecked with white where the river swept 
 angi'ily over a sharper slope of its bed, and a black 
 boulder or two stood out in the midst of the rushing 
 foam. Up-stream of this there was a strip of shingle 
 which Nasmyth recognized as the one where the cache
 
 THE END OF THE PURSUIT 339 
 
 had been made; he supposed that Lisle had struck 
 the spot by heading for the narrow rift of the neck, 
 which was conspicuous for sonic distance from both 
 sides. 
 
 From end to end tlie sweep of pebbles was clearly 
 distinct ; but there was no dark figure moving about 
 it, and Nasmyth wondered if they had come too late. 
 They had marched fast, as his aching muscles testified, 
 but they had been delayed at the cafion and Glad- 
 wyne had had a long start. If he had arrived and 
 had visited the cache, their efforts might prove to 
 have been thrown away. There must be no shadow 
 of doubt when Lisle told his startling story. 
 
 They descended with caution, moving through 
 shadow, for the ridge above them cut off the moon- 
 light, though it was far from dark, and they were near 
 the bottom when Crestwick dislodged a bank of stones 
 which went rattling and crashing down to the beach. 
 A moment later a black form sprang out from among 
 the rocks below and ran hurriedly along the shingle. 
 This sui*prised Nasmyth because he could not doubt 
 that the man was Gladwyne and he failed to under- 
 stand his object in making what would probably be 
 a futile attempt to avoid them. Lisle was some dis- 
 tance in front, and his voice rang out sharply : 
 
 " Head him off from the canoe ! " 
 
 Nasmyth broke into a stumbling run — it was now 
 obvious that Gladwyne meant to cross the river, and 
 perhaps destroy the second cache. 
 
 Gladwyne had reached the canoe when Lisle gained 
 the beach, and Nasmyth, descending in reckless haste, 
 saw him hurriedly turn it over and raise the fonvard 
 end of it. Lisle was running his hardest, almost as
 
 340 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 if he were fresh, up the long strip of shingle ; but it 
 was evident that he would be too late, and they would 
 have no means of following Gladw3'ne after the canoe 
 was launched. There was a shai-p rattle of stones as 
 he hauled it down ; Lisle was still some way behind ; 
 Gladwyne sprang on board and thrust the light craft 
 off, and a few strokes of the paddle drove her well out 
 into the stream. 
 
 Lisle stopped, standing in the moonlight, and his 
 comrade could see his hands tightly clenched at his 
 side; then he suddenly tore off his jacket and flung it 
 behind him. Noticing this, Nasmyth attempted to 
 increase his pace. The river was running fast, 
 swollen with melted snow, and Lisle must be badly 
 worn out. If he had to be restrained by force, he 
 should not attempt to swim across. 
 
 Then, to Nasmyth's astonishment, Gladwyne leaned 
 over the stern of the craft and began to paddle des- 
 perately with one hand. This proceeding caused 
 Lisle to stop again, close at the water's edge. 
 
 " Come back ! " he shouted. 
 
 Nasmyth ran up and Lisle turned. 
 
 " He's dropped or broken his paddle — cracked it 
 when he shoved her out. There are two or three ugly 
 rocks in the rapid." 
 
 They ran along the bank together, keeping pace 
 with the craft which was sliding away fast with the 
 stream. Nasmyth could feel his heart thumping as 
 he wondered what Clarence would do. Though he 
 could not cross the river, it was possible that he might 
 propel the light canoe back to the shingle with his hand 
 before he reached the rapid. As he could not guide 
 her in the strong rush of water, there would be danger
 
 THE END OF THE PURSUIT 341 
 
 in attempting to descend it. He made no response, 
 however, to their warning shouts. 
 
 Batley and Crestwick overtook the others shortly 
 before the canoe swept into the faster stream at the 
 head of the rapid and they watched her eagerly. 
 There was a narrow pass between several boulders 
 close ahead, which was the chief danger, and the cur- 
 rent seemed to be carrying the craft down on one of 
 them. In a few moments she struck and jambed, 
 broadside on, across the mass of stone. White foam 
 boiled about her; they saw Gladw^'ne rise and clutch 
 the rock, but whether to thi-ust her off or to climb out 
 did not appear. He suddenly sank down and, so far 
 as they could make out, the canoe rolled over. 
 
 The next moment Lisle plunged into the river. 
 Nasmyth ran to the water's edge, but seeing that he 
 was too late, he sat down limply. Lisle was a good 
 swimmer, but it did not seem possible that any man 
 could reach Clarence before he was washed out at the 
 tail of the rapid. It became evident, however, that 
 somebody else meant to try, for Batley, running hard 
 down the beach, plunged in. 
 
 " It's awful ! " gasped Jim Crestwick behind Nas- 
 myth. " It's not the risk of drowning ; they'll be 
 smashed to bits ! Anyway, we'd better make for the 
 slack at the tail." 
 
 Nasmyth got up. He could see nothing of Glad- 
 wyne or either of the others ; there were only black 
 rocks, rushing water and outbreaks of foam, and he 
 had a sickening idea that long before they reached the 
 quieter pool the need for any services he could render 
 would be past. Fortunatel}', the beach was fairly 
 smooth, and after a desperate run they reached a
 
 942 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 tongue of rock beneath which the eddy swung. 
 Farther on, in the shadow, Batley stood in the water, 
 calling to them and apparently clinging hard to a half- 
 seen object in the stream. 
 
 Nasmyth leaped in knee-deep, with Crestwick be- 
 hind him, and gripping the loosely-hanging arm of 
 the bod^'^ Batley was supporting, he asked hoarsely: 
 
 "Who is it?" 
 
 " Lisle ! " was the breathless answer. " Help me 
 to get him out ! " 
 
 They dragged him up the beach and let him sink 
 down. Lie lay upon the shingle, silent and inert, 
 
 " Make a fire, Jim ! " commanded Batley. " Lift his 
 shoulder a bit, Nasmyth ! Turn him partly over ! " 
 
 He hurriedly examined Lisle and then looked up. 
 
 " It's not a case of drowning ; and his limbs look 
 sound. Must have got the breath knocked out of him 
 against a boulder." He pointed to a broad red gash 
 on Lisle's forehead as Nasmyth eased him down again. 
 " That explains his unconsciousness." 
 
 "Where's Gladwyne.'' " Nasmj^th asked. 
 
 Batley made an expressive gesture. 
 
 " Beyond our help, anyway ; somewhere down- 
 river." He appeared to brace himself with an effort. 
 " I'm pretty nearly finished, but there's a good deal 
 to be done. We'll strip Lisle, and you and Crest- 
 wick can share your dry things with him. Then one 
 of you had better gather cedar twigs for him to lie on."
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 LISLE GOES TO ENGLAND 
 
 LISLE had with some difficulty been dressed in 
 dry clothes, and he lay with his eyes shut on 
 a couch of cedar sprays beside a fire, when 
 Batley rose and turned to Nasmyth. 
 
 " I don't think we need be anxious," he said. " The 
 warmth is coming back to him and he's breathing 
 regularly. The knock on the head must have been 
 a bad one, and it's very likely that he got another 
 thump or two washing down the rapid, and the water 
 was icy cold; but he'll feel better after a fevr hours' 
 sleep." 
 
 Nasm^'th was inclined to agree with this prediction 
 and he stood up wearily. 
 
 " Then you won't want me for a little while," he 
 replied, walking away from the fire. 
 
 Having given most of his clothes to Lisle, he was 
 very lightly clad and the night was cold. He shiv- 
 ered as he plodded over the shingle, aching in every 
 limb, but he looked about eagerly and after a while 
 he found the cache. It was uncovered, but there were 
 signs that Gladwyne had only begun his task when he 
 had been surprised by the arrival of the party which 
 had followed him. 
 
 Nasmyth did not pause to think what Lisle's wishes 
 might be, or whether he would resent his action. So 
 
 343
 
 S445 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 far, he had kept his promise ; but, with physical weari- 
 ness reacting on his mental faculties, he was only 
 conscious of a hazy idea that Gladwyne's death had 
 released him from his pledge. The traitor had ex- 
 piated his offense ; the tragic story must never be 
 raked up again. 
 
 Stooping over the receptacle, he dragged out the 
 different articles in it, and avoiding a direct glance 
 at them or any attempt to enumerate them, he gathered 
 them up and striding over the shingle hurled them as 
 far as possible into the river. It cost him several 
 journeys, but his heart grew lighter with every splash. 
 When at last the work was finished and he had refilled 
 the hole and scattered the stones that had covered it, 
 he sat down with a great sense of relief. A burden 
 which had long weighed upon his mind was gone ; 
 Mrs. Gladwyne and Millicent were safe at last from the 
 grief and shame that a revelation would have brought 
 them. Exhausted and confused as he was, he could 
 not tell whether he felt any sorrow for Gladwyne's 
 tragic end; the man had passed beyond the reach of 
 human censure, one could only let his memory sink 
 into oblivion. 
 
 Growing very cold, he went back to the fire, but 
 he offered no explanation of his absence. Lisle was 
 btill asleep or unconscious, but the natural color in his 
 face was reassuring. 
 
 " I've heard nothing about your part In the water," 
 Nasmyth said to Batley. 
 
 " There's not much to tell. It isn't astonishing 
 that my memory's by no means clear. Anyhow, I 
 wasn't far from Gladwyne, who was swimming well, 
 when he was swept away from me and in among the
 
 LISLE GOES TO ENGLAND 845 
 
 lower boulders by the swirl of an eddy. I suppose it 
 didn't quite reach me, but the next moment I was 
 sucked into a lUsh of broken water and went down- 
 stream, below the surface part of the time, because I 
 was surprised when I found I could breathe and look 
 about again. By good luck, I'd got into the smoothest, 
 deepest flow, which swept me straight through. After 
 a little, I saw somebody washing down in a slack and 
 got hold of him. I didn't know whether it was Glad- 
 wyne or Lisle; but I held on and a side-swing of the 
 current brought us both ashore. Gladwyne, of course, 
 must have gone under after being badly damaged 
 among the rocks." 
 
 " There's only one place where he could have landed 
 and I searched it while you were away," Crestwick said 
 gravely. 
 
 "Why did you go In after him?" Nasmyth asked 
 Batley. " You must have seen that you couldn't save 
 him." 
 
 " That," Batley answered with a curious smile, " is 
 more than I can clearly tell you ; and I might suggest 
 that Lisle's venture is even harder to understand. I 
 don't honestly think I owe Gladwyne anything; but, 
 after all, we passed for friends, and I used to be fond 
 of swimming. Of course, there's a more obvious ex- 
 planation — I'd lent him a good deal of money and 
 from what I've learned since, I may have some diffi- 
 culty in enforcing my claim on the estate. It was 
 natural that I should make an effort to recover the 
 debt." 
 
 Nasmyth did not think that the man had been most 
 strongly influenced by that desire, but he addressed 
 Crestwick :
 
 346 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 *' Hadn't you better gather some more branches or 
 driftwood for the fire, Jim? " 
 
 Crestwick disappeared, and Nasmyth filled his pipe 
 before he turned to Batley. 
 
 " Now," he said, " I don't want to be offensive ; 
 but there are two people connected with this affair 
 who must be spared any unnecessary suffering. 
 That's a fact you had better recognize." 
 
 *' I hardly think you do me justice," returned 
 Batley, looking amused. " It's perfectly plain that 
 there's a mystery beliind these recent events ; one that 
 has some relation to George Gladwyne's death. Your 
 idea is that an unscrupulous person of my description 
 might find some profit in probing it ? " 
 
 " You'll never learn the truth. I've seen to that." 
 
 *' The fact is, I don't mean to try." 
 
 Nasmyth was a little astonished at finding himself 
 ready to believe this. 
 
 " Then," he asked, " what do you mean to do about 
 your claim on Gladwyne.'' " 
 
 " In the first place, there's the insurance ; but I dis- 
 covered by accident that the company Gladwyne had 
 his policy on was the one that had insured his cousin. 
 Whether they'll be struck by the coincidence and the 
 unusual nature of both accidents and make trouble or 
 not, I can't tell ; but if they pay up there'll be an end 
 of the thing. Failing that, I'll have to consider. 
 My demands might be contested by the Gladwyne 
 trustees — the deal was a little irregular in some re- 
 spects — but I parted with the money and I'm going 
 to make an effort to get it back." 
 
 *' How much did Clarence owe you ? " 
 
 Batley told him and Nasmyth looked thoughtful.
 
 LISLE GOES TO ENGLAND 347 
 
 *• Well," he requested, " if you meet with strong 
 opposition, come to me before you. decide on any 
 course, and I'll see what can be arranged. I dare say 
 there'll be some trouijle, but I know the trustees — 
 and, as I said, there are people who must be saved all 
 needless pain, at any cost." 
 
 " It's promised," agreed Batley. " I'll make things 
 as easy as possible, but that's as far as I can go. 
 I'm not rich enough to be recklessly generous." 
 
 Lisle woke soon after this and asked one or two 
 half-intelligible questions, but they gave him no in- 
 formation and he went to sleep again ; then Crest- 
 wick arrived with more fuel and Nasmyth took the 
 first watch while his companions rested. He was very 
 cold, and now and then he saw Batley, who had dis- 
 carded most of his wet clothes, wake up for a few 
 moments and shiver. Once or twice he glanced long- 
 ingly at the garments spread out round the fire, but 
 "when he felt them they were still too wet to put on. 
 After a while Crestwick relieved him, and when he 
 awakened dawn was breaking across the black ridges 
 and the rushing river. Batley had left his place, and 
 Crestwick began to stride up and down the beach, 
 presumably to warm himself. To Nasmyth's satisfac- 
 tion and surprise. Lisle spoke to him. 
 
 *' You slept pretty sound," he said. *' Didn't hear 
 me getting some information about what happened 
 out of Batley." 
 
 " Then you know ? " 
 
 " Yes," was the grim answer. " The thing's fin- 
 ished; there's nothing to be done." 
 
 Nasmyth made a sign of agreement. 
 
 *' How do you feel.'' " he asked.
 
 348 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 (C 
 
 Horribly sore all over, left side particularly. 
 Struck a big boulder, and then drove in among a nest 
 of stones before my senses left me. Tried to get up 
 a ■while ago, but couldn't manage it. What's as much 
 to the purpose, I'm feeling hungry." 
 
 " Unfortunately, there's nothing left for breakfast. 
 One of us had better go up-stream and look out for the 
 
 canoes." 
 
 Lisle nodded. 
 
 " That's your duty — I don't envy you. Make 
 them camp a little higher up. It would be better, in 
 several ways, and I'd rather be on my feet again be- 
 fore they come here." 
 
 Nasmyth set off, jaded and hungry, and he was feel- 
 ing very limp when, as he plodded along a high ridge, 
 he saw the canoes sliding down the river. He had 
 hard work to reach the bank and he shrank from the 
 task before him when the first canoe grounded upon 
 the stones. Millicent and Bella were in it, and Milli- 
 cent gazed at the lonely man with fixed, anxious eyes. 
 He was ragged and looked very weary; his face was 
 worn and haggard. 
 
 *' Where are the rest.'' " she asked in a strained voice. 
 *' Something has happened — what is it-f* " 
 
 *' Three of them are some miles down the river." 
 
 " Three ! " cried Millicent, in dismay. " Haven't 
 you found Clarence yet? " 
 
 Nasmyth hesitated, regarding her compassionately, 
 but she made a sign of protest. 
 
 " Go on ! Don't keep me in suspense ! " 
 
 " Clarence," said Nasmyth quietly, " is dead. 
 Lisle is rather badly damaged." 
 
 Millicent left the canoe and sat down, very white
 
 LISLE GOES TO ENGLAND 349 
 
 in face, upon a neighboring stone. In the mean- 
 while the other canoes had grounded and her com- 
 panions gathered about her. She did not speak to 
 them and some time passed before she turned to 
 Nasmjth. 
 
 " Tell me all," she begged. 
 
 He briefly related what had happened, and there 
 was an impressive silence when he finished. Then 
 Millicent slowly rose. 
 
 " And Lisle's badly hurt," she said. " We must 
 go on ! " 
 
 They relaunched the canoes and Nasmyth had no 
 further speech with her, for as they floated down- 
 river she sat, still and silent, in another canoe. She 
 was conscious chiefly of an unnening horror and a 
 sense of contrition. Clarence was dead, and she had 
 been coldly hypercritical ; hardly treating him as a 
 lover, thinking of his failings. She blamed herself 
 bitterly in a half-dazed fashion, but it was only after- 
 ward she realized that she had not been troubled by 
 any very poignant sense of loss. 
 
 After a while Nasmj'th said they would land, but 
 Millicent roused herself to countermand his instruc- 
 tions and eventually they reached Batley's camp. 
 Lisle had got up during the day and he now walked 
 painfully down to the water's edge to meet her. When 
 she landed he gravel}' pressed her hand. 
 
 " I'm sorry," he said simply. " We did what we 
 could to save him." 
 
 " Oh, I know," she responded. " Nobody could 
 doubt that." 
 
 Then Nasmyth landed with provisions and while the 
 men ate two Indians strode into the camp and ad-
 
 350 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 dressed Lisle angrily. They were curing salmon, they 
 said, and had left a canoe on the shingle, in order to 
 avoid a portage when returning, and they had gone in 
 another craft to set some fish-traps in a lower rapid. 
 To their surprise they had afterw^ard seen their canoe 
 drifting down-stream full of water and badly damaged, 
 and they had set off at once to discover who was re- 
 sponsible. 
 
 Lisle offered them some silver currency, and after 
 a little chaffering they departed satisfied. 
 
 " Now we know how the canoe came to be lying 
 where Gladwyne found her," he said to Nasmyth. 
 
 Then he sought Millicent. 
 
 " I think," he told her gently, " we had better go 
 on — to stay here would be painful." He hesitated. 
 *' I'll leave Crestwick and an experienced river-Jack 
 packer to investigate. If you would rather, I'll stay 
 with them, though I'm afraid I can't get about much." 
 
 " Thank you," she replied in a voice which had a 
 break in it. " You must come with us ; you don't 
 look fit to stand." 
 
 Running the rapid, they slid away down-river, and 
 once more Millicent sat very still, thinking confused 
 thoughts, until at last they made camp for the night 
 and she crept away to the shelter of her tent. A day 
 or two later Crestwick and the packer overtook them, 
 having discovered nothing; and then the party was 
 animated by a strong desire to escape from the river 
 and reach the trail to the settlements as soon as possi- 
 ble. Further search for Gladwyne was useless; the 
 flood had swept him av/ay and no one would ever 
 know whore his bones lay. He had set out on his 
 longest and most mysterious journey, leaving only two
 
 LISLE GOES TO ENGLAND 351 
 
 women to mourn him, and of these one, who had tried 
 to love him out of duty, would by and by forget. 
 
 On the evening before they left the river, Lisle stood 
 with JMilliccnt looking back up the long reach they 
 had descended, "i'licy had reached the taller timber, 
 and on one bank black firs, climbing the hillside, stood 
 out against the fading light with a gauzy mist-curtain 
 drawn across their higher ranks. The flood slid by, 
 glimmering dimly, smooth and green, and from out 
 of the distance came the throbbing clamor of a rapid. 
 
 " It's your last look," said Lisle. " We'll be in the 
 bush to-morrow and I expect to hire a wagon, or at 
 least a horse or two, in a few days. Now I'm sorry 
 I ever brought you here. You'll be glad to get 
 away." 
 
 " You mustn't blame yourself," she told him. " We 
 have only gratitude for you. You have no part in the 
 painful memories." 
 
 She glanced once more up the valley ; and then 
 moved back into the shadow of the firs. 
 
 " It's all wildly beautiful, but it's so pitiless — I 
 shall never think of it without a shiver." 
 
 " You have made plenty of notes and sketches for 
 the book," suggested Lisle, seeing her distress. 
 
 "The book? I don't know that I shall ever finish 
 it. I feel cut adrift, as if there were no use in work- 
 ing and I hadn't a pui*pose left. First George went, 
 and then Clarence — so far, there was always some 
 one to think of — and now I'm all alone." 
 
 She broke out into open sobbing and Lisle, feeling 
 very sympathetic and half dismayed, awkwardly tried 
 to soothe her. 
 
 " I'm better," she said at last. " It was very fool-
 
 1 
 
 352 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 ish, but I couldn't help it. I think we'll go back to 
 the others." 
 
 He gave her his arm, for the way was rough, but 
 as they approached the camp she stopped a moment 
 amid the shadow and stillness of the great fir trunks. 
 
 " I have done with the river — I think I am afraid 
 of it," she confessed. " Can't we get away early to- 
 morrow ? " 
 
 Lisle said it should be aiTanged and she turned to 
 him gratefully. 
 
 "One can always rely on you! You're just like 
 George was in many ways. It's curious that when- 
 ever I'm in trouble I think of him — " 
 
 She seemed on the verge of another breakdown, and 
 she laid her hand in his for a moment before she went 
 from him hurriedly with a low, " Good night 1 '* 
 
 Lisle strolled back to the river and lighted his pipe. 
 He had noticed and thought it significant that she 
 spoke more of the brother whom she had lost several 
 years ago than of the lover who had perished recently ; 
 but, from whatever cause it sprung, her distress 
 troubled him. 
 
 His thoughts were presently interrupted by Na- 
 smyth. 
 
 " There's a thing I'd better tell you, Vernon," he 
 said, sitting down near by. " The night you were half 
 drowned I emptied the cache and, without making any 
 note of what was in it, pitched everything into the 
 river." 
 
 " So I discovered. At least, when I managed with 
 some trouble to reach the place, I knew it was either 
 you or Gladwyne, and I blamed you." 
 
 "Well.?"
 
 LISLE GOES TO ENGLAND 353 
 
 " I've decided," Lisle said gravely, " that you did 
 quite right. It's the end of that story." 
 
 " Then you have abandoned the purpose you had in 
 view? " 
 
 " I've been thinking hard, and it seems to me that 
 if Vernon were with me now, the last thing that would 
 please him would be to see the two women suffer; he 
 was a big man in every way. There's another thing 
 — he left no relations to consider." 
 
 Nasmyth laid a hand on his shoulder in a very ex- 
 pressive way. 
 
 " I felt all along that you'd come to look at it 
 like that ! " 
 
 " But there's Batley ; he has some suspicions." 
 
 " I can silence him," promised Nasmyth. " The 
 man has his good points, after all." 
 
 "That's so," Lisle agreed. "Still, I'll come 
 straight across to England and tackle him if you fail. 
 If it's a question of money, you can count me in — 
 I've been prospering lately." He rose and knocked 
 out his pipe. " That's the last word on the matter." 
 
 They went back to camp, and starting soon after 
 sunrise the next morning they reached a settlement 
 on the railroad after a comparatively easy journey; 
 and that evening Lisle stood with a heavy heart be- 
 side the track while the big cars moved away, his eyes 
 fixed on a woman's figure that leaned out from a vesti- 
 bule platform, waving a hand to him. 
 
 After that he went back to his work, with Crest- 
 wick ; and nearly twelve months had passed when he 
 sent a cable to England and started for that country 
 a day after receiving the answer. Crestwick insisted 
 on going with him.
 
 354 THE LONG PORTAGE 
 
 " You'll no doubt want my support again," he 
 grinned. " Tliere's an office I mean to rob Nasmyth 
 of, if I can." 
 
 It was evening when they drove into sight of Milll- 
 cent's house. Lisle's heart throbbed painfully fast 
 as he got down, but he was not kept waiting. Milli- 
 cent was standing in her drawing-room, and as he came 
 in she held out her hand to him. 
 
 " You answered my message," he said, seizing it. 
 ** You must have guessed what I meant when I asked 
 if I might come across." 
 
 *' Yes," she confessed softly ; " I knew and I told 
 you to come." 
 
 He still held her a little away from him as he gave 
 a quick glance at the refined and artistic appointments 
 of the room. 
 
 " There's a good deal you will have to give up," he 
 told her. " You're not afraid of our new and rugged 
 country ? But it has something to offer — and we 
 need such people as you." 
 
 " It's going to be a great country before very long," 
 she answered gravely ; " and I have no dread of it now. 
 But — I gave my dearest — I think it owes me some- 
 thing in return." 
 
 He drew her masterfully into his arms. 
 
 " It discharges all its debts. You must teach me 
 how to pay you back in full measure ; that's my one 
 big task. You're giving so much freely ; but, of 
 course, I'm glad — I don't want duty." 
 
 " This isn't duty," she smiled ; " it's love ! " 
 
 THE EN3
 
 THE NOVELS OF 
 
 STEWART EDWARD WHITE 
 
 THE RULES OF THE GAME. Illustrated by Lajaret. A. Hiller 
 
 The romance of the son of "The Riverraan." The young college 
 '\iero goes into the lumber camp, is antagonized by "graft" and come* 
 tnto tne romance of his life. 
 , ARIZONA NIGHT S, lllus. and cover inlay by N. C. Wyeth, 
 
 i A series of spirited tales emphasizing some phases of the lil« 
 
 J5>f the ranch, plains and desert. A masterpiece. 
 THE BLAZEJ) TRAIL. With illustjations Dy Thomas Fcgarty. 
 
 A wholesome story with gleams of humor, telling of a young 
 ijian who blazed his way to fortune through the heart of the Mich- 
 ■gan pines. 
 
 THE CLAIM JUMPERS. A Romance. 
 
 The tenderfoot maiiager of a mine in a lonesome gulch of the 
 Black Hills has a hard time of it, but "wins out" in more ways than 
 one. 
 
 CONJUROR'S HOUSE. Illustrated Theatrical Editioiu 
 
 Dramatized under the title of "The Call of the Nortt, * 
 "Conjuror's House is a Hudson Bay trading post where the 
 ti.iad factor is the absolute lord. A young fellow risked his life and 
 won a bride on this forbidden land. 
 
 THE MAGIC FOREST. A Modem Fairy Tale. Illustrated. 
 
 The sympathetic way in which the children of the wild and 
 their life is treated could only belong to one who is in love with *he 
 forest and open air. Based on fact. 
 
 THE RiVERMAN. lllus. by N. C. Wyeth and C. UndeiAvood. 
 The story of a man's fight against a river and of a struggle 
 Setween honesty and grit on the one side, and dishonesty and 
 iurewdness on the other. 
 
 THE SILENT PLACES. Illustrations by Philip R. Goodwin. 
 
 The wonders of the northern forests, the heights of feminine 
 devotion, and masculine power, the intelligence of the Caucasiaa 
 and the instinct of the Indian, are all finely drawn in this story. 
 , THE WESTERNERS . 
 
 A story of the Black Hills that is justly placed among the 
 best American novels. It portrays the life of the new West as no 
 other book has done in recent vears. 
 
 THE MYSTERY. In collaboration with Samuel Hopkins Adams 
 
 With illustrations by Will Crawford. 
 
 The disappearance of three successive crews from the stout 
 ship "Laughing Lass" in mid-Pacific, isa mystery weird andinscrut* 
 able. In the solution, there is a story of the most exciting voyage 
 that man ever undertook. 
 
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 Thrilling Western Romances 
 
 Large 12 mos. Handsomely bound in cloth. Illustrated 
 
 CHI P, OF THE FLYING U 
 
 A breezy wholesome tale, wherein the love affairs of Chip and 
 Delia Whitman are charmingly and humorously told. Chip'i 
 jealousy of Dr. Cecil Grantham, who turns out to be a big. blue 
 eyed young \voman is very amusing. A clever, realistic story ot ' 
 
 the American Cow-puncher. 
 
 THE HAPPY FAMILY 
 
 A lively and amusing story, dealing with the adventures of 
 eighteen jovial, big hearted Montana cowboys. Foremost amongfst 
 them, we find Ananias Green, known as Andy, whose imaginative 
 powers cause many lively and exciting adventures. 
 
 HER PRAIRIE KNIGHT 
 
 A realistic story of the plains, describing a gay party of Eas- 
 terners who exchange a cottage at Newport for the rough homeli- 
 ness of a Montana ranch-house. The merry-hearted cowboys, the 
 fascinating Beatrice, and the effusive Sir Redmond, become living, 
 breathing personalities. 
 
 THE RANGE DWELLERS ' , 
 
 Here are everyday, genuine cowboys, just as they really exist. 
 Spirited action, a range feud between two families, and a Romeo 
 and Juliet courtship make this a bright, jolly, entertaining story, 
 without a dull page. 
 
 THE LURE OF DIM TRAILS 
 
 A vivid portrayal of the experience of an Eastern author, 
 among the cowboys of the West, in search of "local color" for a 
 new novel. "Bud' ' Thurston learns many a lesson while following 
 "the lure of the dim trails" but the hardest, and probably the most 
 welcome, is that of love. 
 T HE LONESOME TRAIL 
 
 "Weary" Davidson leaves the ranch for Portland, where con« 
 ?entional city life palls on him. A little branch of sage brush, 
 pungent with the atmosphere of the prairie, and the recollection oi 
 a pair of large brown eyes soon compel his return. A wholesome | 
 love story, 
 
 THE LONG SHADOW 
 
 A vigorous Western story, sparkling with^the free, oxitdoor, 
 life of a mountain ranch. Its scenes shift rapidly and its actors play 
 the game of life fearlessly and like men. It is a fine love story f lOm 
 start to finish. 
 
 Ask for a complete free list of G. & D. PopuW Copyrighted Fiction. 
 
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 STORIES OF \\^EjrERN LIFE 
 
 May IM had wherever books ars sold. Ask for Grossat & Ounlap's list 
 
 RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE. By Zane Grey. 
 
 Illustrated by Douglas Duer. 
 
 In this picturesque romance of Utah of some forty years ago, we 
 are permitted to see the unscrupulous methods employed by tne in- 
 visible hand of the Mormon Church to break the will of those refus-l 
 ing to conform to its rule. ' 
 
 FRIAR TUCK, By Robert Alexander Wason. 
 Illustrated by Stanley L. Wood. 
 
 Happy Hawkins tells us, in his humorous way, how Friar Tuck 
 lived among the Cowboys, how he adjusted their quarrels and love 
 affairs and how he fought with them and for them when occasion 
 required. 
 
 THE SKY PILOT. By Ralph Connor, 
 Illustrated by Louis Rhead. 
 
 There is no novel, dealing with the rough existence of cowboys, 
 so charming in the telling, abounding as it does with the freshest and 
 the truest pathos. 
 
 THE EMIGRANT TRAIL, By Geraldine Bonner. 
 
 Colored frontispiece by John Rae. 
 
 The book relates ;he adventures of a party on its overland pil- 
 grimage, and the birth and growth of the absorbmg love of two strong 
 men for a charming heroine. 
 
 THE BOSS OF WIND RIVER , By A. M. Chisholm. 
 
 Illustrated by Frank Tenney Johnson. 
 
 This is a strong, virile novel with the lumber industry for its cen- 
 tral theme and a love story full of interest as a sort of subplot. 
 
 A PRAIRIE COURTSHIP, By Harold Bindloss. 
 
 A story of Canadian prairies in which the hero is stirred, through 
 the influence of his love for a woman, to settle down to the heroic 
 business of pioneer farming, 
 
 JO YCE OF THE NORTH WOODS , By Harriet T. Comstock 
 
 Illustrated by John Cassel. 
 
 A story of the deep woods that shows the power of love at worii 
 among its primitive dwellers. It is a tensely moving study of the 
 human heart and its aspirations that unfolds itself through thrilling 
 situations and dramatic developments. 
 
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 JOHN FOX, JR'S. 
 
 STORIES OF THE KE>rrUCKY MOUNTAINS 
 
 May be had whsrever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list 
 
 THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE . 
 
 Illustrated by F. C. Yohn. 
 
 The "lonesome pine" from which the 
 story takes its name was a tall tree that 
 stood in solitary splendor on a mountain 
 top. The fame of the pine lured a young 
 engineer through Kentucky to catch the 
 trail, and when he finally climbed to its 
 shelter he found not only the pine but the 
 foot-prints of a girl. And the girl proved 
 to be lovely, piquant, and the trail of 
 these girlish foot-prints led the younpj 
 engineer a madder chase than "the trail 
 of the lonesome pine." 
 
 THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME 
 
 Illustrated by F. C. Yohn. 
 
 This is a story of Kentucky, in a settlement known as "King- 
 dom Come." It is a life rude, semi-barbarous; but natural 
 and honest, from which often springs the flower of civilization. 
 
 " Chad." the "little shepherd" did not know who he was nor 
 whence he came — he had just wandered from door to door since 
 early childhood, seeking shelter with kindly movmtaineers who 
 gladly fathered and mothered this waif about whom there was 
 such a mystery — a charming waif, by the way, who could play 
 the banjo better that anyone else in the mountains. 
 
 A KNTGHT OF THE CUMBERLAND. 
 
 Illustrated by F. C. Yohn. 
 
 The scenes a'-e laid along the waters of the Cumberland' 
 the lair of moonshiner and feudsman. The knight is a moon- 
 shiner's son, and the heroine a beautiful girl perversely chris- 
 tened "The Blight." Two impetuous young Southerners' fall 
 under the spell of "The Blight's " charms and she learns what 
 a large part jealousy and pistols have in the love making of the 
 mountaineers. 
 
 Included in this volume is " Hell fer-Sartain" and othet 
 stories, some of Mr. Fox's most entertaining Cumberland valley 
 narratives. 
 
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 STORIES OF RARE CHARM BY 
 
 GENE STRATTON-PORTER 
 
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 ,<3 
 HARVESTER 
 
 
 
 THE HARVESTER 
 
 Illustrated by W. L. Jacobs 
 
 "The Harvester," David Langston, is 
 a man of the woods and fields, who draws 
 his living from the prodigal hand of Mother 
 Nature herself. If the book had nothing in 
 it but the splendid figure of this man, wi h 
 his sure gnp on life, his superb optimism, 
 and his almost miraculous knowledge of 
 nature secrets, it would be notable. But 
 when the Girl comes to his "Medicine 
 Woods," and the. Harvester's whole sound, 
 healthy, large outdoor being realizes that 
 this is the highest point of life which has 
 
 come to him — there b^ins a romance, 
 
 troubled and interrupted, yet of the rarest idyllic quality. 
 
 F RECKLES. Decorations by E. Stetson Crawford 
 
 Freckles is a nameless waif v;hcn the tale opens, but the way in 
 which he takes hold of life; the nature friendships he forms in the 
 great Limberlost Swamp; the manner in which everyone who meets 
 him succumbs to the charm of his engaging personality; and his love- 
 story with "The Angel" are full of real sentiment. 
 
 A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST . 
 
 Illustrated by Wladyslaw T. Brenda. 
 
 The story of a girl of the Michigan woods; a buoyant, lovable 
 typ5 of the self-reliant American. Her philosophy is one of love and 
 kindness towards all things; her hope is never dimmed. And by the 
 sheer beauty of her soul, and the purity of her vision, she wins from 
 barren and unpromisiag surrour\dingG those rewards of high courage. 
 
 It is an inspiring ctory of n life worth while and the rich beauties 
 of tlie out-of-doors arc ctrcv.Ti through all its pages. 
 
 AT THE FOOT OF THE RAINBOW. 
 
 Illustrations iu colors by Oliver Kemp. Design and decorations by 
 Rslph Fletcher Seymour. 
 
 The scene of this charming, idyllic love story is laid in Central 
 Indiana, The story is one of devoted friendship, and tender self- 
 s?.crificing love; the friendship that gives freeiy without return, and 
 the love that seeks first the happiness of the object. The novel is 
 brimful of the most beautiful word painting of nature, and its pathos 
 and tender sentiment will endear it to all. 
 
 Ask for complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction 
 
 Grossct & DuNLAP, 526 WrsT 26th St., New York
 
 GROSSET& DUNLAP'S 
 
 DRAMATIZED NOVELS 
 
 THE KIND THAT ARE M.\KING THEATRICAL HISTORY 
 Kay be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list 
 
 WITHlC f THE LAW. By Bayard VeUler & Marvin Dana. 
 Illustrated by Wiu. Charles Cooke. 
 
 This is a novelization of the immensely successfal play which ran 
 for two years in New York and Chicago. 
 
 The plot of this powerful novel is of a young woman's revenge 
 directed against her employer who allowed her to be sent to prison 
 for three years on a charge of theft, of which she was innocent. 
 
 WHAT HAPPENED TO MARY . By Robert Carlton Brown. 
 lilustrated with scenes from the play. 
 
 This is a narrative of a yoiang and innocent country girl who is 
 suddenly thrown into the very heart of New York, "the land of her 
 dieams, where she is exposed to all sorts of temptations and dangers. 
 
 The story of Mary is being told in moving pictures and played ir 
 theatres ail over the world. 
 
 T HE RETURN OF PETER GRTMM . By David Belasco. 
 
 lilustrated by John Rae, 
 
 This is a novelization of the popular play in which David War^ 
 field, as Old Peter Grimm, scored such a remarkable success. 
 
 The story is spectacular and extremely pathetic but withal, 
 powerful, both as a book and as a play. 
 THE GARDEN OF ALLAH. By Robert Hichens. 
 
 This novel is an intense, glowing epic of the great desert, sunlit 
 barbaric, with its marvelous atmosphere of vastness and loneliness. 
 
 It is a book of rapturous beauty, vivid in word painting. The play 
 has been staged with magnificent cast and gorgeous properties. 
 BEN HUR. A Tale of the Christ. By General Lew Wallace. 
 
 The whole world has placed this famous Religioas-Historical Ro 
 mance on a heiqiht of pre-eminence which no other novel of its time 
 has reached. The clashing of rivalry and the deepest human passions, 
 the perfect reproduction of brilliant Roman life, and the tense, fierce 
 atmosphere of the arena have kept their deep fascination. A tre^ 
 mendous dramatic success. 
 
 BOUGHT A ND PAID FOR. By George Broadhurst and Arthm ^ 
 Hornblow. Illustrated with scenes from the play. 
 
 A stupendous arraignment of modern marriage which has created 
 an interest on the stage that is almost unparalleled. The scenes are laid 
 in New York, and deal with conditions among both the rich and pooi. 
 
 The interest of the story turns on the day-by day developments 
 which show the young wife t he price she has paia. ^^ 
 
 A-sk for com^hte free list of G. & D. Popular Co^yrighed Fiction 
 
 Grosset & Dunlap, 526 W'^sT 26th St.. New York
 
 
 DATE DUE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
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