When he hailed us to take him over, I thought it an excuse; he could have got across in his own canoe if he had braced up.

My notion is he didn't want to make the trip by himself." He paused and gave Thirlwell a keen glance.

"Curious, isn't it ?" "He's a curious man," said Thirlwell, who had dark suspicions that he did not want to talk about.

"When we were drifting into the rapid, I got a glimpse of his face and didn't look again.

Thought I'd better not; the fellow's nerve had gone.