“The luck will change,” she answered, smiling.  “I am confident.”

“Confidence doesn’t cost you much effort,” Thirlwell rejoined.  “You were persuaded from the beginning that you would find the ore.  It looks as if you were naturally optimistic.”

“Oh, no!  I had my weak moments when I wanted to shirk.  I hated to feel I wasn’t free like other people, and was willing to throw away my chance of getting rich.  But that wouldn’t have helped much; I couldn’t get rid of the duty.”

“You have pluck.  For all that, I think you’re indulging a rather exaggerated sentiment.  Anyhow, it’s hard to imagine you have had many doubts since we left the mine.”

“I’ve had none.  When you found the tobacco-box I knew I would succeed.  There was something strangely significant about your finding it.”

“I happened to look in the right place,” said Thirlwell, dryly.

Agatha laughed.  “You take a very matter-of-fact view.”

“Perhaps so,” Thirlwell agreed.  “If I were steeped in sentiment, it wouldn’t help me drive the canoe faster against a head-wind or carry a heavier load across a portage.  That’s a purely mechanical proposition.  In the meantime, we’re slowing up and will soon begin to drift astern.”

“Then paddle,” said Agatha, smiling.  “After all, you’re much more of a sentimentalist than I think you know.”

Thirlwell bent over his paddle and the canoe forged ahead, but the breeze freshened, and the ripples changed to crested waves.  Agatha’s face was wet, her slicker dripped, and the men breathed hard between the strokes.  They labored on, and at noon ran the canoes aground in the lee of a rocky island.  Thirlwell ordered the Metis to use nothing but dry driftwood, which makes little smoke, for the fire, and when they rested after a meal found Drummond sitting alone outside the camp.  He looked moody and his eyes were fixed on the height of land.

“Feeling bothered about something?” Thirlwell asked.

“Yes,” said Drummond.  “I’m trying to get back all the old man told me about Strange’s tale.  He only talked about it once, when he was sick.  Looks as if he hadn’t thought the lode a business proposition, and I didn’t then.  Besides, I was anxious and didn’t listen much.  Part of it came back afterwards, but not all.  There’s something I can’t get.”

“That’s unlucky,” Thirlwell remarked in a dry tone.  “We need a hint.”

“I reckoned I’d get it when I saw the country,” Drummond went on.  “I allow we’re not far enough yet.”

Thirlwell made a sign of disagreement.  “Strange said the creek ran south and then turned east.  I imagine there isn’t another neighborhood where that’s likely to happen.  If we cross the divide, I expect we’ll find the water running north.”

“Well,” said Drummond moodily, “you’d better leave me alone.  There’s something—­if I’m quiet, I may get what I’m feeling for.”  He knitted his brows and a curious fixed look came into his eyes.  “I know it’s not far off, but I miss it when I’m just getting on the track.”