By and by they skirted a rocky island where resinous smells drifted across the water and the reflections of tall pines wavered round the canoe, until he ran the craft on a shingle point and they changed places.  Agatha took the single-bladed paddle and although her hands were sore made some progress while he instructed her.  After a time she stopped and let the canoe drift in the hot sunshine.

“I think you’d soon make a good voyageur,” Thirlwell remarked.  “For one thing, you’re determined; I saw you wince once or twice and imagine the paddle-haft hurt.”

“I must learn to use the pole yet, and mean to try it in the river by and by.  You must pole, I think, when you go up a fast stream?”

“That is so, when you can’t use the tracking line.  But I don’t see why you are anxious to learn.”

“I have an object,” Agatha answered with a smile.

“Then why don’t you practise canoeing at Toronto?”

“The trouble is that I haven’t time.  You see, I teach all day.”

“But you have holidays and the evenings.”

“My evenings are occupied by study.”

“I don’t know if it’s wise to over-work yourself for the advantage of your pupils,” Thirlwell remarked.  “At one time, I was very keen about my profession, but soon found it a mistake to tire my brain for my employer’s benefit.  But what do you study?”

“Science; chemistry and geology, but not in order to teach the girls.”

“Well, I suppose knowledge is worth getting for its own sake.  Anyhow, I thought so, but you learn when you undertake rude mining that the main thing is to be able to make a practical use of what you know.  In fact, that’s often better than knowing much.”

“Perhaps so,” Agatha agreed.  “Some day I hope to make a good use of what I have learned.”

“About canoeing, or geology?”

“About both,” said Agatha.  “Now, however, I think we’ll make for the landing.  Breakfast will be ready soon.”

Thirlwell saw no more of her during the day, but she came down to the beach in the evening and he gave her another lesson.  As they paddled home he thought she looked tired, and asked:  “Where have you been since morning?”

Agatha indicated a ridge of high ground with a few pines on its summit that rose indistinctly at some distance across the shadowy forest.

“I took my lunch with me and went up there.”

“But it must be a two or three hours’ walk.  Is there a trail?”

“A loggers’ trail.  It’s partly grown up and broke off altogether when I got near the rocks.  After that I had a rough scramble, but I like the woods and try to walk as much as possible in my holidays.”

“Well, no doubt, walking is good for one.  But don’t the girls in Toronto prefer the street cars?”

“I don’t go long walks for health’s sake,” Agatha answered with a smile.  “But I think some people I know are waiting.  Can you paddle faster?”