CHAPTER XXVIII

STORMONT TRIES A BRIBE

When the light began to fade Thirlwell put W down his tools and went off to try to catch a trout.  He had noted that Drummond was not about the camp and when he got near the mouth of a creek where he meant to fish thought he saw an indistinct figure some distance in front.  It vanished, but he felt he had not been deceived and stopped for a minute or two.

Although he had no grounds for distrusting Drummond, he had marked certain weaknesses in his character.  The lad might have gone to fish, but Thirlwell had not seen him make a rod, and remembering the falling stone resolved to find out.  The wood was thin, but the light was dim, and the turmoil of the creek would drown any noise he made.  After walking obliquely inland for some distance he stopped to listen.  He heard nothing, but Drummond was now between him and the lake, and Thirlwell thought he could not get across the creek.  He came down to the mouth of the latter cautiously, and when he was close to the lake stopped behind a trunk.  The water glimmered between the trees, and he saw two dark figures outlined against the pale reflection.

There was some risk of his being seen, but he thought if Drummond was afraid he might be followed, he would watch the bush along the edge of the lake, and he advanced cautiously, moving from trunk to trunk.  A thicket of wild-berries grew near the water, and stealing up behind it, he stopped and crouched down.  Drummond was perhaps a dozen yards off, and stood, holding a fishing-rod, while Stormont sat on a fallen log opposite.  Thirlwell clenched his fist and listened.  He could hear them talk.

“How’d you know you’d find me here?” Drummond asked.

“I didn’t know,” said Stormont; “it was good luck.  I wanted to find out if Thirlwell had finished the canoes.  One can see into your camp from the top of the high ground, and I’ve brought good glasses.”

It was plain that Drummond had not gone to meet the fellow, and Thirlwell saw that he had, to some extent, misjudged the lad.  For all that, Drummond had reached the spot a few minutes before he did, and something had obviously been said in the meantime.  If possible, he must find out what they had talked about.

“Take a smoke; this is a pretty good cigar,” Stormont resumed.  “You’ll let a soft snap go if you don’t do what I want.”

“You put me on to a soft snap before,” Drummond remarked with a touch of scorn.

“I think you got fifty dollars—­for nothing.  Anyhow, I want you and I’m willing to pay in advance.”

“With a cheque that can be stopped!”

Stormont laughed.  “No.  I don’t pay for this kind of job by cheque.  You can have it in bills; I’ve got a wad in my pocket.  Better take your money now than trust Thirlwell to let you in when he makes good his claim; but if you like, I’ll give you some stock when we float our company.”