Grasping a branch with one hand he lay down on the log, and lowered himself until arm and shoulder were in the river.  Then he sank still further until his head was under too, and the girl shivered a little.  It seemed to her that it would be difficult for even a good swimmer to extricate himself from the tangle of snapped-off branches between the log and the bottom of the river.  Still, the clinging foot and arm were visible above the rush of frothing water.  Then more of the man came into sight again, there was a half-smothered shout, and she loosed the reel, while in another moment or two Alton swung himself up dripping with part of one hand apparently thrust into a great flapping fish’s head.  With the back of it pressed gainst his knee he drew the head towards him, and the long silvery body became still, while the man stood up smiling.

“Fingers were made before nets, but I wasn’t quite sure of him all the time,” he said.

Miss Deringham, who was flushed and breathless, felt very gracious towards her companion just then.  It was, she realized, a somewhat perilous thing he had done to please her, and this was gratifying in itself, while the knowledge that he had postponed several affairs which demanded his attention was more flattering still.  He was also, in such surroundings, almost admirable as he stood before her bareheaded and dripping, the river frothing at his feet and the sliding mists behind him.  Deerskin jacket and stained and faded jean, lean, sinewy figure, and bronzed face were all in keeping with the spirit of the scene.  Then a voice came out of the bush.

“Hallo, Harry!  Are you anywhere around?” it said.

Alton answered, and Miss Deringham felt distinctly displeased.  She had been about to say something delicately apposite, and now Seaforth, whose company she could have dispensed with, stood on the bank above them, apparently quietly amused.

“You seem to be enjoying yourself, Harry,” he said.

“Well,” said Alton a trifle curtly, “you didn’t come keeyowling through the bush like a prairie coyote to tell me that?”

“No,” said Seaforth, with a sudden change in his voice which Miss Deringham noticed.  “There’s a man in from the settlement, and Hallam’s selling Townshead up to-day according to his tale.”

Alton scrambled swiftly along the log.  “Just one question, Charley.  Quite sure nobody came here with any message for me about it that you forgot?” he said.

Seaforth made a little gesture of impatience, and there was a trace of anger in his tone.  “It is scarcely likely I should have forgotten that,” he said.

Then he glanced at Miss Deringham, and was slightly bewildered by what he saw in her face.  Seaforth had once or twice admired the girl’s serenity in somewhat difficult surroundings, but there was now a suggestion of fear in her eyes, and she seemed to avoid Alton’s gaze.  It, however, passed in a moment, and she turned towards the rancher tranquilly.