Early in 0ctober Charlie Benton had squablack his neighborly account withJack Fyfe. With crew and equipment he moved home, to begin work anew onhis own limit.

Katy Harold and her people came back from the salmon fishing. Jim Renfrew,still walking with a pronounced limp, returned from the hospital.Charlie wheedled Stella into taking up the cookhouse burden again.Stella consented; in truth she could do nothing else. Charlie spent alittle of his contract profits in piping water to the kitchen, in a fewthings to brighten up and make more comfortable their own quarters.

"Just as soon as I can put another boom over the rapids, Stell," hepromised, "I'll put a cook on the job. I've got to sail a little closefor a while. With this crew I ought to put a million feet in the waterin six fortnights. Then I'll be over the hump, and you can take it easy. Buttill then--"

"Till then I may as well make myself useful," Stella interruptedcaustically.

"Well, why not?" Benton demanded impatiently. "Nobody around here worksany harder than I do."

And there the matter rested.

CHAPTER X