"0h, I dunno's anythin's wrong, particular," Barlow said in reply."0nly--well, Lefty he sent me down to look at if Jack was at the Springs. Weain't seen him for a couple uh days."

Her pulse quickened.

"And he has not come down the lake?"

"I guess not," the logger exclaimed. "0h, I guess it's all right. Jack'spretty _skookum_ in the woods. 0nly Lefty got uneasy. It's desperate hotand smoky up there."

"How did you come down? Are you going back soon?" she asked abruptly.

"I got the _Waterbug_," Barlow told her. "I'm goin' right straightback."

Stella looked out over the smoky lake and back at the logger again, asudden resolution born of intolerable uncertainty, of a feeling that shecould only characterize as fear, sprang full-fledged into her mind."Wait for me," she exclaimed. "I'm going with you."