"Then Scott must come to-night," Thirlwell replied. "I've had enough of
watching Steve, and don't mind admitting that your charity is greater
than mine."

When he reached the shack he told Scott nothing about what he had heard,
because he thought Father Lucien would sooner he did not. The latter
knew when to be silent and it would do no good to talk about the matter
unless something happened to throw a light upon the mystery. On the
whole, he was relieved when Driscoll, who soon recovered, set off up
river with a half-breed and a loaded hand-sledge.




CHAPTER VI

FATHER LUCIEN'S ADVENTURE


The snow was firm and the rivers were frozen hard when Thirlwell left
the mine with two _Metis_ trappers to examine an outcropping reef that
one of the half-breeds had told him about. He was not very hopeful, but
agreed with Scott, who thought it might be worth while to look at the
reef, since the specimens the _Metis_ had brought showed traces of
silver and lead. Then Father Lucien had gone to visit some of his people
who had camped for their winter trapping far up in the bush, the shack
was lonely, and the frost hindered the work at the mine.

Winter is not a good time for prospecting, but travel is often easier