Father Lucien indicated the torn blue blanket that hung from his
shoulder. "All gone except this! But it's a long story and I can't
walk."

"Then you have nothing to eat?" said Thirlwell sharply.

"Half a small bannock; I ate the rest this morning. The worst was I had
only melted snow to drink."

Thirlwell made a sympathetic gesture, for men who camp in the frozen
woods consume large quantities of nearly boiling tea. Then he turned to
the half-breed and sent him back for his companion and the sledge.

"We'll haul you down the river as soon as they come," he said. "By good
luck, we camped in perhaps the only place from which we could have seen
your fire."

"Ah," said Father Lucien with a quiet smile, "I do not know if it was
luck alone that made you choose the spot."

They sat down in the hollow among the rocks, and the missionary shivered
although the fire snapped and threw out clouds of smoke close by.
Thirlwell gave him his tobacco pouch.

"In the meantime, you can eat your bannock and then take a smoke. I'm
curious to learn how you lost your outfit and the dogs."

Father Lucien ate the morsel of hard cake, and afterwards looked up.
"Perhaps I had better tell you before your men arrive. Well, I traveled