Sherwood girl some good books to read,” explained the youth.

“Can she read?” asked Uncle Jim. “How would she learn to read, way up there on French River?”

“Her father taught her. He taught her and her mother to read at the same time. And her mother’s dead. I’m sorry for that kid, Uncle Jim. Mighty tough, it seems to me—no mother—and to be left all alone in a big pirogue by her father. I’d like to know why he did that.”

“So would I,” returned McAllister. “I asked your ma and she didn’t seem to know exactly. Couldn’t make out anything particular from the letter nor from what the little girl told her—but it’s something real serious, I guess. He had to run, anyhow. He is fond of the little girl, no doubt about it. His letter to Flora told that much. And he was mighty fond of his wife too, I reckon; and I wouldn’t wonder if there wasn’t more good in him than what we figured on, after all. He had wild blood in him, I guess; and Louis Balenger was sure a bad feller to get mixed up with.”

They worked in silence for half an hour, hilling the potatoes side by side.

“I’d like to know why he left her in the pirogue. Why he didn’t bring her all the way,” said Ben, pausing and leaning on his hoe.

“How far down did he bring her?” returned McAllister.

“I don’t know.”

“Likely he was scared. Maybe the wardens were close onto his heels. It looks like he figgered on just coming part way with her, by his having the letter to your ma already written.”

Again they fell to work and for ten minutes the hoes were busy. Then McAllister straightened his back.

“It’s years since I was last on French River,” he said. “I’d like fine to take another look at that country. We’d maybe learn something we don’t know if we got right on the ground. We wouldn’t have to be gone for long. Two days up, one day for scouting ’round and one day for the run home—four or five days would be plenty.”

“When can we go?”

“Not before haying, that’s a sure thing. Between haying and harvest is the best time, I reckon. I feel real curious about Dick Sherwood’s affairs now—more curious than I’ve felt for years.”

“He sounds mighty 

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