Pierre’s ill-temper was short-lived, but his curiosity remained. However, when Adrian refused to gratify it his interest returned to himself.
 
“Say, I’ve a mind to go the whole way.”
 
“Where?”
 
“Wherever you’re going. Nothin’ to call me back.”
 
“Madoc?”
 
“We might take him along.”
 
“Not if he’s sick. That would be as cruel to him as troublesome to us. Besides, you need go no further than yonder shore.”
 
“Them’s the woods you got lost in.”
 
“I know them better now.”
 
“Couldn’t find your road to save your life.”
 
[Pg 135]
 
“I think I could. Besides, you will be wanted at the island. I don’t think Mr. Dutton is a well man. With nobody but an old woman and a young girl he’ll need somebody. You’re not much good, still——”
 
Pierre laughed. They had about reached the forest and he rested his paddle.
 
“You hear me. I’m going to where you go. That was the master’s word. I wouldn’t dare not do it. If I did, my mother’d make me sorry. So that’s settled.”
 
Adrian had doubts as to the truth of this statement of the islander’s commands. He recalled the words: “as far as you desire.” After all, this was not setting a time limit, and it was natural that anybody should like company through the . Why, it would be a wild, journey! the very sort of which he had dreamed before he had tasted the routine of the lumber-camp. He had his colors and brushes, the birch-bark which served so many forest purposes should be his canvas, they had food, [Pg 136]and Pierre, at least, his gun and ammunition—no lad could have protested further.
 
“All right. It will be a after my own heart. We can quit as soon as we’re tired of it; and—look here. Mr. Dutton said you were paid to take me to the nearest town. How far is that? How long to get there?”
 
“Oh! I don’t know. Donovan’s nighest. Might go in four days—might a week. Canada’s closer, but you don’t want to go north. South, he said.”
 
“Ye-es. I suppose so. Fact is, I don’t care where I go nor when. I’m in no hurry. As long as the money and food hold out, I’m satisfied.”
 
“Speakin’ of money. I couldn’t afford to waste my time.”
 
Adrian laughed at this sudden change of front. It was Pierre who had proposed the long road, but at the mention of money had remembered .
 
“That’s all right, too. It was of that I was [Pg 137]thinking, you greedy fellow. What do guides get, here in the woods?”
 
Pierre stepped , carefully beached his canoe, and as carefully considered his reply before he made it. How much did this city lad know? Either at camp or on the island had he heard the just rates of such service?
 
“Well—how much you got?”
 
“I’m asking a question, not you.”
 
“About four dollars, likely.”
 
“Whew! not much. You can get the best of them for two. I’ll give you a dollar a day when we’re resting and one-fifty when we’re traveling.”
 
Adrian was smiling in the darkness at his own sudden . He had taken a leaf out of his comrade’s own book, and beyond that, he almost loved his precious , so soon as the thought came of parting with them. He instantly resolved to put aside a ten dollar piece to take the “mater,” whenever he should see her. The rest he would use, of course, but [Pg 138]not waste. He would paint such pictures up here as would make his old artist friends and the critics open their eyes. The very novelty of the material which should them would “take.” Already, in imagination, he saw dozens of fascinating “bits” hung on the line at the old Academy, and felt the marvelous sums they brought his pockets to bursting. He’d be the rage, the hit of the next season; and what pride he’d have in sending newspaper notices of himself to Peace Island! How Margot would open her blue eyes, and Angelique toss her hands, and the master slowly admit that there was genius where he had estimated only talent.
 
“There’s such a wide, wide difference in the two!” cried Adrian, aloud.
 
“Hey? What?”
 
The dreamer came back to reality, and to Pierre, demanding,
 
“Make it one-seventy-five, and I’ll do it.”
 
“Well. I will. Now, for to-night. Shall we camp right here or go further into the [Pg 139]forest? In the woods I’m always ready for bed, and its later than usual now.”
 
“Here. I know the very rocks you got under in that storm. They’ll do as good as a tent, and easier.”
 
Adrian, also, knew that spot and in a few moments both lads were asleep. They had not stopped even to build the fire that was customary in such quarters.
 
Pierre was awake first, on the next morning, and Adrian slowly rose, stretching his limbs and yawning widely.
 
“Well, I must say that Angelique’s good beats rocks. You don’t catch me doing that again. I guess I’ll walk down to the water and have a last look at the island.”
&n............