Whereupon Charlie, who had been preternaturally calm all the
afternoon, uttered a shriek of rage, and with a carving-knife chased
that man out into the brush. Nor would he be appeased to the point
of getting supper until Orde himself had intervened.

"Well," said Orde to Newmark later, around the campfire, "how does
river-driving strike you?"

"It is extremely interesting," replied Newmark.

"Like to join the wanigan crew permanently?"

"No, thanks," returned Newmark drily.

"Well, stay with us as long as you're having a good time," invited
Orde heartily, but turning away from his rather uncommunicative
visitor.

"Thank you," Newmark acknowledged this, "I believe I will."

"Well, Tommy," called Orde across the fire to North, "I reckon we've
got to rustle some more supplies. That shipwreck of ours to-day
mighty near cleaned us out of some things. Lucky Charlie held his
head and locked in the bedding with those sweeps, or we'd have been
strapped."

"I didn't do it," grumbled Charlie. "It was him."

"Oh!" Orde congratulated Newmark. "Good work! I'm tickled to death
you belonged to that crew."