scows drifted lazily down the river. The scowmen distributed
themselves among the pieces in more or less comfortable attitudes and
slept. In the head scow only the boss and the three women remained
awake.

"Who is Pierre Lapierre?" Chloe asked suddenly.

The man darted her a searching glance and shrugged. "Pierre Lapierre,
she free-trader," he answered. "Dees scow, she Pierre Lapierre scow."

If Chloe was surprised at this bit of information, she succeeded
admirably in disguising her feelings. Not so Harriet Penny, who sank
back among the freight pieces to stare fearfully into the face of the
younger woman.

"Then you are Pierre Lapierre's man? You work for him?"

The man nodded. "On de reevaire I'm run de scow--me--Vermilion! I'm
tak' de reesk. Lapierre, she tak' de money." The man's eyes glinted
wickedly.

"Risk? What risk?" asked the girl.

Again the man eyed her shrewdly and laughed. "Das plent' reesk--on de
reevaire. De scow--me'be so, she heet de rock in de rapids--bre'k all
to hell--_Voilà_!" Somehow the words did not ring true.

"You hate Lapierre!" The words flashed swift, taking the man by
surprise.