on board, paddled up the lake.

As they crept round a point flocks of ducks left the water and the air
throbbed with a beat of wings that gradually died away. The fire, round
which the others sat, was out of sight, and the rustle of the tossing
birches emphasized the quietness. Charnock let the canoe drift, and
Sadie looked up at him from her low seat among the wagon robes he had
brought.

"What are you going to do about your farm?" she asked.

"I don't know yet, and don't see why I should bore you with my
troubles."

"Pshaw!" said Sadie. "You want to put the thing off; but you know you
can't."

Charnock made a gesture of humorous resignation. "Very well! I expect I
won't be able to carry on the farm."

"No," said Sadie, thoughtfully, "I don't think you could. There are men
who would be able, but not you."

"I dare say you're right, but you're not flattering," Charnock rejoined
with a smile.

Sadie gave him a steady look. "Your trouble is you laugh when you ought
to set your lips and get busy. One has got to hustle in Canada."

"I have hustled. In fact, it's hustling that has brought me low. If I