"The best in the country," she smiled back at him. "They are good for a
hundred miles a day."

The young man gave himself up to the unique and rather delightful
experience of being transported through an unknown country to an unknown
destination by a charming girl of whom he also knew nothing. He watched
her in silence; but when he forebore to question her, she turned, exposing
a rounded, ravishing cheek, glowing against the white fur of her hood.

"Have you no curiosity, sir?"

"None! Nothing but satisfaction," he observed.

It was his first attempt at gallantry, and she flashed him a bright,
approving glance. Then, as if suddenly checked by second thought, she
frowned slightly and turned away. She had mapped out a course of action
during the night in which it was her purpose to use this man if he proved
amenable, but the success of her plan would depend largely on a
continuance of their present friendly relations. In order, therefore, to
forestall any possible change of base, she began to unfold her scheme in a
business-like tone:

"Yesterday you seemed to be taken by the fishing business."

"I certainly was until you told me there were no cannery sites left."

"There is one. When I came here a year ago the whole river was open, so on
an outside chance I located a site, the best one available. When Willis
Marsh learned of it, he took up all of the remaining places, and, although
at the time I had no idea what I was going to do with my property, I have