THIRLWELL'S DULLNESS
Soon after daybreak, Thirlwell, Drummond, and the rock-borer pushed
their way through the woods behind the cliff. The vein dipped and in
consequence the farther one went back from the creek, the greater would
be the cost of reaching the ore. Besides, it was possible that the ore
pinched out and the uncovered part was an unusually rich pocket. His
companions had agreed that he should have the next best location after
Agatha's, and followed his advice about staking their claims. The
half-breeds had, however, declined to exercise their rights; they were
trappers and _voyageurs_, and stated that they had no use for mines.
Thirlwell thought there was no more ground worth recording, and doubted,
for that matter, if his and the others' claims were worth much, but it
was prudent to keep intruders out. Disputes often rose about the
application of the mining laws, and it might be dangerous to have a rich
and unscrupulous antagonist. His companions went away feeling puzzled by
his coolness. On the journey he had encouraged the party with humorous
banter, and made a joke of their difficulties; now he was quiet and
reserved.
When they had gone Thirlwell sat down and lighted his pipe, for he knew
he must grapple with his trouble before it mastered him. Looking back,
he saw that he had been strangely pleased by Agatha's letters, and when
he met her had at once felt her charm. This, however, was all; he
frankly enjoyed her society and thought she liked his, but he was not
romantic and was satisfied that they should drift into a close and
confidential friendship. It was obvious now that he had been remarkably
dull; Scott had seen how things were going.
Then he had taken it for granted that Agatha would not find the vein,
and had helped her because he thought it better she should convince
herself that Strange had been the victim of his imagination. He had
honestly thought this when they started, but now recognized that he had
unconsciously had another object: he wanted her society and to earn her
gratitude.
A light began to dawn on him when he found Strange's tobacco-box, but he
had, so to speak, evaded full illumination until it became obvious that
they were near the vein. Then the truth could no longer be denied. He
was in love with the girl, and had unconsciously loved her from the
first. In a sense, this looked ridiculous; but there it was and he must
face it. If she had been poor, he would have urged her to marry him,
although it might have exposed her to some risk of hardship. But she was
rich, and the best he could hope for was a post at a mine like the
Clermont.
He had no ground for imagining that Agatha would be willing to marry
him; but if she were, it would look as if he meant to share her riches
when he offered his help. In fact, it would look as if he meant to take
advantage of her ignorance about mining matters and her trust. It would
not disturb him if outsiders thought this, but she might come to think
so.
Besides, he was not going to be supported by his wife's money. In view
of their characters, the situation would be humiliating for both. Agatha
might learn to despise him, which would be intolerable.
Then he felt a touch on his shoulder and got up with a start. Agatha
stood close by and he thought there was more color in her face than
usual, although her eyes were calm.
"Brooding over our good luck?" she said with a smile. "Isn't that a
curious attitude?"
"The good luck is yours."
"If you insist on the difference, but I don't know that it's kind!
Besides, I wanted to give you half my frontage on the vein."
"That's quite impossible," said Thirlwell firmly.
"Why is it impossible?"
"It would look as if I'd meant to take advantage of your generosity."
"Does it matter how the thing would look?"
"Yes," said Thirlwell, who hesitated. "I want to keep your good
opinion--if I have it."
Agatha smiled, but her glance was soft. "I won't flatter you, because I
think you ought to know. But why are you moody? I'd expected you to be
sympathetic to rejoice with me."
"For your sake, I am glad."
"But not for yours?"
"I haven't quite got used to the situation yet," Thirlwell answered
awkwardly. "You see, I never expected to find the ore."
"That was rather obvious," Agatha rejoined with some dryness. "But if
you thought we would be disappointed, why did you come?"
Thirlwell was silent. He did not mean to admit that he had thought a
sharp disappointment would be good for her and might save her worse
pain. It was difficult to state this properly. Then if he owned that he
had come for the pleasure of her society, she might misunderstand him
and he might say too much. Agatha was half amused by his embarrassment,
but was moved all the same, for she understood more than he knew.
"We'll let it go," she resumed. "Still, I don't see why you should be
disturbed by my success."
"One often feels sorry when one finishes a big job. It means one has
come to the end of things one has got used to and likes."
"But this is rather the beginning than the end."
"No," he said moodily. "We have had a glorious trip, but it's done with.
You will go back to the cities; there are only two or three months when
a civilized girl can live in the woods. The trail we have broken stops
here."
"But what do you mean to do?"
"Help Scott at the Clermont, until he's forced to give up."
"Sit down and light your pipe," said Agatha. "We must talk about this."
He obeyed and picked up his pipe. Although he did not light it, its
touch was soothing and he wanted to keep cool. Agatha sat down opposite
on a fallen trunk and presently went on: "To begin with, the mine must
be worked, not sold, and I need help."
"You can get a good manager for the wages you'll be able to pay."
Agatha's color was higher, but she gave him a steady look. "I want a man
I know and trust. There are many ways in which I shall need advice,
because I cannot take this fortune without its responsibility. The mine
must be worked to the best advantage and the people I employ treated
well. I mean to build good houses for them, not rude shacks, make it
possible for them to lead happy lives, and see they get the best, not
the worst, that our cities can send them when a settlement springs up."
"It's a fine ambition," Thirlwell remarked. "However, it will cost you
something, and you'll find some resistance from the people you want to
help; but if the ore's as good as we think, you'll be able to carry out
your plans."
"Do you think I could trust this work to a stranger? A man hired for
wages, who might have no sympathy with my aims?" Agatha asked. "Then, if
when I've done all I mean, I'm rich, somebody must help me to use the
money well." She turned her head for a moment, and then resumed: "Can't
you see that it's daunting to feel I may have to struggle alone with a
task I'm hardly fit for--to know I'll make mistakes?"
"There is your brother."
Agatha smiled.
"George would see I made prudent investments, and think I ought to be
satisfied with getting ten per cent." She gave Thirlwell a look that
made his heart beat. "I need help George cannot give, and know nobody
but you."
She stopped, for she could go no farther. It was for him to meet her
now, if he wanted, but for a moment or two he was silent and knitted his
brows. His brown face was resolute, but something in his eyes indicated
that resolution cost him much. Then he said, "You offer me the post of
manager?"
She turned her head, for it was difficult to preserve her calm. He was
dull in some respects, but it was scarcely possible that he was as dull
as he now pretended. Looking up with a forced smile, she said: "Yes, of
course. I want a manager, and if you would sooner be businesslike--"
"I'm afraid I'm very unbusinesslike," he replied with some grimness.
"However, if Scott is willing, I'll help you to develop the mine and get
your patent; but I think it would be prudent to let him join us. You may
have some trouble to get the money we will need; then he's straight and
a very good sort."
"But what will you do when the patent's granted?"
"We can talk about that later. It will be some time before the mine is
yours, and I'm not certain that we have heard the last of Stormont."
"Very well," said Agatha. "I like Mr. Scott and feel I can trust him
because he is your friend. Do what you think best; I leave it all to
you."
She went away with very mixed feelings, and was glad to reach the
shelter of the woods. Her face was hot and her nerves were jarred, but
when she got calmer she laughed--a rather strained laugh. It was a lover
she wanted, not a manager, and unless Thirlwell was strangely dull she
had been firmly repulsed. She hoped he was dull, but it seemed
impossible that he had not understood. Then it was significant that he
had shown some strain and she found comfort in this. After all, the line
he took had cost him much and his obstinacy might break down.
Besides, when one looked at it dispassionately, the situation was
humorous. She had engaged Thirlwell for her manager, but nothing had
been said about his wages, which she could not pay; for that matter, she
was in his debt. Although she was the prospective owner of a valuable
mine, she had only a few dollars left of the money George had given her;
hardly enough, in fact, to pay for a week's board when she reached
Toronto. Her post there had, no doubt, been filled.
The ore was rich, but might get poor, and she knew enough about mining
to realize the difficulties that must yet be overcome. Getting the money
she would need for the preliminary work was perhaps the worst; and if
the money could be raised, it would be a long time before she could look
for much return. Still she was not alone; Thirlwell had promised to help
and she knew he would not fail her. She meant to let him help, not
because she wanted to get rich, but because she really knew what had
influenced him, and suspected that he was not as strong as he thought.
For all that, she kept out of his way as much as possible while they
camped by the creek, although she was careful to talk with easy
friendliness when they met at meals. Thirlwell, however, was generally
occupied, and when he had made a rough survey of the claims they started
south. The loads were light now and he forced the pace because he was
anxious, and felt responsible. There was another prospecting party, with
an unscrupulous leader, not far off, and one's title to a mineral claim
is open to dispute until the record is filed. Although Agatha's
prosperity would be his loss, he meant to run no risk. He was her
manager and must justify her trust.
When they reached the lake he found there would be some delay. They had
covered the canoes with branches, but the pine-needles had withered off
and the hot sun had opened the seams. Some of the thin planks were badly
split, one had sprung away from its fastenings, and it would take a few
days to repair the damage without proper tools. The caulking composition
he had brought would not go round, and he had to send the _Metis_ into
the bush to look for gum to make the Indian pitch. Then it cost him a
day's hard labor to rough out new plans with an ax and saw, and he
afterwards found he must make a steaming-box to soften the wood so that
it would bend into place.
On the second night he was tired and disturbed, but his sleep was light
and he wakened shortly before daybreak. It was not dark; he could see
the trunks behind the camp and Agatha's white tent. The ripples broke
upon the beach with a gentle splash, and there was a faint sighing in
the pine-tops. Except for all this all was very quiet, and he wondered
whether he had heard a canoe paddle in his dreams. Then, not far off, a
stone rattled as if it had been trodden on.
Thirlwell got up quietly and glanced about the camp. The men were
asleep. He counted their indistinct figures, wrapped in blankets; nobody
was missing. Still somebody had disturbed a loose stone and he moved
cautiously into the gloom. One could not creep up to an Indian, but
Thirlwell imagined there were none about, and if an Indian had meant to
steal something, he would not have crossed the slanting bank strewn with
large gravel, from which the noise had come. Thirlwell, himself, would
not have done so, for he had learned to be silent, when hunting in the
bush. He suspected a clumsy white man, from the cities. When he got
near the bank he stopped behind a tree. There was a narrow opening, but
he saw nobody and heard nothing except the wind in the pine-tops.
He tried to creep round the opening, but fell among a clump of
wild-berry canes. They were green and did not rustle much, but he knew
that after this it would be useless to go on with the search. Besides,
he was not certain that a man had disturbed the stone. The camp-fire had
gone out and an animal might have come down to drink. He grumbled at his
awkwardness and going back to camp, went to sleep again.
In the morning he returned to the bank, but found no tracks. He could
account for the stone falling in two or three natural ways, but the
splash of the paddle was a different thing. Still he had not actually
heard the noise, but, so to speak, wakened with its echo in his ears,
and sitting down, he pondered the matter. Supposing that somebody from
Stormont's gang had prowled about the camp, it was difficult to see the
fellow's object. Thirlwell did not doubt that Stormont knew he was the
leader of Agatha's party and she could do nothing without his help. If
Driscoll had been with his former confederate, one could have understood
the thing. Black Steve had an Indian's cunning and the instincts of a
savage animal, but he was dead and Stormont was a rascal of another
kind. Steve's primitive methods would not appeal to him. Thirlwell gave
up the puzzle and got about his work.