-¢{ To CARIBOO AND BACK }--

CHAPTER TWELVE
THE DESERTED CAMP

At noon when the kettle was boiled on the
raft to supply a hot drink with their bite of cold
dinner, the professor and his companion were
nowhere to be seen. This was the first time
they had not turned up for the noon meal, and
today of all days they were wanted.

Mary Mulligan had only submitted to the
inevitable in coming aboard the raft. In her
mind she was unconvinced. In her heart she
was desperate.

“Tf only that good man, the professor, was
here,” she confided in Arthur, “he would make
short work of that half-breed Jacques! He’d
order him back, and till our Betty was found
there ud be no going forward for anny of us!”
And Arthur nodded his fair head in hearty
agreement. Z

Since their departure that morning some
very bad water had been encountered. Rocks
and whirlpools and a fall, and then more rapids,

[143]

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