"Yes, I do," I replied, choking with dread. "This is too terrible! He'll kill himself! Go up the bank with him! Keep him busy at the tent! Little Fellow and I'll pole for it. The water's shallow there——"
"What do you think?" said the priest to Laplante.
"T'ink! I never t'ink! I finds out." But all the same, Louis' assurance was shaken and he peered searchingly into the river.
"Aren't you coming? What's your plan?" called Eric.
"Certainly we are, but get this truck to higher ground, will you?" I hoisted out the camp trappings. "I want to paddle out for something."
"What is it?" he asked.
"Something lost out there. I lost it out of my hand."
Frances Sutherland, I know, suspected trouble from the alarm which I could not keep out of my speech; for she pressed to the water's edge.
"Get the tent ready," I urged.
"What's the meaning of this mystery?" persisted Hamilton sharply. "What have you lost?"