There was a mix-up on the floor between the big black hound and the boy. When it settled into peace, Nell asked as though nothing had interrupted:
"Why don't you like Stenson?"
"Oh, I don't know. He's a snake and a rotter. His eyes keep on slewing round. He tells lies. When it comes to that why does old Rob hate him? I say, Nell, are you really going to take that trail on Thursday?"
Nell looked at the boy's earnest eyes, and a little twisted smile curled one corner of her firm mouth.
"No," she said.
"No, why--how will you get out of it? I say----"
"Easy enough. We shan't be here, my dear."
"Shan't be here! Where shall we be then?"
David opened his mouth as well as his eyes when the full force of this surprising news began to sink into his mind.
"Well--with any luck--and God's help, my child--we shall be on the trail for Fort St. Louis. Anyway, either that, or to Brunswick House. I mean to strike the lake at the bottom of the Divide, and make the very straightest trail we can down the river, till we hit the Moose----"