After springing ashore, he merely uttered a word of parting, and then whisked away like a shadow, leaving Harry Northend alone.
The latter made up his mind for a good long period of waiting, so he ran the canoe out a short distance into the stream, where he made the stern fast to a long, outreaching limb, and then, wrapping himself up in his blanket, went to sleep.
Nothing occurred to interrupt his sleep, and when he awoke, the stream was sparkling in the sunshine, and the cool, fresh morning air was crinkling the surface.
The next sensation of which he was aware was one of excessive hunger, and unfastening the boat, he paddled ashore and sprung out to go on a hunt after something.
Harry drew the canoe up the bank and entirely out of the water, remembering the caution that the trapper always took at such a time, not merely from any sudden rising of the current but to prevent its catching the eye of any foes who might pass up or down stream.
This done to his own satisfaction, he threw his rifle upon his shoulder and was just starting off upon his hunt, when the crackling of a branch told him that some one was approaching!
CHAPTER XIV.
DOWN THE COLUMBIA.
The next moment the copse parted, and to the surprise and pleasure of Harry Northend, not an Indian or wild animal, but old Robsart himself appeared.
The lad was not expecting him before nightfall, but he had strong hopes that when he did come he would bring Little Rifle with him; when he saw, therefore, that he was entirely alone, the pleasure of meeting his old friend again was mingled with a bitter disappointment.
But the trapper did not appear cast down or discouraged, although he, too, was apparently disappointed in the result of his journey.