"No."
"And you will go?"
"Ah, ah."
"When?"
"Wan sleep. Tak' dog also. Go queeck."
Martin sat up later than usual this night, as his mind was much disturbed. Nance saw that something was troubling him, so she did not ask for the customary evening music. She kissed him as she had done for years, and went to her own little room.
Early next morning Martin announced that he was going up stream, and might be gone all day. He left Nance standing in the doorway, looking enquiringly after him.
"I will tell you all about it, Nance, when I come back," he called to her as she waved him good-bye.
It was supper time ere Martin returned, and over the meal he explained the object of his visit up the river.
"It's just what I thought, Nance," he began. "When Taku told us about those two white men I had my suspicion, and I was right. They were prospectors, and have discovered the gold up the Quaska."