"I wanted to see that man and you had better leave him to me," she said. "To begin with, I'll give him the best supper I know how to cook. Get busy and fix the fire while I see what we've got that's extra nice."
"If you get after him, he's bound to give in," Jim remarked. "However, I want you to study the fellow and tell me what you think."
"Then you would trust my judgment?"
"Of course. In many ways, it's as good as ours."
Carrie laughed. "Sometimes," she said, "you're very modest, Jim."
Martin ate a remarkably good supper and afterwards talked to Carrie with obvious satisfaction. Like the most part of the men who venture much in the wilds, he was marked by a grave quietness, but he had for all that a touch of humor. By and by he turned to Jim and asked: "How are you getting on? Have you struck fresh trouble since I saw you?"
Jim related his adventure at the rapid and Martin gave him a keen glance. "I reckon you had an object for telling me, but I don't quite get it. You think I hired the man who sent down the log, or you know I didn't."
"He knows you didn't," Carrie declared.
"Thank you," said Martin. "I imagine what you say goes at this camp."
"Some way. I belong to the firm."