"In the bush. Miss Horsfield will, no doubt, give you particulars; I've just told her the tale."
"She called me up at the office and asked me to come across at once. Will you excuse us for a few minutes?"
They went out together, and Jessy presently came back alone and looked at
Carroll in a diffident manner.
"I suppose," she began, "one could hardly expect you to think of either of us very leniently; but I must ask you to believe that I am sincerely distressed to hear of your partner's accident. It was a thing I could never have anticipated; but there are amends I can make. Every minute you can save is precious, isn't it?"
"It is."
"Then I can get you a tug. My brother tells me the Atlin is coming across from Victoria and should be here early this evening. He has gone back to the office to secure her for you, though she was fixed to go off for a lumber boom."
"Thank you," responded Carroll. "It's a very great service. She's a powerful boat."
Jessy hesitated.
"I think my brother would like to say a few words when he comes back. Can
I offer you some tea?"
"I think not," answered Carroll, smiling. "For one thing, if I sit still much longer, I shall, no doubt, go to sleep again, as I did at Nairn's; and that would be neither seemly nor convenient, if I'm to sail this evening. Besides, now that we've arranged an armistice, it might be wiser not to put too much strain on it."