His crew cheered this statement enthusiastically. The landing was easily made and the boats were beached and unloaded.
"Never thought I could unload a boat again without bursting into tears," said Enoch, grunting under three bed rolls he was carrying up to the willows, "but here I am, full of enthusiasm!"
"You need a lot of it down here, I can tell you," growled Forrester, who had skinned his chin badly in a fall that morning.
"You look like a goat, Forr," said Harden, sympathetically, as he set a folding table close to the spot where Jonas was kindling a fire.
"I'd rather look like a goat than a jack-ass," returned Forrester with an edge to his voice.
"Forr," said Milton, "don't you want to try your luck at some fish for supper? The salmon ought to be interested in a spot like this."
Forrester's voice cleared at once. "Sure! I'd be glad to," he said, and went off to unload his fishing tackle. When he was out of hearing, Milton said sharply to Harden:
"Why can't you let him alone, Hard! You know how touchy he is when anything's the matter with him."
"I'm sorry," replied Harden shortly.
Enoch glanced with interest from one man to the other, but said nothing, not even when, Milton's back being turned, Harden winked at him. And when Forrester returned with a four-pound river salmon, there was no sign of irritation in his face or manner.