Ralph beat his brains for an expedient whereby he might find out what he had to know, without making himself out a madman or an imbecile. Finally he said: "I suppose I can get an outfit from you?"
"Going back?" said Cranston in surprise. "Sure, you can get an outfit. I'm out of nearly everything at this moment, but I'm looking for the steamboat every day. She will bring me my year's stock."
Here was a clue. "How far down the river does the steamboat run?" asked Ralph carelessly.
"Fort Ochre," said Cranston. "She was built there."
Ralph was no wiser than before.
"How do you figure on going back?" asked Cranston.
"That's what I've got to find out," said Ralph.
"Well, I can give you horses to carry all you want to the other side of the portage, with a couple of natives to drive them back. The trail is good. Have you got a boat at the portage?"
Ralph felt himself floundering. He did not know where the portage was. "No," he said.
Cranston turned astonished eyes on him. "Then how in Sam Hill do you expect to go back up the river?" he demanded to know.