"Only know it by hearsay," said Ralph. "Principally fur."
"One hears in town about the diggings in the Stukely Valley. I suppose it's pretty well worked out by now."
"I don't know," said Ralph carelessly.
"How does a man get up the Campbell River?" asked Stack.
In spite of himself a thrilled tone crept into Ralph's voice. "There's a little steamboat runs up to Gisborne portage now and then," he said, "and beyond that if any one is willing to pay."
Slight as the change was in Ralph's voice, it did not escape Stack's attentive ear. "Gisborne portage?" he said carelessly. "What is it a portage to?"
"Over to Hat Lake," said Ralph, with shining eyes.
"Aha!" thought Stack. "I'm getting warm!" He immediately changed the subject, and avoided it during the rest of the day.
On the next day he led the subject by imperceptible degrees around to the subject of maps of the country. Ralph, who had procured every map he could lay his hands on, had plenty to say on this.
"I have a map of North Cariboo that Father Ambrose the missionary made," said Stack. "Do you know it?"