Carrie's eyes sparkled and her tired look vanished. "It won't stand for thinking about! Tell him you undertook the job and are going to make good."
Jake shrugged humorously and turned to Jim. "Well, I guess we needed bracing. What do you say, partner?"
"We'll hold on."
Probyn frowned. "Is the dame a member of the firm?"
"She is," Jake said, smiling. "In fact, when we're up against it, she's the boss partner."
"Very well. I want you to get this, miss. Here's a thousand dollars; they're yours for picking up and you take no risk. If you refuse and hold down the contract, you'll certainly go broke."
"It's possible," said Carrie. "All the same, we mean to hold it down."
Probyn shrugged. "Then I quit. If you can put the job over, you're luckier than I think."
He went off and Carrie sat down. "Looks as if I came along when I was needed. The fellow talked in hints. What did he mean?"
"It's pretty obvious," Jake replied. "His employers don't like our butting in. Since they can't buy us, they'll try to freeze us out."
"Then I reckon we must fight."
Jake looked thoughtful. "They're strong antagonists; but I've a notion there's somebody on our side. In fact, I was puzzled when we got the contract. It's not often a job of this kind goes past the others, but the department may be using us to see if it's possible to shake the combine." He paused, and laughed as he resumed: "Anyhow, we have made the plunge and if we're not going under have got to go ahead."
Jim agreed and for a time they talked about something else, but next morning Jake got a jar when he went to load the pack-horses and found two of his helpers gone.
"They pulled out at sun-up," one of the rest explained. "A stranger came along, looking for choppers; offered fifty cents more than you promised, and Steve and Pete went off with him."
"He'll probably shake them in a week," Jake replied. "Still fifty cents a day's some inducement, and all of you can chop."
The packer laughed. "That's a sure thing! We reckoned we were fixed well and had better stop with a boss we knew. Besides, now we've a dame for commissary, the hash is pretty good."
Jake went back to the hotel, disturbed about Probyn, but satisfied with his men. The two who had gone were strangers, but two of the rest had been with him in the North and the others had worked upon the telegraph line. One could trust them. For all that, he was quiet when they set off on the muddy trail that plunged into the bush. A cold wind blew the rain in their faces, the horses stumbled in the holes, and the wet men grumbled as they plodded through the mud. They knew the wilderness and felt themselves a small company for the work they must do. Moreover, Jake imagined they might have to meet the antagonism of rich and unscrupulous rivals.
"You don't say much," he remarked to Jim.
"One doesn't say much the morning one pulls out to start a big job. Anyhow, I'll own it's not my habit. For one thing, I know what we're up against," Jim replied. Then he saw Jake's twinkle, and smiled. "My notion is you have been quieter than me."
"Oh, well," said Jake, "you're not always very bright, but this trip's a picnic after some we've made. If we go broke, we can come down again; the last time we took the North trail we had to make good or freeze."
"You hadn't your sister with you then."
"That's so," Jake agreed. "I reckon it makes some difference. Perhaps you had better go ahead and talk to her. Carrie's rather fed up, but she mayn't be as frank to you."
Jim urged the pack-horse he was leading and came up with Carrie, who was a short distance in front. He wondered what he had better talk about, but found it easier to amuse her than he had thought. Carrie did not look tired now; she had a touch of color and her eyes were bright. She laughed at his remarks, although he admitted that his humor was clumsy, and did not seem to mind when the horse splashed her with mud. Carrie had pluck, but he imagined her cheerfulness was forced. By and by a knot on the pack-rope slipped and some tools and cooking pans fell with a clash. When Jim began to pick them up Carrie stopped a yard or two in front.
"You needn't hurry; I'll go on," she said. "It's cleaner away from the horses, and one can look for the dry spots."
Jim gave her a quick glance. Although she smiled, her voice had a note of strain. It had not been easy for her to pretend and he had forced her to the effort.
"I'm sometimes dull, but I mean well," he said apologetically.
"Of course, you meant well. Jake sent you, didn't he? He knows something about my moods."
Jim colored and, seeing his embarrassment, she laughed.
"You don't deserve that; I get mad now and then. The thing's my fault, any way. I started well, but hadn't grit enough to keep it up. However, hadn't you better pick those pans out of the mud?"
Jim replaced the articles and when he had refastened the load waited for Jake.
"It looks as if Carrie had turned you down," the latter remarked.
"I'm not surprised," Jim rejoined. "I've been talking like a drummer when she wanted to be alone."
"Oh, well," said Jake, "you haven't a very light touch, but I expect she saw your intention was good."
"She did not; she saw you had sent me. Your sister is cleverer than you think."
Jake grinned and pulled his horse round a hole. "They're all cleverer than we think. Sometimes it's an advantage and sometimes a drawback. Anyhow, I guess I won't meddle again. Carrie will make good if we leave her alone – "
He turned, for the horse behind them pushed forward and bit the animal he led.
"Watch out!" he shouted. "Drive your beast on!"
Jim did so and then stopped a few yards off, while the animals plunged round each other and a man behind ran up. Jake, sticking to the bridle, was dragged about; his horse's load struck against a tree and a flour-bag burst. While he tried to stop the white stream running from the hole, the other horse seized his arm and shook him savagely. Its driver joined in the struggle with a thick branch, and the men and animals floundered about the trail while the flour ran into the mud.
"Let up with the club!" Jake shouted. "The dried apples have gone now. You have hit the bag."
"Hold your beast, then," gasped the other. "This trouble's not going to stop until mine gets in front."
Jake with an effort pulled the kicking animal between two trees and there was quietness when the other passed. It looked round for a moment, and then plodded forward steadily while the desiccated apples ran down on the trail.
"Now we'll stop and fix those bags," Jake remarked. "Why in thunder did you let the brute go, Bill?"
"He was mushing along good and quiet and I wanted to light my pipe. Reckon he forgot he wasn't in his place."
Then they heard a laugh and saw Carrie close by. Jake was covered with mud and flour, and his hat, which had been trampled on, hung over his hot face.
"You look the worse for wear," she said.
"I guess I feel like that," Jake replied, indicating his torn overalls. "Putting some of the damage right will be a job for you, but my hat's past your help. You wouldn't think it cost three dollars, not long since!"
"But what was the kicking and biting about?"
"You heard the explanation! Bill's cayuse forgot he wasn't in his proper place. When he remembered, he tried to get there."
"I don't understand yet."
"A pack-horse knows his place in the row. He's a creature of habit and hates to see another animal where he ought to be, but Bill was late in loading up and we didn't stop for him. If I'd known what was coming to me, I'd have waited. Now you have got the thing."
Carrie laughed and Jim noted there was no reserve in her amusement. Her moodiness had vanished.
"It's ridiculous, but you must indulge him another