He looked thoughtful when his daughter left him, for he had not spoken to her without an object, and her indignation had its significance. On the whole, however, Frobisher saw no cause for uneasiness. He liked Andrew, and though Leonard's explanation might have had a deterrent effect, he disbelieved it. Before returning to England, Leonard had an interview with Mappin at the hotel. "Do you know anything of the lode Allinson talks about?" he asked him. "Nothing except that it lies up in the northern barrens, a mighty rough country, and that people think it's a delusion of the man who claims to have discovered it. But didn't your brother-in-law talk it over with you, if he's interested in the thing?" "He did not. I may as well admit that there are points upon which his views don't agree with mine." "So I imagined," Mappin remarked pointedly. "He's in favor of closing the Rain Bluff. If that were done, it would, of course, cost you your contract." Mappin looked thoughtful. Leonard had already sketched out a plan by which the notice Andrew had given Mappin might be rendered of no effect. "Well," he said, "I'd much rather keep it; but we had better be frank. You would prefer that Allinson didn't find the lode?" "I don't want him to waste the Company's time and money on a journey into the wilds, and expensive prospecting work which will probably lead to nothing. It would be wiser to keep the Rain Bluff going and get out as much ore as possible. I needn't point out that this would be more to your interest." "That's so," chuckled Mappin. "I begin to see. I'm to make all the difficulties I can for Allinson?" Leonard hesitated. He was asked to give his confederate dangerous powers, but he thought the safety of his position required it. There did not seem to be much likelihood of Andrew's discovering valuable minerals, but he might perhaps find somewhat better ore than the Rain Bluff was turning out, and with a practical scheme for working it gain support enough to embarrass the directors. If, however, Andrew failed in his search, it would be easier to discredit him, and the demand he would no doubt make for the abandoning of the mine could be withstood. "I think that's what I meant," he said. "You are in charge of our transport and I expect he'll need a quantity of food and prospecting tools sent up into the bush. I can leave you to work out details." Mappin's eyes flashed. "I guess I can fix it; let it go at that. Now there's another matter I want to mention." Leonard acquiesced in the change of subject, feeling that he had done all that was possible to counteract Andrew's projects. He left with the Montreal express the next morning. Two days later Mappin was summoned to Andrew's room at the hotel and found him studying a list of provisions. "We shall get off in the next few days," he said. "I want you to send these supplies up to the mine, where we'll call for them." "What about the rest of your truck?" Mappin inquired.