“Son, son,” the veteran puncher admonished, laying a hand on Teddy’s shoulder, “don’t take it so hard. We’ll find Roy, sure as shootin’! Yuh can’t down him with a little spill in the river! Like as not he’s laughin’ over it now an’ bettin’ he could have made the shore with the one paddle if we hadn’t hit that rock. Shake yore stumps, Teddy, an’ get a hold on yore liver. Roy ain’t hurt!” Teddy took a deep breath and slowed down to a walk. “Can’t tell, Pop,” he declared gloomily. “I’m afraid of--I don’t know what. Why didn’t Roy come right ashore if he could?” “But great snakes, boy, he may be on the other side, or he may have been washed far downstream!” Pop exploded. “Just because he ain’t here, don’t say he’s still sittin’ out there on that bloomin’ rock!” “That’s right, too!” Teddy agreed, and brightened. “I’ll bet he’s across from us! If we only had that canoe now, we could--” “Oh, no we couldn’t,” Pop interrupted grimly. “That current is too blame strong. I reckon we can find the canoe all right, come mornin’. She’ll probably need patchin’, but I can fix her if she ain’t too bad.” It was just this sort of talk that Teddy needed, and when he spoke again his voice was stronger and more spirited. “Do you really think we can mend the canoe, Pop?” “Sure we can! Won’t be nothin’ to it. Now, Teddy, we better give up lookin’ for Roy until she gets light. We’re only wastin’ time this way, an’ I got an idea he’s over on the other bank. If that’s so, we got to find the boat first an’ go get him. Let’s hit for camp, Teddy.” For a moment the boy hesitated, and Pop feared he was going to insist on continuing. But at last the boy sighed, and turned. “You’re the doctor,” he said dully. “Camp it is.” Had Teddy known the real reason for Pop’s insistence upon returning, he would have slept little that night. The fact is that the veteran rancher feared the worst. He had seen Roy dashed head foremost upon the rock, then go limp. At that moment the moon was blotted out, and he lost sight of the boy. But he had seen enough to feel that there was little hope for Roy. There had never been for a moment the question of rescue. It had all happened too quickly--the rock, then the crash, and then that horrible drop. They had been swept apart in a flash, and were not near enough to offer each other assistance. Pop knew that ordinarily Roy would have made the shore safely. But injured, perhaps unconscious--The old man shook his head sadly and was thankful for the darkness that hid the tragedy even for a little. Their fire was still going well when they reached camp, and half heartedly they set about drying themselves. None of them talked much. Their hearts were too heavy. Pop made an effort at conversation, but did not meet with much success, and at last decided that it would be best to leave Teddy alone with his thoughts. Perhaps the boy might find inward comfort as the night wore on. Pop hoped so, fervently.