You wait here, Necia." The girl watched her rescuer guide Runnion up to the level of the woods, then disappear with him in the firs, and was relieved to see the two emerge upon the river-bank again farther on, for she had feared for an instant that Poleon might forget.

There seemed to be no danger, however, for he was crashing through the brush in advance of the other, who followed laboriously.

Once Runnion gained the high point, he would be able to command a view of both reaches of the river, and could make signals to attract the first steamboat that chanced to come along.
Without doubt a craft of some sort would pass from one direction or the other by to-morrow at latest, or, if not, she and Poleon could send back succor to him from the first habitation they encountered.

The two men disappeared again, and her fears had begun to prey on her a second time when she beheld the big Canadian returning.

He was hurrying a bit, apparently to be rid of the mosquitoes that swarmed about him; and she marked that, in addition to whipping himself with a handful of blueberry bushes, he wore Runnion's coat to protect his shoulders.
"Woof! Dose skeeter bug is hongry," he cried.