One lost one's canoes and provisions ran out.
"Miss Southern said it was plain that as Agatha had important duties she ought not to run such a risk, and asked what was the object of the excursion.
"I said it was a prospecting trip.

Agatha had gone to find some silver ore; and Miss Southern gave me a look that made me mad.

It hinted that she thought my statement much too thin! Then she remarked that the managers felt that their teachers must concentrate on their work and divided interests made for slackness.

In short, as Agatha had not come back, they had got somebody else to take her post.
"That was a knock, but I said I supposed they'd give her a first-rate testimonial if she applied for another job.
"She looked as if she didn't want to hurt me, but admitted that they would be willing to state that Agatha had ability and taught science well.

Then she stopped and I asked if she could go no farther.