Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/106

 end of Red Lake where there are more settlements and the Indian reservations.”

He brought out a rude map made evidently by himself, showing in rough drawing the western  end of the lake and the watercourses.

“We will divide it off into squares,” he said, “and search one square of country every day. Then, if we don’t find where they are, we will at least know where they are not. We will begin with this one to-morrow.”

“Wouldn’t it be quicker just to follow up the main streams and the most likely valleys first?”  asked Hugh.

Oscar was slowly rolling up the map and putting it in its place.

“It would be quicker—and we might miss them on the way,” he said. “If we are to do the thing thoroughly, we had better not hurry too much.”

Hugh was to learn that this was Oscar’s method of doing all things. He did not agree just then that it was the best, but, on looking back  afterward, he wondered at his own stupidity.