an Seton, inspector of Company posts, and his wife.

The Setons had come down with the police. Seton was to run the post at
Fort Enterprise while John Gaviller and Gordon Strange were absent at
the trials.

Colina, buoyed up with anger, dressed with care. She saw herself
self-possessed and queenly at the foot of her own table's favorite
picture of herself.

Nevertheless, the reaction was swiftly setting in. She couldn't help
having a generous heart, nor could she put away the picture of Ambrose
and his miserable, untasted supper.

At the last moment her courage failed her. She knew the conversation
would have to do solely with the coming trials. She knew Inspector
Egerton's style in dealing with Ambrose. She could not face it.

She sent down-stairs the time-honored excuse of young ladies and,
tearing off her finery, flung herself, like Ambrose, on her bed.

She passed a worse night than he, for while the man accused fate, she
had to accuse herself. Colina was nothing if not whole-hearted; coward
was the gentlest of the names she called herself.

More than once she was on the point of rushing out of the house and,
regardless of consequences, imploring Ambrose's forgiveness.

However, after midnight a way out of her coil suggested itself like a
star shining out. She slept for a peaceful hour.

Long before dawn she arose and awakened her maid. This was Cora, a
stolid Cree half-breed, doggedly devoted to her mistress and accustomed
to receiving her impulsive orders like inscrutable commands from Heaven.

Upon being notified, therefore, that they were about to set off on a
long journey overland instead of by the launch, she set to work to get
ready without surprise or question.

Colina wrote the letter to Ambrose and another to her father. The
latter was a little masterpiece of casualness, designed to prevent
pursuit, if that were possible.

She knew that they dared not wait another day, before starting
up-stream in the launch.

DEAR FATHER:

I have heard a rumor of new evidence bearing on the trials. It's not
worth while telling Inspector Egerton and delaying everything, because
I'm not sure of anything. I'm off to investigate for myself.

I'm taking Cora, and shall have a couple of reliable men with me, so
there's no occasion to worry. You must not attempt to wait for me, of
course.

If I secure any information worth while Mr. Seton will find a way to
send me out with it. If I do not, wh