his amazement. In those
moments, when his heart seemed to have stopped beating, Carrigan was
staring at the other, but his mind had shot beyond him--to the woman
who was his wife. Marie-Anne AUDEMARD--the wife of Black Roger! He
wanted to cry out against the possibility of such a fact, yet he sat
like one struck dumb, as the monstrous truth took possession of his
brain and a whirlwind of understanding swept upon him. He was thinking
quickly, and with a terrific lack of sentiment now. Opposite him sat
Black Roger, the wholesale murderer. Marie-Anne was his wife. Carmin
Fanchet, sister of a murderer, was simply one of his kind. And Bateese,
the man-gorilla, and the Broken Man, and all the dark-skinned pack
about them were of Black Roger's breed and kind. Love for a woman had
blinded him to the facts which crowded upon him now. Like a lamb he had
fallen among wolves, and he had tried to believe in them. No wonder
Bateese and the man he had known as St. Pierre had betrayed such
merriment at times!

A fighting coolness possessed him as he spoke to Black Roger.

"I will admit this is a surprise. And yet you have cleared up a number
of things very quickly. It proves to me again that comedy is not very
far removed from tragedy at times."

"I am glad you see the humor of it, M'sieu David." Black Roger was
smiling as pleasantly as his swollen eye would permit. "We must not be
too serious when we die. If I were to die a-hanging, I would sing as
the rope choked me, just to show the world one need not be unhappy
because his life is coming to an end."

"I suppose you understand that ultimately I am going to give you that
opportunity," said David.

Almost eagerly Black Roger leaned toward him over the table. "You
believe you are going to hang me?"

"I am sure of it."

"And you are willing to wager the point, M'sieu David?"

"It is impossible to gamble with a condemned man."

Black Roger chuckled, rubbing his big hands together until they made a
rasping sound, and his one good eye glowed at Carrigan.

"Then I will make a wager with myself, M'sieu David. MA FOI, I swear
that before the leaves fall from the trees, you will be pleading for
the friendship of Black Roger Audemard, and you will be as much in love
with Carmin Fanchet as I am! And as for Marie-Anne--"

He thrust back his chair and rose to his feet, the old note of subdued
laughter rumbling in his chest. "And because I make this wager with
myself, I cannot kill y