t. The strain has been terrible. And as
though the horror of Borg's end were not enough, to be considered the
murderer, and haled up for mob justice! Forgive me, Frona. I am
beside myself. Of course, I know that you will believe me."

"Then tell me, Gregory."

"In the first place, the woman, Bella, lied. She must have been crazed
to make that dying statement when I fought as I did for her and Borg.
That is the only explanation--"

"Begin at the beginning," she interrupted. "Remember, I know nothing."

He settled himself more comfortably on the stool, and rolled a
cigarette as he took up the history of the previous night.

"It must have been about one in the morning when I was awakened by the
lighting of the slush-lamp. I thought it was Borg; wondered what he
was prowling about for, and was on the verge of dropping off to sleep,
when, though I do not know what prompted me, I opened my eyes. Two
strange men were in the cabin. Both wore masks and fur caps with the
flaps pulled down, so that I could see nothing of their faces save the
glistening of the eyes through the eye-slits.

"I had no first thought, unless it was that danger threatened. I lay
quietly for a second and deliberated. Borg had borrowed my pistol, and
I was actually unarmed. My rifle was by the door. I decided to make a
rush for it. But no sooner had I struck the floor than one of the men
turned on me, at the same time firing his revolver. That was the first
shot, and the one La Flitche did not hear. It was in the struggle
afterwards that the door was burst open, which enabled him to hear the
last three.

"Well; I was so close to the man, and my leap out of the bunk was so
unexpected, that he missed me. The next moment we grappled and rolled
on the floor. Of course, Borg was aroused, and the second man turned
his attention to him and Bella. It was this second man who did the
killing, for my man, naturally, had his hands full. You heard the
testimony. From the way the cabin was wrecked, you can picture the
struggle. We rolled and tossed about and fought till stools, table,
shelves--everything was smashed.

"Oh, Frona, it was terrible! Borg fighting for life, Bella helping
him, though wounded and groaning, and I unable to aid. But finally, in
a very short while, I began to conquer the man with whom I was
struggling. I had got him down on his back, pinioned his arms with my
knees, and was slowly throttling him, when the other