"All that had been implied was now expressed. He was to massacre us
all to shield his tribe from the punishment that might follow the
discovery of his revenge.

"'You will lay waste the fort,' said the interpreter's daughter, 'but
will the ruins not accuse you to the great company which this man
serves?'

"'We will be far away.'

"'And will you never care to return to the grounds you have hunted
from childhood?'

"To this Buffalo Horn made no reply. He looked at the floor, his arms
folded, and he was silent for a long time.

"'This man,' said the girl, touching McLeod on the shoulder, 'has
dealt fairly by you. He has kept his faith with you. He said that he
would provide you with food through the hard seasons. Has he not done
so?'

"'He has kept faith with us,' said the chief. 'Therefore he is a good
man.'

"'He is a good man because he has kept faith with you,' the girl said,
eagerly. 'Would you, then, have him break faith with some other? He
has said to the white man, "I will not give you up." Would you have
him break the word he has passed? For if he breaks it once, will he
not break it again? If he should yield up the white man, what security
would you have that he would provide for you through the next hard
season?'

"'He keeps his word,' said Buffalo Horn. 'He is a good man.'

"He made a sign to Red Feather to release McLeod. Then he gathered
his braves about him, and stalking solemnly at their head, led them
out of the shop, over the courtyard and through the gate. We were left
alone.

"'Leave the gate open, Tobias,' said McLeod. 'Come, boy,' to me, 'let
us get to work on the quarterly statement again. This interruption
came at an awkward time. We'll have to make up for it.'"

That was the end of David's story.

CHAPTER XIV

_In Which Jimmie Grimm and Master Bagg Are Overtaken by
the Black Fog in the Open Sea and Lose the Way Home While
a Gale is Brewing_

Jimmie Grimm and Bagg, returning from Birds' Nest Islands, were caught
by the black fog in the open sea. It had been lowering all day. Dull
clouds had hung in the sky since early morning and had kept the waters
of the sea sombre. There was no wind--not the faintest breath or sigh.
The harbour water was still; and the open--beyond the tickle
rocks--was without a ripple or hint of ground swell. A thick, gray
mist crept out from the hills, late in the afternoon, and presently
obscured the shore. Jimmie and Bagg were the