irl, who was carrying armfuls of dry brushwood, which she
piled against the corner of the storehouse.

Chloe glanced into the black eyes that glowed like living coals. The
Indian girl added her armful to the pile and, drawing matches from her
pocket, dropped to her knees in the snow. She pointed toward the log
storehouse.

"Lapierre ran inside," she said.

With a wild laugh Chloe passed on. The scrub thinned toward the point
of the peninsula, where the rim-rocks rose sheer two hundred feet above
the level of the lake. Chloe caught sight of MacNair's Indians leaping
before her, and, beyond, the crowding knot of men who gave ground
before the rush of the Yellow Knives. One by one the men dropped,
writhing, into the snow. The others gave ground rapidly, shooting at
their advancing enemies, cursing, crowding--but always giving ground.

At last they were upon the rim-rocks, huddled together like cattle.
Chloe could see them outlined distinctly against the sky. They fired
one last scattering volley, and then the ranks thinned suddenly; many
were leaping over the edge, while others, throwing down their rifles,
advanced with arms raised high above their heads. Some Indians fired,
and two of these pitched forward. Then MacNair bellowed a hoarse
order, and the firing ceased, and the Indians bound the prisoners with
thongs of _babiche_.

The girl found herself close to the edge of the high plateau. She
leaned far over and peered downward. Upon the white snow of the rocks,
close to the foot of the cliff, lay several dark forms. She drew back
and turned to MacNair, but he had gone. A puff of smoke arose into the
air above the tops of the scrub-trees, and Chloe knew that the
storehouse was burning. The smoke increased in volume and rolled
heavily skyward upon the light breeze. She could hear the crackle of
flames, and the smell of burning spruce was in the air.

She pushed forward into the cordon of Indians which surrounded the
burning building, glancing hurriedly from face to face, searching for
MacNair. Upon the edge of the little clearing which surrounded the
storehouse she saw the Louchoux girl bending over a form that lay
stretched in the snow. Swiftly she made her way to the girl's side.
She was bending over the inert form of Big Lena. The big woman opened
her eyes, and with a cry Chloe dropped to her knees by her side.

"Ay ain't hurt much," Lena muttered weakly. "Vun faller shoot me on de
head, but