could keep silent no longer.

"Tell me--please," she begged. "Is the man dead? Who is he, do you
know?"

"Yes," I replied desperately. "He is dead, and I recognize his face.
He is the negro Pete, and has been killed, shot from behind. I cannot
understand how it has happened."

"Pete," she echoed, grasping at the log to keep erect, her eyes on that
dimly revealed figure in the leaves. "Free Pete, Carlton's Pete?
How--how could he have got here? Then--then the others must have been
with him. What has become of them?"

"It is all mystery; the only way to solve it is for us to go on. It
can do no one any good to stand here, staring at this dead body. When
we reach the cabin we may learn what has occurred. Go on ahead, Sam,
and we will follow--don't be afraid, boy; it is not the dead who hurt
us."

She clung tightly to me, shrinking past the motionless figure. She was
not sobbing; her eyes were dry, yet every movement, each glance,
exhibited her depth of horror. I drew her closer, thoughtless of what
she was, my heart yearning to speak words of comfort, yet realizing
there was nothing left me to say. I could almost feel the full
intensity of her struggle for self-control, the effort she was making
to conquer a desire to give way. She must have known this, for once
she spoke.

"Do not mind me," she said, pausing before the utterance of each word
to steady her voice. "I--I am not going to break down. It--it is the
suddenness--the shock. I--I shall be strong again, in a minute."

"You must be," I whispered, "for their lives may depend on us."

It was a short path before us and became more clearly defined as we
advanced. A sharp turn brought us into full view of the cabin, which
stood in a small opening, built against the sidehill, and so overhung
with trees as to be invisible, except from the direction of our
approach. We could see only the side wall, which contained one open
window, and was a one-room affair, low and flat-roofed, built of logs.
Its outward appearance was peaceful enough, and the swift beat of my
pulse quieted as I took rapid survey of the surroundings.

"Sam," I commanded, "you are to remain here with Rene, while I learn
the truth yonder. Yes," to her quick protest, "that will be the better
way--there is no danger and I shall not be gone but for a moment."

I seated her on a low stump and left them there together, Sam's eyes
rolling about in a frightened effort to perceive every