rowled. "Let me talk a bit more to the Injun."

He strode up in front of the captive and shook a brawny fist beneath his
nose. "We've got you, and we're going to turn you over to the sheriff
unless you come across mighty quick with that skin," he thundered. Then
dropping into simple speech that the Indian could not misunderstand he
continued, "You kill deer out of season; skins prove it." He pointed to
the bundle of fresh hides. "You steal much fur; Big Pierre say so if we
let him go." Alec translated and Pierre nodded. The Indian glanced at
his late partner and saw the nod. A vindictive look swept across his
face and left it as expressionless as before.

"You try to kill white boy. He go to court and swear. Injun go to prison
for long time, years and years. Black fox only thing can save Injun."

The Indian appeared to consider the triple indictment, but no hint of
what was passing in his mind appeared in his face. It was as stolid and
expressionless as ever. At length he spoke.

"You give Injun gun and all his things and let go if he tell something?"
he inquired.

"We'll see about it," Pat growled.

"No promise, Injun no tell," was the prompt response.

It was Pat's turn to consider. Finally he made up his mind. "Listen,
Alec," said he. "You tell Pierre that we'll give them their guns, but no
cartridges; that we'll let them take their personal belongings and as
much grub as they can carry and let them go on condition that they will
admit having stolen those skins from our traps, that they will agree to
get out of these parts and never come back, and that the Indian shows us
where the fox is. Otherwise we'll take them to camp and hold them
prisoners while one of us goes out for the sheriff. Tell him to tell the
Injun."

Alec turned to Pierre and spoke rapidly. The latter interjected a
question now and then and when Alec had finished made a brief reply. "He
says," Alec explained, "that he agrees, though he thinks we ought to let
them have some cartridges. He admits the stealing of the furs, but still
protests that he wasn't in on the fox affair and wants to know if we'll
let him go in case the Injun refuses to come across."

"Tell him yes," replied Pat.

This Alec did, and Pierre at once turned to the Indian and addressed him
in his own tongue. Alec picked up enough to know that Pierre was putting
the case in its strongest light and dwelling on the length of time in
prison likely to follow conviction. When he