ed down into the
bloodstained face and tried to explain to Philip the reason for that
strange and thrilling recognition he had seen between them. From her he
looked at Blake. The look in the prisoner's face sent a cold shiver
through him. There was no fear in it. It was filled with a deep and
undisguised exultation. Then Blake looked at Philip, and laughed
outright.

"Can't understand her, eh?" he chuckled. "Well, neither can I. But I
know what she's trying to tell you. Damned funny, ain't it?"

It was impossible for him to keep his eyes from shifting to the door.
There was expectancy in that glance. Then his glance shot almost
fiercely at Philip.

"So you're Philip Raine, of the R. N. M. P., eh? Well, you've got me
guessed out. My name is Blake, but the G don't stand for George. If
you'll cut the cord off'n my legs so I can stand up or sit down I'll
tell you something. I can't do very much damage with my hands hitched
the way they are, and I can't talk layin' down cause of my Adam's apple
chokin' me."

Philip seized the rifle and placed it again in Celie's hands,
stationing her once more at the door.

"Watch--and listen," he said.

He cut the thongs that bound his prisoner's ankles and Blake struggled
to his feet. When he fronted Philip the big Colt was covering his heart.

"Now--talk!" commanded Philip. "I'm going to give you half a minute to
begin telling me what I want to know, Blake. You've brought the Eskimos
down. There's no doubt of that. What do you want of this girl, and what
have you done with her people?"

He had never looked into the eyes of a cooler man than Blake, whose
blood-stained lips curled in a sneering smile even as he finished.

"I ain't built to be frightened," he said, taking his time about it. "I
know your little games an' I've throwed a good many bluffs of my own in
my time. You're lyin' when you say you'll shoot, an' you know you are.
I may talk and I may not. Before I make up my mind I'm going to give
you a bit of brotherly advice. Take that team out there and hit across
the Barren--ALONE. Understand? ALONE. Leave the girl here. It's your
one chance of missing what happened to--"

He grinned and shrugged his huge shoulders.

"You mean Anderson--Olaf Anderson--and the others up at Bathurst
Inlet?" questioned Philip chokingly.

Blake nodded.

Philip wondered if the other could hear the pounding of his heart. He
had discovered in this moment what the Department had been trying