ving dark eyes looked always to be ready to smile. Then he
possessed a superbly powerful body. But the threatened smile rarely
matured, and when it did it added nothing of a pleasant nature for the
student of psychology.

In age the two men were well matched, but they had little else in
common. Garstaing's reputation, at least amongst men, was not a happy
one. He was known to be a hard drinker. He was hot-headed and
pleasure-loving. Furthermore he was given to an overbearing intolerance,
in the indulgence of which his position as Indian Agent yielded him wide
scope.

He ruled the Indians with an iron hand, and for all the stories of his
cruelty and complete unscrupulousness which reached beyond the confines
of the reserve and the bitter hatred of the Indians he remained complete
master of the situation.

There was little enough which Steve had not heard of the unsavouriness
of this man's administration. He by no means gave credence to all of it,
but it was not without effect upon his personal attitude towards him.

"I'm not wise to your instructions," Garstaing went on as Steve offered
no further comment, "but mine are pretty clear, and they are straight
from my Commissioner."

"I've to place myself entirely at your disposal."

Steve's reply came without any hesitation. His tone suggested unconcern.
Garstaing's dark eyes snapped. Then they smiled their approval. It was
that smile which added nothing pleasant to his personality.

"I guessed it was that way from the instructions they handed me," he
said. Then he withdrew a bunch of papers from an inner pocket, and
opened them, and selected a particular sheet. "Here it is," he said, and
promptly read out an extract from the letter. "'You will at once place
yourself in touch with the police in your district, and see that the
whole matter is investigated--forthwith.'"

He glanced up as he uttered the final word.

"You know what that means?" he enquired, searching the eyes that were so
profoundly observing him across the table.

Steve nodded.

"Sure."

"It means you'll have to make the Unaga country right away."

"Sure."

Again came Steve's monosyllabic agreement.

"It means one hell of a long trip," the Agent went on.

"Two years."

The simple finality of the police officer's reply left the other
speechless for the moment. The tone of it amazed him. He had hastened
across from the Agency directly he had received the Corporal's dispatch,
not because he