n's cabin. I looked within and
saw that it was untouched; then I put out my arm and barred Lord
Starling's way.

"I have never stepped in here, and you shall not," I told him with my
jaws set, and I think that I struck him across the face, though of that
I have never been quite sure.

In my own lodge I found havoc. Bales had been broken open, and my
papers were thrown and trampled. Many of the papers were blood-smeared.

I examined every cabin and every bale, then went to the ashes of the
camp fire and stood still. Lord Starling followed, and I heard his
smothered groan. I took out my knife.

"I shall kill you if you make that noise again," I said.

I think that I spoke quietly, but he stepped back. I saw that he was
afraid,--afraid of losing his miserable, mistaken life,--and I laughed.
I laughed for a long time. Hearing myself laugh, I knew that it
sounded as if I were near insanity, but I was not. My head had never
been clearer.

Perhaps Lord Starling conquered his fear. He came nearer and lifted
his magnificent, compelling bulk above me.

"Listen!" he began. "We have been foes; we shall be again; but now we
are knit closer than eye and brain in a common cause. I will deal with
you with absolute truth as with my own right hand. Tell me. Tell me,
in God's mercy! What do you know? Who did this? What can we do?"

His voice was judicial, but I saw his great frame swaying like a
shambling ox. I marveled that he could show emotion. My own body felt
dead.

"The woman has been taken away," my stiff, strange voice explained.
"So far they have not harmed her."

"How do you know?"

"There are no marks of struggle. Simon resisted, and they killed him.
The other men surrendered. The Indians wanted prisoners, not scalps."

"Was it Pemaou and his Hurons?"

"Yes."

"You are sure?"

"He left a broken spear in my lodge. There was bad blood between us
once, and I broke the spear in two and tossed the pieces at him,
telling him to keep them,--to keep them, for we should meet again. I
humbled him. Now it is his jest. He is a capable Indian. He seems to
have outwitted even you, monsieur."

Because I spoke as one dead he thought I needed leading. He took me by
the arm and would have guided me gently to the canoe.

"Come, Monsieur de Montlivet, you must rouse yourself. We must start
in pursuit."

I shook him off. "Sit here where it is dry. You need your strength.
We have hours to get thr