," Arnold replied. "But I can't afford to
lose much more blood. Fix me up, some of you fellows."

Just then Christopher Burley pushed in among us, his countenance
agitated and frightened.

"Is the danger over?" he cried.

"Are there no more Indians in the hills?"

Before I could answer him I was tapped on the shoulder, and turning
round I saw Flora; she had left the sledge, and her eyes looked into
mine calmly and fearlessly.

"Do not be alarmed," I said. "It seems there was but one Indian."

"I was afraid we were going to be attacked," she answered; "but I am not
a bit frightened now. See, my hand is steady. Let me bandage this poor
man's wound, Denzil."

The plucky girl did not wait for permission, but took a knife from one
of the men and began to cut away Arnold's shirt sleeve. I had a large
handkerchief in my pocket, which I produced and gave to her. Meanwhile I
glanced forward to Captain Rudstone, who was kneeling beside the Indian,
with his back turned to us. I saw him look quickly and furtively over
his shoulder, and his hands seemed to be actively engaged. I noted this,
as I say, but at the time I thought nothing of the incident.

A moment later the captain rose to his feet and turned round. He met my
eyes, and his own dropped; for a passing second he looked slightly
confused.

"Here's a queer go, Carew," he called. "You've killed your man, and I
fancy there is something on him that will be of personal interest to
you."

I hurried to the spot, in company with half a dozen others. The Indian
lay dead on his side--an elderly, wrinkled savage with a feathered
scalp-lock, dressed in buffalo robe, leggings and beaded moccasins. His
musket was clutched in his hand, and blood was oozing from a wound in
the region of the heart.

"What do you mean, Rudstone?" I asked.

He pointed silently to the redskin's throat and bending closer, I saw a
necklace of the teeth and claws of wild beasts. Something else was
strung with it--a tiny locket of smooth gold--and the sight of it made
my heart leap. With a single jerk, I tore the necklace loose, and the
locket fell in the snow. I picked it up, looked at it sharply, and
suspicion became a certainty.

"This is the working of Providence!" I cried hoarsely, "I have committed
an act of just retribution. Look: the Indian killed my father nearly six
years ago, and now he has died by my hand."

"I suspected as much," said Captain Rudstone. "I remembered your
speaking of