"This is really terrible. You must have suffered awful anxiety. I
apologize for my abrupt manner a moment ago," he added, offering his
hand. "I'm awfully sorry."

"It's all right, Superintendent," replied Cameron. "I'm afraid I am a
little upset myself."

"But what a God's mercy she escaped! How came that, I wonder?"

Then Cameron told the story of the rescue of the Indian boy.

"That undoubtedly explains it," exclaimed the Superintendent. "That
was a most fortunate affair. Do an Indian a good turn and he will never
forget it. I shudder to think of what might have happened, for I assure
you that this Copperhead will stick at nothing. We have an unusually
able man to deal with, and we shall put our whole Force on this business
of arresting this man. Have you any suggestions yourself?"

"No," said Cameron, "except that it would appear to be a mistake to give
any sign that we were very specially anxious to get him just now. So
far we have not shown our hand. Any concentrating of the Force upon his
capture would only arouse suspicion and defeat our aim, while my going
after him, no matter how keenly, will be accounted for on personal
grounds."

"There is something in that, but do you think you can get him?"

"I am going to get him," said Cameron quietly.

The superintendent glanced at his face.

"By Jove, I believe you will! But remember, you can count on me and on
my Force to a man any time and every time to back you up, and there's my
hand on it. And now, let's get at this thing. We have a cunning devil
to do with and he has gathered about him the very worst elements on the
reserves."

Together they sat and made their plans till far on into the night. But
as a matter of fact they could make little progress. They knew well it
would be extremely difficult to discover their man. Owing to the state
of feeling throughout the reserves the source of information upon
which the Police ordinarily relied had suddenly dried up or become
untrustworthy. A marked change had come over the temper of the Indians.
While as yet they were apparently on friendly terms and guilty of no
open breach of the law, a sullen and suspicious aloofness marked the
bearing of the younger braves and even of some of the chiefs toward the
Police. Then, too, among the Piegans in the south and among the
Sarcees whose reserve was in the neighborhood of Calgary an epidemic
of cattle-stealing had broken out and the Police were finding it
increasingly