e report rest. We know something already."

"How is that?"

"Superintendent Strong has sent us in a report, and a very creditable
report, too."

"Oh," replied Cameron indifferently. "Well, the thing I want to say is
that though all looks quiet--there is less horse stealing this month,
and less moving about from the reserves--yet I believe a serious
outbreak is impending."

The Inspector, who had come around and taken a seat beside him, touched
his knee at this point with an admonishing pressure.

"Eh?" said Cameron, turning toward him. "Oh, my people here know. You
need not have any fear about them." A little smile distorted his face as
he laid his hand upon his wife's shoulder. "But--where was I? I cannot
get the hang of things." He was as a man feeling his way through a maze.

"Oh, let it go," said the Inspector. "Wait till you have had some
sleep."

"No, I must--I must get this out. Well, anyway, the principal thing
is that Big Bear, Beardy, Poundmaker--though I am not sure about
Poundmaker--have runners on every reserve and they are arranging for
a big meeting in the spring, to which every tribe North and West is to
send representatives. That Frenchman--what's his name?--I'll forget my
own next--"

"Riel?" suggested the Inspector.

"Yes, Riel. That Frenchman is planning a big coup in the spring. You
know they presented him with a house the other day, ready furnished, at
Batoche, to keep him in the country. Oh, the half-breeds are very keen
on this. And what is worse, I believe a lot of whites are in with them
too. A chap named Jackson, and another named Scott, and Isbister and
some others. These names are spoken of on every one of our reserves.
I tell you, sir," he said, turning his blind eyes toward the
Superintendent, "I consider it very serious indeed. And worst of all,
the biggest villain of the lot, Little Pine, Cree Chief you know, our
bitterest enemy--except Little Thunder, who fortunately is cleared out
of the country--you remember, sir, that chap Raven saw about that."

The Superintendent nodded.

"Well--where was I?--Oh, yes, Little Pine, the biggest villain of them
all, is somewhere about here. I got word of him when I was at the
Blood Reserve on my way home some ten days ago. I heard he was with
the Blackfeet, but I found no sign of him there. But he is in the
neighborhood, and he is specially bound to see old Crowfoot. I
understand he is a particularly successful pleader, and unusually
cu