hich
appear like wings, as if his soul were prepared for flight.

He was about to reply, when his hand, straying about his throat,
chanced upon the silver chain by which the locket of Mordaunt was
suspended, which he had stolen from the body of Strangeways. It was
like a warning voice, recalling the past, which urged him to distrust
this man. Spurling must have seen the change, for he leant over
towards him appealingly, as if he were about to entreat him to be
patient. With a gesture of annoyance Granger rose to his feet and
commenced to walk away; but he halted sharply and drew into the
shadow, signing to Spurling to keep quiet. From very far away, borne
on the stillness of the night, they could hear the rhythmic beat of
several paddle-blades.

Crawling upon his hands and knees, Spurling joined him. "What is it?"
he asked. "Is it Eyelids again?" Granger pointed up-river. "They're
coming from the west," he whispered, "and there are at least four men
by the sound of the blades."

"What men come from the west at this season? Surely, they should be
travelling in the opposite direction, going towards God's Voice?"

"They should be, and it is for that reason that I fear for your
safety."

Nothing more was said, but Spurling guessed what was implied--that
this might be a fresh messenger of justice, coming down the Last
Chance River to rob him of his life.

Very stealthily, taking advantage of every shadow, they crept down the
hillside through the underbrush, till they came to the cove where
they had landed. Twenty paces from the water's edge they hid
themselves, at a point from which they could command a view of the
travellers' approach.

Nearer and nearer the monotonous swirling of the water, beaten by the
paddles, came; the darkness ahead of the island shifted and took
shape; they could distinctly hear the sound of men's voices, engaged
in low-pitched and angry conversation. A large canoe, carrying six
men, which flew the red flag of the Hudson Bay Company, shot out from
the shadows. Now they could make out some of the words which were
being spoken by two of the travellers.

"And you say that you believe he's innocent! Well then I tell you that
he's a damned scoundrel. If he didn't actually kill him, it wasn't for
lack of the desire; you may bet your sweet life on that. In any case,
he's a demoralising influence in the district, and it's best for all
parties that he should be put out of the way."

A second voic