"You might have put it more plainly--I was drinking myself to death."
Benson's face grew stern. "You suggest that that is what the fellow
wished?"

"You can form your own opinion. My point is that it would suit him if
you didn't come back from this trip. With nobody to dispute his
statements, he'd prove he had a claim to all you own."

Benson started.

"I believe he would stick at nothing! But I'm only one of the party;
what would he gain if you and Blake came to grief?"

"That," said Harding evasively, "is not so clear."

He glanced at his companion searchingly, and seeing that he suspected
nothing, he decided not to enlighten him. Benson seemed to have
overcome his craving, but there was a possibility that he might relapse
after his return to the settlement, and betray the secret in his cups.
Harding thought Clarke a dangerous man of unusual ability and abnormal
character. He had learned from Benson something of Blake's history,
and had seen a chance for extorting money from Colonel Challoner.
Indeed, Clarke had made overtures to Blake on the subject, with the
pretext of wishing to ascertain whether the latter were willing to seek
redress, and had met with an indignant rebuff. This much was a matter
of fact, but Harding surmised that the man, finding Blake more inclined
to thwart than assist him, would be glad to get rid of him. With Blake
out of the way, the Challoners, father and son, would be at Clarke's
mercy; and it unfortunately looked as if his wishes might be gratified.
Harding meant, however, to make a determined effort to save his comrade.

"I don't understand what you're leading up to," Benson remarked.

"It's this--I suspect Clarke intended us to get entangled among these
muskegs, where we'd have no chance for renewing our provisions, and he
misled us about the Stony village, which he didn't wish us to reach.
Well, he has succeeded in getting us into trouble; now he has to help
us out. The fellow is a doctor."

Benson looked up eagerly.

"You're going to bring him here? It's a daring plan, because it will
be difficult to make him come."

"He'll come it he values his life," Harding said resolutely. "The
Indian will take me to the village, and perhaps see me through if I
offer him enough; he seems to have some grudge against the Stonies.
I'll have to drop in upon the doctor late at night, when none of his
Indian friends are about."

"But who'll look after Blake? He can't be left."