the spot of gloom into which the two men had
disappeared. If anything should happen--he was ready.

In the fire-shadows he could not make out distinctly the features of
the third man. He was not dressed like the others. He wore
knickerbockers and high laced boots. His face was beardless. Beyond
these things he could make out nothing more. The three drew close
together, and only now and then did he catch the low murmur of a voice.
Not once did he hear Jean. For ten minutes he crouched motionless, his
eyes shifting from the strange tableau to the spot of gloom where the
others were hidden. Then, suddenly, Josephine sprang back from her
companions. Jean went to her side. He could hear her voice now, steady
and swift--vibrant with something that thrilled him, though he could
not understand a word that she was speaking. She paused, and he could
see that she was tense and waiting. The other replied. His words must
have been brief, for it seemed he could scarcely have spoken when
Josephine turned her back upon him and walked quickly out into the
forest. For another moment Jean Croisset stood close to the other. Then
he followed.

Not until he knew they were safe did Philip rise from his concealment.
He made his way cautiously back to Adare House, and reentered his room
through the window. Half an hour later, dressed so that he revealed no
evidence of his excursion in the snow, he knocked at Jean's door. The
half-breed opened it. He showed some surprise when he saw his visitor.

"I thought you were in bed, M'sieur," he exclaimed. "Your room was
dark."

"Sleep?" laughed Philip. "Do you think that I can sleep to-night, Jean?"

"As well as some others, perhaps," replied Jean, offering him a chair.
"Will you smoke, M'sieur?"

Philip lighted a cigar, and pointed to the other's moccasined feet, wet
with melting snow.

"You have been out," he said. "Why didn't you invite me to go with you?"

"It was a part of our night's business to be alone," responded Jean.
"Josephine was with me. She is in her room now with the baby."

"Does Adare know you have returned?"

"Josephine has told him. He is to believe that I went out to see a
trapper over on the Pipestone."

"It is strange," mused Philip, speaking half to himself. "A strange
reason indeed it must be to make Josephine say these false things."

"It is like driving sharp claws into her soul," affirmed Jean.

"I believe that I know something of what happened to-night, Jean.