ed to his room. Again the song of
life, of love, of hope that pictured but one glorious end filled his
soul to overflowing. A little later and he knew that Adare's wife had
gone with Josephine to her room. He went to bed. And sleep came to him
now, filled with dreams in which he lived with Josephine always at his
side, laughing and singing with him, and giving him her lips to kiss in
their joyous paradise.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Out of these dreams he was awakened by a sound that had slowly and
persistently become a part of his mental consciousness. It was a tap,
tap, tap at his window. At last he sat up and listened. It was in the
gray gloom of dawn. Again the sound was repeated: tap, tap, tap on the
pane of glass.

He slipped out of bed, his hand seeking the automatic under his pillow.
He had slept with the window partly open. Covering it with his pistol,
he called:

"Who is there?"

"A runner from Jean Croisset," came back a cautious voice. "I have a
written message for you, M'sieur."

He saw an arm thrust through the window, in the hand a bit of paper. He
advanced cautiously until he could see the face that was peering in. It
was a thin, dark, fur-hooded face, with eyes black and narrow like
Jean's, a half-breed. He seized the paper, and, still watching the face
and arm, lighted a lamp. Not until he had read the note did his
suspicion leave him.

This is Pierre Langlois, my friend of the Pipestone. If anything should
happen that you need me quickly let him come after me. You may trust
him. He will put up his tepee in the thick timber close to the dog pit.
We have fought together. L'Ange saved his wife from the smallpox. I am
going westward.

JEAN.

Philip sprang back to the window and gripped the mittened hand that
still hung over the sill.

"I'm glad to know you, Pierre! Is there no other word from Jean?"

"Only the note, Ookimow."

"You just came?"

"Aha. My dogs and sledge are back in the forest."

"Listen!" Philip turned toward the door. In the hall he heard
footsteps. "Le M'sieur is awake," he said quickly to Pierre. "I will
see you in the forest!"

Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when the half-breed was gone.
A moment later Philip knew that it was Adare who had passed his door.
He dressed and shaved himself before he left his room. He found Adare
in his study. Metoosin already had a fire burning, and Adare was
standing before this alone, when Philip entered. Somethi