walking close together, between the moose-hide tents,
and as they drew near the sledge, Stane saw that the shambling form was
that of Chief George, and that he walked with the muzzle of the
trapper's pistol in the small of his back.

"We weel go forwards up zee lak' a leetle way, m'sieu, out of
arrow-shot. Den Chief George he weel talk or die."

They marched up the lake five hundred yards or more, the camp behind
them maintaining the silence of the dead, then Benard halted.

"Now," he said, "we weel talk!"

Pointing his pistol at the Indian and speaking in the patois of the
tribe, he addressed him.

"What means the attack upon my cabin?"

"I know nothing," mumbled the Indian, shaking with fear or cold. "It
was Chigmok--my sister's son--who led the young men away."

"So! But thou hast seen the rifles and the burning water, the blankets,
the tea and the molasses which are the price to be paid. I know that
thou hast seen them." At the words the Chief started a little, then he
made a mumbling admission:

"Yes, I have seen them. They are a great price."

"But who pays?"

"I know not. A white man, that is all I know. The rest is known to
Chigmok alone."

Benard considered the answer for a moment, and entertaining no doubt
that it was the true one, wasted no further time in that direction.

"Whither has the white maiden been carried?"

Chief George waved his hand to the East. "Through the woods to the lake
of Little Moose, there to meet the man who pays the price."

"These words are the words of truth?" asked the trapper, harshly. "If
thou liest----"

"Wherefore should I lie, since so much is already known to thee?"
interrupted the Indian.

"It would be unwise," agreed Benard, and then asked: "What is to be
done to the white girl by the man who pays the price?"

"I know not; belike he will take her for his squaw, or wherefore should
he pay so great a price?"

Benard looked at Stane. "Dere ees nothing more dat he can tell. I sure
of dat, an' we waste time."

"Yes! Let him go."

The trapper nodded and then addressed the Indian once more. "Thou wilt
go back to thy lodge now, but this is not the end. For the evil that
hath been done the price will have to be paid. Later the men of the
law, the riders-of-the-plains, will come and thee they will take----"

"It is Chigmok, my sister's son, who planned----"

"But it is thee they will take for punishment and Chigmok also. Now
go!"

Chief George waited for