re not going to try
me."

"When did you lie to me?"

"Well, if I thought it necessary to lie to you awhile ago, I'm not going
to tell the truth now."

"All right. Why bring the matter up?"

"I just wanted to warn you not to jump to conclusions."

The trooper was dead tired, and dead sick of gazing at the smooth, evil
face of his companion. "Oh, go to hell!" he said. "You talk too much!"

Imbrie subsided into a sullen silence.

Stonor thought: "For some reason he's afraid of meeting Clare. I suppose
that's natural enough when he's like this. He must know what's the
matter with him. Probably he hates everything connected with his better
side. Well, if he doesn't want Clare it may simplify matters." Thus he
was still making his theory work.

At last they came out from among the trees, and the little grassy valley
of the Meander lay below them. There were the three little tents pitched
on the other side of the stream, and the four horses quietly grazing in
the bottom. Mary was baking bread at the fire. It was a picture of
peace, and Stonor's first anxiety for their safety was relieved.

He had not the heart to hail them; they would see soon enough. And
almost immediately Mary did look up and see the two horsemen. She spoke
over her shoulder, and Clare quickly appeared from her tent. The two
women awaited them motionless.

Imbrie still rode ahead, hunched in his saddle. He glanced over his
shoulder, and Stonor saw that a sickly yellow tint had crept under his
skin. He looked at Stonor's failing horse. Suddenly he clapped heels to
his own beast, and, jerking the animal's head round, circled Stonor and
attempted to regain the trail behind him. He evidently counted on the
fact that the policeman would be unable to follow.

To urge his spent beast to a run would only have been to provoke a fall.
Stonor made no attempt to follow. Pulling his horse round, he whipped up
his gun and fired into the air. It was sufficient. Imbrie pulled up.
Stonor possessed himself of the other's bridle-rein and turned him round
again. They said nothing to each other.

They splashed across the shallow ford. On the other side Stonor curtly
bade Imbrie to dismount and ungirth. He did likewise. Clare and Mary
awaited their coming at a few paces' distance. Clare's eyes were fixed
on Imbrie with a painful intensity. Curiosity and apprehension were
blended in her gaze. Imbrie avoided looking at her as long as possible.

They turned out the w