oting with intent to kill, sir."

"Enter that, Coulter. Whom did she shoot at?"

"At me, sir. On two occasions."

"Ah! An officer in the performance of his duty. Amend the charge,
Coulter. Please relate the circumstances."

Stonor did so.

"Have you anything to say in regard to that?" the Major asked the woman.

She shook her head.

By this time Imbrie was again facing the tribunal. At Stonor's request
the woman was allowed to remain in the tent during his examination.
After stating the usual formula as to his rights, the Major started
questioning him.

"Your name?"

"Ernest Imbrie, M.D."

"Age?"

"Twenty-six."

"Place of birth?"

"Winnipeg."

"Father's name?"

"John Imbrie."

"His occupation?"

"Farmer."

The Major raised his eyebrows. "In Winnipeg?"

"He lived off the income of his farms."

"Ah! Strange I never heard the name in Winnipeg. Do you wish to give any
further information about your antecedents?"

"Not at present, sir."

"You have Indian blood in your veins?"

"Yes, sir, my grandmother was an Indian. I never saw her."

"How long have you been in this district?"

"A year, sir."

"How did you come here?"

"I got employment with a crew of boatmen at Miwasa Landing. I travelled
with them as far as Great Buffalo Lake. There I bought a canoe from the
Indians and came up the Swan River to the Great Falls and built me a
shack."

"You were alone then?"

"Yes, sir."

"How did this woman come to join you?"

"I sent for her to keep my house for me."

"How did you get word to her?"

Imbrie blandly evaded the trap. "I sent a letter out privately to be
passed along by the Indians--what they call moccasin telegraph."

"Ah! Why did you choose that method?"

"Because I wished to keep my affairs to myself. I had heard of the
curiosity of the white men at Fort Enterprise concerning my movements,
and I did not care to gratify it."

"Very well. Now, when you started back with her, did she go home with
you?"

"No, sir. She was taken sick at Swan Lake, and I had to leave her
there."

"How did you come to leave her if she was sick?"

"She was not very sick. Her leg swelled up and she couldn't travel, that
was all."

Stonor signed to the Major that he wished to ask a question, and the
Major bade him go ahead.

"Tell us exactly what was the matter with her, as a doctor, I mean."

"You wouldn't understand if I did tell you."

The Major rapped smartly on the table. "Impuden